UNAM
Revista Digital Universitaria
Revista Digital Universitaria ISSN: 1607 - 6079 | Publicación mensual | 1 de febrero de 2015 vol.16, No.2

ABSTRACT

The role of beans in the nutritional health of the Mexican population



Amanda Gálvez, Gabriela Salinas


Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) along with maize, squash, quelites (greens collected in the milpa) and other nourishments take part of the milpa (the maize family plot), a polycrop sustainable system that give place to the Mexican traditional diet. Now, it is know that this legume seed, native to Mexico, has an important role in maintaining the nutritional health of the Mexican population because it has an important proportion of macro and micronutrients as well as it provides other bioactive substances demonstrating beneficial effects beyond nutrition. In spite of all that, an alarming decrease in bean consumption, and in general of plant protein, has been observed as a consequence of changing life style. Consumption of animal protein and high caloric density foods is now preferred, and it is directly connected to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, all of them are preventable with a good nutrition. The current and potential health problems of more than 70% of the Mexican population suffering from overweight or obesity have reached alarming levels.



Keywords: bean, legumes, nutrition, traditional Mexican diet, Mesoamerican diet, plant protein.