Proteins are found in all foods, except fruit, but are especially abundant in beans, bean products and seeds. It means that proteins are basically products of plants. Well, cows eat grass, right? Isn't it logical to turn to the purest source of protein? Plant proteins have less saturated fatty acids than animal meat and that is why, among other things, they are much better for our health.
Beans have a harder shell than cereal grains. This means that they also contain cellulose fibers, which the body needs, especially in the elimination process. These foods are rich in calcium and other minerals, they do not have enough vitamin C, but their sprouts are rich in this vitamin and can be a good substitute for green vegetables, especially in winter.
The choice of beans is really large, from lentils (red, green, brown or black), to chickpeas, azuki beans, white beans, fava, black, mung beans, soybeans, etc. The most popular and commonly used soy products in the macrobiotic diet are tofu and tempeh. Soybeans are also used to make miso, soy sauce, tamari sauce, soy milk, etc.
There are people who say that beans are difficult for them to digest, and this usually happens when the beans are not cooked properly. Here's a tip to avoid this: the beans must be soaked in cold water for several hours. That water is thrown away. (If you want, you can cook them in the water they were soaked in, it doesn't affect the cooking time or the taste). But cooking beans in fresh water eliminates digestive problems. When the water in which the beans are cooked begins to boil, reduce the heat and cook for about fifteen minutes, with the obligatory removal of the foam that forms during boiling. This will also help the beans to be digested better. Then it is covered and cooked on moderate heat. The cooking time varies, depending on the type of beans we are cooking. (And when we cook beans in a pressure cooker, it is good to cook them uncovered for the first fifteen minutes, removing the foam.) It is useful to add a bay leaf or a piece of kombu seaweed at the beginning of cooking, because both contain ingredients that help the digestive system.
Beans are often prepared in the form of soups with vegetables. Look recipe for bean soup with vegetables by Cvijeta Mesić >>>
Cvijeta Mesic, Authorized instructor macrobiotic cooking by School of Healing Arts, San Diego, USA
