It’s a challenge to keep cool during hot sticky weather. Beans are the perfect solution for this type of weather. They cool you down and drain damp so you feel less heavy and fatigued. Beans are packed with fiber and protein and chocked full of vitamins and minerals. As a bonus, they’re also fantastic for weight loss. These beans are superheroes on hot humid days:
Aduki Beans - good source of iron, zinc, magnesium, folate, and potassium
Black Beans - good source of Vitamin B1, manganese, iron, omega 3s, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous
Garbanzo Beans - good source of Vitamin B6, manganese, phosphorous, iron, copper, and magnesium
Mung Beans - good source of Vitamin B1, magnesium, folate, and manganese
Here is an easy black bean salad that cools you off, drains damp, and builds more blood and qi so you feel lighter and full of energy.
Blood-Nourishing Black Bean Salad
1 can of black beans or 15-16 oz of
pre-soaked dry black beans
1-2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
3-4 green onions, chopped into 1/2″ pcs
1 red or green bell pepper, chopped
1-2 T fresh parsley
1-2 T fresh dill
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon or 1-2 T lemon juice
Rinse black beans and place in medium-sized bowl. Add tomatoes, bell pepper, green onions, corn kernels and jalapeno. Add 1/4 c of olive oil and lemon juice and stir. Add fresh parsley and dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy at room temperature.
For those familiar with TCM: This recipe nourishes blood and qi while also promoting circulation and draining damp.
Source for nutrients of beans: Nutrition Data available at http://nutritiondata.self.com/