Eat These, Weigh Less

Maybe they’re called “magical fruit” in children’s rhymes for a reason . . .

Just not for the flatulence-producing reasons kids obsess about. What really makes beans magical is their potential effect on your waistline: Bean eaters weigh less on average than non-bean-imbibing folks do.

Bean Counting

In fact, bean eaters weigh as much as 6.6 pounds less, according to RealAge expert John La Puma, MD, author of ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine. Makes sense when you consider beans are full of fiber and protein but low in fat, which means a serving will keep you going far beyond the need-to-munch hour but only make a minor dent in your calorie intake.

Recipe Corner

Beans are anything but boring if you try these tasty, bean-filled recipes from EatingWell: