Is eating canned legumes bad for you? Here are the health risks

They are comfortable and practical to bring to the table, but you shouldn’t overdo it: that’s why canned legumes can be dangerous.

Legumes are an important source of many nutrients such as fiber, protein and vitamins . For this reason they should always be present in a balanced and varied diet. But the simple fact that they take a long time to cook often discourages their consumption. Many people overcome this problem by buying canned legumes, pre-cooked and therefore ready to be consumed . But can they be harmful to our health?

Canned legumes, nutritional values

As already pointed out, legumes are rich in essential substances for the health of our body. They contain proteins, vitamins and minerals, and are also an excellent source of fiber . Compared to their dry counterparts, canned legumes keep their nutritional values unaltered. From this point of view, they are a perfect alternative to bring to the table.

The only big difference is the protein content: the manufacturing process of canned legumes reduces their protein intake. Therefore, care must be taken to correctly balance the various macronutrients. This is especially true for those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet . In fact, legumes are an important source of vegetable protein , and it is therefore better to consume them fresh or dried.

A final note concerns the calories of canned legumes : compared to dried legumes, they have a much lower caloric intake. But in reality, following the cooking process , even dry ones lose most of their calories.

Are canned legumes bad for you?

From what has been said so far, it emerges that the consumption of canned legumes does not constitute a problem for our health. But we must consider other elements: first of all the possible presence of food additives , which can be harmful. Furthermore, these foods are often rich in salt , the abuse of which can cause hypertension and cardiovascular problems.

In some packages, sugar is also added to make the product less bitter. Also in this case, it is important to be careful not to exceed the recommended daily sugar threshold , in order not to run into problems such as obesity and diabetes.

Finally, an eye also to the packaging . The legumes contained in the cans can be contaminated by the presence of toxic substances released from the coating.

How to choose canned legumes

Following some small tips will allow you to consume canned legumes with confidence. First, read the label carefully and buy products that contain the least amount of additives and salt. If you can, go for organic packaging .

Another question that often haunts consumers is this: should canned legumes be washed? It would be better to rinse them with plenty of water before consumption, in order to eliminate a good part of the additives and salt contained in the package.