It ain’t February yet but it’s always nice to remind one another “Let's love our hearts”.

Heart month is red -  the color of fire, love, prosperity, temper and blood.

Yet, there’s something intriguing about black even if it has always been associated with death and emptiness.  Black also suggests protection, invisibility and making money (like the saying  ‘in the black ’ as opposed to ‘being in the red’ or debt-ridden).

Among food, legumes or beans protect the body’s immune system.  According to the Mayo Clinic, they  contain no cholesterol, are low in fat  but high in folate, potassium, iron and magnesium which are energy boosters. (Advice from dietitians: While legumes are protein-rich, they must be combined with another legume or grain in order to form a balanced diet. Putting it simply, black/red beans and rice, peanut butter on wheat bread.)

Eat black beans with brown rice to make a complete protein.

More than a hundred years ago, beans were referred to as the poor man’s meat and were used as substitute for protein. Among the bean varieties, the black ones have been found to have the most antioxidant activity, followed by red, brown, yellow and white beans. 

Black beans are one of nature’s best sources of overall nutrition and are very good for the heart:

• • Rich in fiber which help in preventing blood sugar levels from spiking up after a meal and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Once in the intestines, the fiber joins the bile acids and takes them along when discharged from the body. In other words, fiber in black beans prevents constipation and enhances the stool volume. 


• • Loaded with protein, they’re a good source of meat-free food.


• • Contain the same amount of  antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins. (Plants rich in anthocyanins include grapes,blueberry, cranberry, black rice, red cabbage).


• • Rich in folate (or folic acid) which is important in the formation of red blood cells. Folate fights birth defects, helps  lower the risk of heart diseases, contributes to normal cell growth and in the metabolism of proteins.


• • Contains iron and magnesium which are good for the heart because they help build resistance to stress, improve the flow of blood and oxygen through every cell in the body. Magnesium also helps veins and arteries to relax.


• • Potassium helps keep a normal heart beat and the balance between acid and alkaline in the blood.

Long known as meat of poor men (& women)? 

We prefer to call black beans as the heart’s best friend.

Entrust your heart with Skywheat Wheatgrass Plus. It’s a powerful combination of wheatgrass powder and five kinds of legumes – black beans, barley, soy beans, wheat and natto.