What are Legumes?

Legumes are plants that have pods with tiny rows of seeds inside. Beans, peas, lentils and peanuts are all considered legumes. Black beans, black-eyed peas, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, fava beans and kidney beans and all other beans are legumes Split peas, yellow peas, green peas and all lentils are also legumes.

Legumes are extremely healthy. They are low in fat and high in protein, fiber and antioxidants. They contain calcium, folate, zinc, iron and selenium. They also provide a low glycemic index (GI) and may reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity.

Legumes are a rich source of vegetarian protein, offering less fat and more fiber than meat protein sources.