Are Beans Magical?

Some people are fat, some people are lean
But I want you to show me the person
Who doesn't like butterbeans!
The B-52s
Butter beans, lima beans, and fava beans are varieties of the broad bean. These legumes have been growing from flowering vines in Peru for over 8000 years, where the limey, loamy soil is very friendly to the bean’s health. Pizarro named it the “City of Kings”, for it was founded on the Epiphany; the locals changed it to Lima for the beautiful cliffs upon which the city was erected. These delightful morsels have a creamy, buttery texture when cooked, but some varieties can be deadly, for they all contain cyanide compounds. In Japan, baby varieties are used to make “an”, a pasty concoction used in desserts. They are very nutritious, being high in soluble fiber potassium, iron, copper, folates, and manganese. Their high potassium, low sodium content helps lower blood pressure; since they are low in fat, high in fiber and protein, they make and excellent vegan alternative to meat. Lima beans contain protease inhibitors, which thwarts the growth of cancer cells; the folates promote healthy blood cell growth.