Did you know that beans are a very nutritious food, making them a healthy food secret especially in a vegetarian or vegan diet?  Because they contain an abundance of carbohydrates, many people see beans as a weight gain risk and try to avoid them. But the carbs in most beans are complex, so they do not contribute to weight gain. Instead, beans are a nice source of energy for muscles and the brain. When compared to most other foods, beans contain a wider variety of nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, potassium, folate and alpha-linolenic acid. The nutrients found in beans work together to promote total health in several important areas of the body. Beans are also a great source of complete proteins, which is not typical in plants foods. Protein is essential for a body to function normally and healthily, and the protein found in beans does not have a negative effect on the heart like other high-protein sources.