What could be simpler and more inspirational than opening canned beans?

While they have been a staple in diets worldwide for more than 200 years, they are a great choice for today's healthy-minded consumers.

Containing protein, fiber, and iron, canned beans are convenient sources of these and other vitamins and minerals that are important for a nutritious diet.
They are so versatile they can be enjoyed whole, pureed, mashed, added into other foods, or ground into flour.
They can be included as part breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack or even dessert.
Canned beans are also a great addition to a plant-based diet. They make it easy to eat more plants and reduce meat intake while maintaining a healthy diet.
And, canned beans save time and money, too. They are extremely affordable, always in season and always ready to use.

When thinking canned beans,
the opportunities are endless.

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When thinking canned beans, the opportunities are endless.

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Health and Nutrition

Did you ever wonder if nutrition professionals really think or eat differently than most people? We have. So, we conducted research this year to find out.

Not surprisingly, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and consumers vary significantly in their consumption of canned beans and their level of understanding of the health benefits of canned beans. RDNs, for example, are much more likely to use canned beans than consumers. There are also wide gaps in attitudes toward canned beans, with consumers lagging far behind RDNs in understanding the many health benefits.

RDNs are much more likely to eat beans at least weekly—and are much more likely to use canned beans than consumers.

RDNs

Consumers

Frequency of eating beans

Those who eat beans, "always / often" Use

RDNs are much more familiar than consumers with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans' statement

"Diets including beans may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers."

of RDNs reported having heard this statement

of consumers reported having having heard this statement

RDNs are much more familiar with DGA statement

"Diets including beans may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers."

of RDNs reported having heard this statement

of consumers reported having having heard this statement

Consumers are missing out.
Learn more about canned beans and nutrition.

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Plant-Based Diet

Eat more plants! That's the consistent message from the nutrition community. But is it realistic?

Many RDNs indicate they are reducing their overall meat intake and eating more plants. In fact, almost half, or 43% say they do not eat meat often, and 9% say they never eat meat at all. Ninety-four percent of RDNs say they recommend their clients reduce meat intake, and while a large majority of RDNs (89%) recommend moving toward plant-based eating, only 33% of consumers are currently on board. Eighty percent of RDNs agree that canned beans make it easy to eat more plants.

Learn more about canned beans as part of plant-based diets.

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RDN Recommendations

RDNs who recommended a reduction of meat intake

RDNs who recommended moving toward a plant-based diet

Consumer plant-based diet attitudes

Learn more about canned beans as part of plant-based diets.

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Consumer plant-based diet attitudes

Versatility

From main dishes to sides, appetizers to desserts, cooked to straight-from-the can, the versatility and convenience of canned beans can't be beat.

RDNs understand that canned beans are among the most versatile, nutritious foods. In fact, in a recent survey conducted among RDNs, they offered a number of suggestions for ways their clients can add more beans to their diets. Whether using canned beans to replace meat, choosing canned beans for convenience or creating delicious, nutritious bean-based menu options, canned beans are an excellent option for today's healthy minded consumers.

Advice they give when recommending beans

Learn more about the versatility of canned beans.

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Fun Facts

It's no secret that canned beans are nutritious. But did you know the way they are produced actually helps to seal out harmful bacteria?

It's hard to believe it's even possible, but did you know there is one simple step you can take to improve their nutritional profile?

And, aside from human health, did you know that canned beans are good for the environment?

There are as many fun canned bean facts as there are ways to use them.

Learn more fun facts about canned beans

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Recipes

The Start of Something Good…

Delicious, nutritious, inexpensive, and easy to use, canned beans add taste, texture, and nutrition to any meal. Added to an entrée, the foundation of a side, the best part of a starter or a surprise ending as part of a dessert, canned beans can do! In fact, there are so many good and good-for-you things about canned beans, we're not sure how we fit them all into a can.

Click here for delicious recipes that bring the goodness from the can to your plate.

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Educational Tools

Our research indicates that RDNs are keenly interested in tools they can share with clients, media, fans, and followers. On this page you'll find everything you need to educate about how easy, nutritious and delicious it is to eat more canned beans.

Checkout the Toolkit

Supporting Research

Health and nutrition experts agree beans are an important part of a healthy, nutritious and delicious diet.

Following are our top ten reasons why everyone should eat more beans with supporting resources listed.

Eating beans can promote digestive health. ¹
Adequate bean consumption can lower both total and LDL-cholesterol levels. ²
Eating beans can help prevent heart disease. ²
Eating beans can help control blood sugar. ^{3, 4}
Eating beans can help people lose or maintain weight. ⁵
Eating beans can help prevent cancer. ⁶
Rinsing canned beans is an effective way to reduce total sodium content and improve their health profile. ⁷
People who eat beans regularly have a longer life expectancy than people who don't eat beans regularly. ⁸
According to research conducted by Bush Brothers and Company (March 2020), Registered Dietitian Nutritionists agree that consumers should consume more canned beans for good health. ⁹
The USDA classifies beans as a subgroup of the vegetable group and as part of the protein foods group, so they deliver two times the nutritional punch.¹⁰

Anderson JW, Baird P, Davis RH, Ferreri S, Knudtson M, Koraym A, et al. Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutr Rev. 2009;67(4):188-205
Brown L, Rosner B, Willett WW, Sacks FM. Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:30-42
Leathwood P, Pollet P. Effects of slow release carbohydrates in the form of bean flakes on the evolution of hunger and satiety in man. Appetite. 1988;10(1):1-11.
Hosseinpour-Niazi S, Mirmiran P, Sohrab G, Hosseini-Esfahani F, Azizi F. Inverse association between fruit, legume, and cereal fiber and the risk of metabolic syndrome: Tehran lipid and glucose study. Diabetes Res Clin Prac. 2011;94:276-283.
Shana J Kim, Russell J de Souza, Vivian L Choo, Vanessa Ha, et al.. Effects of dietary pulse consumption on body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2016 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.124677
Amarowicz R, Pegg RB. Legumes as a source of natural antioxidants. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol. 2008;110:865-878.
https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/11227-does-rinsing-canned-beans-remove-sodium
Darmadi-Blackberry I, Wahlqvist ML, Kouris-Blazos A, et al. Legumes: the most important dietary predictor of survival in older people of different ethnicities. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(2):217-220.
BUSH's Beans Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Research, March 2020
United States Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services. Chapter 1 in Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020, 8th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, January 2015. [cited 2020 Aug 23].