An Easy Way to Five A Day!

We all know that eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is good for us. Saying and doing it though isn’t always the same thing – especially where kids are involved. Eaten regularly, beans and peas can help in the fight against diseases such as cancer and heart disease as well as boosting your immune system.  Here are some other great reasons to place beans and peas firmly on your family’s menu planner.

Eat to protect

It's estimated that 4 out of 10 of us (Cancer Research Campaign) will get cancer at some point in our lives and that about 30 per cent of all cancers may be the result of our diet. What parent wouldn’t want to do all within their power to protect their kid from this particular path? Beans and peas contain high levels of folic acid, flavonoids and Vitamin C all believed to play an important role in the fight against cancer. Folic acid and Vitamin C are thought to have a role in protecting against certain types of cancer and flavonoids (found in broad beans) are believed to have an anti-cancer effect.

Matters of the heart

Folic acid, flavonoids and Vitamin C are believed to be important in the fight against heart disease. New research also suggests folic acid can help to protect against stroke. Naturally low in fat and sodium, beans and peas are the perfect choice for the family concerned about promoting a healthy heart.

B healthy

Broad beans are a good source of Niacin (Vitamin B3) and peas have a high content of Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – both thought to promote a healthy nervous system.

Boost immunity

Kids are great at playing – but such playtimes incur inevitable accidents; from bumps and grazes to breaks and groans! Boost their body’s natural healing system with beans and peas to ensure they get plenty of Vitamin C which plays an important role in the healing of wounds and fractures. Any place where children mix together is a veritable melting pot of infections! Vitamin C helps to energise and protect the body from infections – helping your child to fight off their coughs, colds and capers with greater ease and speed.

Expecting an Extra Setting at the Family Table?

Just one portion (80g) of cooked dwarf beans provides 20% of the RDA of folic acid, which can help expectant mothers stave off infection and boost iron absorption. Folic acid is also necessary for blood cell formation and growth and has been shown to play a significant role in the prevention of neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida, that cause paralysis and death in 2,500 babies each year.