Food Focus: Beans
By Erica Cowart
Beans, or legumes, including peas and lentils, are an excellent source of plant-based protein. Beans are found in most traditional cultures as a staple food, offering grounding and strengthening properties that enhance endurance. They offer a highly usable, highly absorbable source of calcium for the body. A very inexpensive source of high nutrition, beans can be rich, delicious and satisfying.
Lack of sexual energy is often due to overtaxed adrenal glands and kidneys. Beans are known for strengthening these organs (ever noticed the shape of a bean?)
and can help restore vital energy as well as sexual energy.
Beans have a reputation for causing digestive distress, but this is usually because they have been undercooked or improperly prepared. To help reduce gas-forming properties, soak beans overnight prior to cooking, increase cooking time, add spices like bay leaf, oregano or cumin, or add kombu (a sea vegetable) when cooking.
Easy Beans and Greens 
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Yield: 2-3 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans (or pinto, red, kidney—your choice)
- 1 bunch collard greens (or kale, spinach—your choice)
- your favorite toppings, such as salsa, avocado or guacamole and sour cream
- In a medium saucepan, heat drained beans. Add your favorite seasonings, if desired.
- Fill a separate medium saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
- Wash and chop greens (you can use the stems, too) and add to boiling water.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until greens are bright green and tender. Drain off water.
- On a plate, arrange a portion of the greens, top with a portion of the beans and finish with toppings of your choice.
Recipe Provided By Erica Cowart
Erica is a Holistic Health Counselor, Model, and Freelance writer living in Las Vegas, NV. She decided to become a health counselor to fulfill her passion of working with busy Moms, and career oriented women, to improve their health, happiness, and family life. Erica is certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and SUNY Purchase College in NYC, as well as, having a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences. She gives lectures on nutrition, leads healthy shopping tours, writes holistic health articles for local and global publications, writes a monthly newsletter, as well as, offers individual/group coaching to busy women, and their families. You can schedule a free consultation with Erica through her website, www.ericacowartswellnessforlife.info
