Lima Legend

Lima Beans have been around Peru for 7,000 years, but have only been in the US since the 19th century.  They are also called chad beans, or butter beans, because of their starchy and buttery texture. Lima beans were named after the capital city of Peru, can you guess what it is?  Have you ever tasted a Lima bean?  I'm sure you have, but they tend not to be a very memorable bean.  You might have seen it in some soups, or the famous dish called succotash.  I bet  you are wondering why people even eat Lima beans if they don't have that great of a flavor.  Well it turns out they are great for you! Who would have thought?  Lima beans happen to have a cholesterol-reducing fiber and dietary fiber.  Lima beans also have the ability to detoxify sulfites, which some people are sensitive to.  Lima beans have been shown to lower risk  for heart disease because of the fiber, magnesium, and folate content.  Protein, anti-oxidants, iron, and energy can all be found on the wonderful Lima bean.  So there you have it, many reasons why Lima beans should be consumed more in your diet.  Go ahead, get some for dinner!  They are seasonal in the summer, but are available canned year round.  Mix it with corn, or rice, or even a bean salad.  Try out that succotash dish, or make some hearty soup.  Your body will thank you, and you will thank me, and I will thank the World's Healthiest Food's website for such awesome information on Lima beans!  Let me know what you think of Lima beans, and send me some recipes that you used to incorporate them into your diet.  I am very interested in getting these into my diet, as you should be too!

References:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=59


http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/month/fresh_beans.html