Beans refer to any edible seed that belongs to the legume family
They are a great source of protein, iron, calcium and are high in fibre. And now have been found to reduce nausea, it’s a win, win situation for the bean!
Chinese medicine
In Chinese medicine beans are placed in categories in regards to temperature, meaning they are warming, cooling or neutral. Most beans fit into the neutral and cool category with a few like black beans that are warm. Either way, they are good for the absorption of hormones within the Gastrointestinal Tract (GI).
Molybdenum
50 -90% of women suffer from nausea during their pregnancy, with the nausea and vomiting usually starting within the 6-7th week, and generally subsiding by week 12-14.
However some still suffer past week 20 and this can occur at any time day or night. This nausea during pregnancy could be the excess sulfite within the GI, from the changes within the body.
A recent study (Taylor et al.) has shown that molybdenum helps with morning sickness.
Beans contain this essential trace mineral, found in high concentrations in all beans.
It activates enzymes that help break down harmful sulfites and prevent toxins from building up in the body.
Cooking better beans
Some people leave beans out of their diet due to flatulence, as their body cannot digest them properly. The best way to reduce this side effect is to change the way you cook them.
In our home we soak our raw beans overnight before they are used in cooking. If you do not want to soak them overnight, I suggest you slowly cook them, bringing them to a boil, then turn down to a light simmer for two hours to soften. Allow to cool in the water, then return them to a low heat for another hour to cook a little more.
One simple way to eat beans is to make a classic hummus from chickpeas or white beans.
It’s easy to store in the fridge after making, to snack on throughout the day.
Hummus Recipe
- 300 grams dried white beans, soaked overnight and simmered / cooked for 2-3 hours
( or use traditional chickpeas, however I prefer the smoother consistency of the white, or cannellini bean)
Otherwise Use 400g tin beans drained and rinsed.
- 1 tablespoon unhulled tahini paste ( or more for a nuttier taste)
- Extra virgin olive oil ( approx ¼ cup+)
- Juice of 1 small lemon ( approx ¼ cup+ depending on your love of lemon)
- Sea salt ( to your taste, however don’t under season or your finished product will be bland.
- Optional – Add some roasted garlic, 1-2 cloves. This will make it richer in flavour. I usually roast a few cloves in their skins when I’m baking something like roast vegetables, Then keep them aside in the fridge for this later use like this.
Add all ingredients to a food processor and blitz until smooth. Adjust with filtered water if the mix is too dry.
Parsley ‘Salsa Verde’ Topping
And for a further boost to your digestion, and reduction in nausea symptoms;
Blend or fine slice ½ cup of parsley, one clove of garlic, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and one tablespoon olive oil and drizzling this into ‘well’ in the hommus just before serving.
Serve with,
Vegetable crudites, sweet potato chips, grilled flatbread
Acupressure points to alleviate nausea and vomiting:
PC6 – Wrist Point
LV3 – KI1 – direct pressure from one side to another.
PC6 – on the inner forearm, approximately 5cm from the wrist crease in a depression between the two largest tendons, slightly to the thumb side of the midline. ( pic 1.1 )
LV3 – situated in the tender depression distal to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones. (pic 1.2)
KD-1 is located on the sole of the foot, in the depression formed when the toes are flexed. (pic 1.3 )
Melinda is a Dr. Chinese Medicine and can be contacted at www.melindawebb.com.au | hello@melindawebb.com.au
