Haricot Beans

Haricot beans are small dry white beans which are a staple in baked bean dishes along with soups and chilis. When people think of beans, some think of haricots, as they are rather ubiquitous. Many markets sell haricots, and they can also be grown at home, if you have enough room in your garden for beans. Haricots have a high carb count but a much lower "net carb" or "digestible carb" content. They contain several vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of dietary fibre, which has a number of health benefits. For example, fibre helps protect against digestive disorders and disease. According to at least one clinical diet study, an eating-plan rich in beans can help patients with either type 2 or type 1 diabetes to reduce their daily insulin intake. Healthy low-carb diets typically recommend beans in later phases of the diet plan. Due to their high soluble fibre content (inc. gums, beta glucans, pectin), legumes are digested very slowly, are thus low on the glycaemic index, and help maintain stable blood glucose levels and healthier glucose metabolism. Eating more beans helps to reduce the effect of high glycaemic index foods by lowering the glycaemic value of meals. In addition to providing a source of food, beans are also nitrogen fixers, so they will enrich the soil that they are planted in.