Are refried beans healthy for you?
Basic refried beans are made from pinto beans, onion, garlic and bacon fat or lard.
1. Though fried in lard, it is surprisingly low fat with just 3 gm of total fat in 1 cup of refried beans.
2. One cup of refried beans has 210 calories.
3. Refried beans provide both protein and iron
4. Refried beans provide both insoluble and soluble fiber, both of which play important roles in your digestion and absorption of food.
5. They contain antioxidant vitamin C and energy-providing B vitamins
6. Refried beans and other legumes are rich in complex carbohydrates, magnesium and folate
7. Refried beans are also a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps maintain normal blood pressure.
Are they healthy?
Yes! They are!
To make them healthier, make your own recipe by draining and rinsing canned pinto beans to remove extra sodium, then mash them coarsely and mix with cilantro, garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook the mashed beans with chopped onions in 1 tbsp. of olive oil. Enjoy a heart friendly, low fat, no trans fat, zero cholesterol meal.
