Pinto-Beans
Pinto-Beans ~ Natures Super Foods
Pinto-Beans Combine the creamy pink texture of these super beans with a whole grain such as brown rice and you have a virtually fat-free high quality protein meal. These super legumes have a beige background strewn with reddish brown splashes of color. They're like little painted canvases, á la Monet; hence their name "pinto", which in Spanish means "painted." When cooked, their colored splotches disappear, and they become a beautiful pink hue. Health Benefits Pinto beans are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, as are most other beans. They're also an excellent source of molybdenum, a very good source of folate and manganese, and a good source of protein and vitamin-B1 as well as the minerals phosphorous, iron, magnesium, potassium, and copper. Pinto-Beans are a Fiber All Star Pinto beans, like other beans, are rich in fiber. A cup of cooked pinto beans provides 58.8% of the recommended daily intake for fiber. Go Ahead ~ Lower Your Heart Attack Risk Pinto beans' contribution to heart health lies not just in their fiber, but in the significant amounts of folate, magnesium, and potassium these beans supply. A single cup of cooked pinto beans provides 73.5% of the recommended daily intake for folate. Pinto beans' good supply of magnesium puts yet another plus in the column of its beneficial cardiovascular effects. Magnesium is Nature's own calcium channel blocker. Potassium, an important electrolyte involved in nerve transmission and the contraction of all muscles including the heart, is another mineral that is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Pinto beans are ready to promote your cardiovascular health by being a good source of this mineral, as well. A one cup serving of these super beans provide 800.3 mg of potassium and only 3.4 mg of sodium, making these beans an especially good choice to prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis. Sensitive to Sulfites ~ Pinto-Beans Can Help These super legumess are an excellent source of the trace mineral, molybdenum, an integral component of the enzyme sulfite oxidase, which is responsible for detoxifying sulfites. Sulfites are a type of preservative commonly added to prepared foods like delicatessen salads and salad bars. Persons who are sensitive to sulfites in these foods may experience rapid heartbeat, headache or disorientation if sulfites are unwittingly consumed. These symptoms are similar to those who are sensitive to MSG in various foods. Copper & Manganese ~ More Help with Energy Production Plus Antioxidant Defense
Copper is also necessary for the activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme involved in cross-linking collagen and elastin, both of which provide the ground substance and flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints. Maintain Your Memory with Thiamin (Vitamin B1) The B vitamin, thiamin participates in enzymatic reactions central to energy production and is also critical for brain cell/cognitive function. Pinto-Beans & Protein Power, Plus When you get your protein from pinto beans, you also get the blood sugar stabilizing and heart health benefits of the soluble fiber provided by these versatile legumes. A cup of pinto beans provides 14 grams of protein, that's 28.1% of the daily value for protein. And, A Few Quick Serving Ideas: Use pinto beans in chili recipes in place of or combined with kidney beans. 
Marilyn and I like to combine all the super beans, so I suppose we could call it a "six bean chili".
Now that's a super healthy meal! Blend together pinto beans with sage, oregano, garlic and black pepper for a delicious spread that can be used as a dip or perhaps a sandwich filling.
Layer cooked pinto beans, chopped tomatoes and onions and shredded cheese on a tortilla. Broil in the oven until hot and cheese melts.
Top with chopped avocado and cilantro.
You can add pinto beans to vegetable soups.
Heat pinto beans together with cooked rice.
Add to cooked, chopped vegetables such as carrots, zucchini and tomatoes.
Season to taste and enjoy this simple-to-prepare one pot meal.
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