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Pinto Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) As A Functional Food: Implications On Human Health, Cristiane R. S. Câmara, Carlos A. Urrea, Vicki Schlegel

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Most foods are considered functional in terms of providing nutrients and energy to sustain daily life, but dietary systems that are capable of preventing or remediating a stressed or diseased state are classified as functional foods. Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) contain high levels of chemically diverse components (phenols, resistance starch, vitamins, fructooligosaccharides) that have shown to protect against such conditions as oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and many types of cancer, thereby positioning this legume as an excellent functional food. Moreover, the United States has a rich dry bean history and is currently a top producer …