03/31/2019 / By Michelle Simmons
Have you heard of mung beans (Vigna radiata)? Mung beans are a type of pulse commonly consumed in Asian countries, including China, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Thailand. They may be small, but these beans actually have many health benefits. Research shows that eating this legume can protect you from chronic degenerative diseases.
There is a growing interest in mung bean seeds and sprouts because of their bioactive compounds that have promising potential in the prevention of degenerative diseases. Therefore, researchers from China looked at the nutritional components, phytochemistry, and health-promoting effects of mung bean and its sprouts. In their critical review, the researchers gathered all data of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies of mung bean and its impact on human health.
Based on the data they gathered, they found that mung beans are rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and other metabolites. These compounds have been often attributed to their antioxidant properties. The researchers also found that mung beans have the potential to prevent diabetes, kill microbes, regulate cholesterol and blood pressure levels, fight inflammation, inhibit tumor growth, ward off cancer, and protect against mutagens. These findings, which were published in the journal Food Science and Human Wellness, suggested that mung beans are a great addition to a healthy diet and can help prevent chronic degenerative diseases.
Mung beans are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They provide B vitamins, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc. These beans are also one of the greatest plant-based sources of protein. They are also rich in essential amino acids, including arginine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, valine, and more. As mentioned in the study, mung beans can help prevent the development of health problems, such as:
Reap the benefits of mung beans by adding them to your diet. To cook dried mung beans, add them to boiling water and simmer for up to 45 minutes. Boiled mung beans can then be added to salads, soups, curry, or tomato-based sauce. (Related: Sprouting Organic Mung Beans.)
Read more news stories and studies on the health benefits of mung beans by going to FoodIsMedicine.com.
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