BROAD BEANS

1 Broad beans are an excellent vegetable source of protein and fibre. This may be a winning combination for weight loss. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010 found that overweight women on a high protein, high-fibre diet lost more weight than those on the standard high carbohydrate, low-fat regime that currently forms the basis of Government “healthy eating” advice. 2 They are also rich in both folate and B vitamins, which we need for nerve and blood cell development, cognitive function and energy. 3 Broad beans contain lectin, a protein found in many plants, and research has shown that those from broad beans may alter the behaviour of cancer cells in the colon. They attach to carbohydrate molecules before being absorbed into the cells lining the colon during digestion. They appear to be able to modify the behaviour of cancerous cells, halting the disease process.