Zesting an assortment of dishes invariably enhances their flavour. The use of dried herbs, spices and other seasonings can do wonders to the aroma and taste of any dish. In addition, the use of these herbs and spices can do a lot to improve your health and well-being as well. Not surprisingly, many chefs and culinary experts urge people to use all kinds of herbs and spices in their dishes – especially meat-based ones. Lovers of meat-based dishes will often highlight the importance of consuming meat. Meats contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals and proteins. Thus, regular and balanced consumption of meat could give your body the right amount of nutrients it needs.

For people who do not consume meat, beans and lentils can be superb alternatives. In fact, when you want to enhance the protein content of any dish, simply add beans and legumes to it. Not only do these foods pack a lot of nutrition in them. They remain available and affordable throughout the year. Interestingly, dried beans and lentils come in an array of types. It goes without saying that each person will have one specific variety of dried beans or lentils that they favour over others. You can even cook these foods in a myriad of ways. For instance, you could cook them with chopped vegetables and add them to scrambled eggs. Alternatively, you could combine beans with other foods and use it as a filling for your bell peppers.

Almost every Australian neighbourhood abounds in fresh and dried beans suppliers. These suppliers stock an extensive range of lentils and beans. These superb plant-based protein sources can be immensely versatile and delicious. More importantly, if you want to reduce your weight, adding beans to your diet can help you meet your goals. Fresh and dried beans can be superb additions to your diet because they come packed with:

• Proteins: Estimates suggest that one cup of beans contains 15 grams of protein. It also contains approximately 1.2 grams of amino acid leucine. This substance helps in building muscle.

• Fibre: If you want to reduce your bad or unhealthy cholesterol, consider adding fibre to your diet. Beans make superb high-fibre foods. In addition to lowering your bad cholesterol levels, fibres can provide satiety as well.

• Prebiotic Ingredients: Beans contain prebiotic ingredients. These indigestible ingredients reside in the gut, where the good bacteria proliferate. These microorganisms feed on these prebiotic ingredients, thereby enhancing the health of your intestines. Healthy intestines facilitate the loss of weight. They also enhance your immunity levels.

Humans have been cultivating beans for thousands of years. These healthy foods can give your body the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, iron, fibre and calories it needs. The versatility of these foods makes them easy to cook in an assortment of ways too. You can eat them with meat, combine them with salads or grain bowls and include them with dips, spreads and sauces.

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