 By Mary A. Flowers
My father told me that during the Depression of the 1930's his family ate mostly beans. He made himself a promise that when he was grown he would no longer eat beans. He kept that promise for many years. My mother complied by not preparing beans in our house. Daddy hated beans…or so he thought. Then one day it happened. He was at a family gathering where beans were served, and being a polite person, ate his share. His love affair with beans began. He couldn't get enough of beans. And by beans, we mean the pinto bean variety. "Beans and cornbread can't be beat," he would say. Aside from this, my father had a remarkable memory despite years of bad health. Even into advanced age he could recall events and names with clarity. His mind remained sharp his entire life. He had no idea that the beans he hated, and then loved, probably played an important role in helping him retain his memory. New research suggests that foods rich in folic acid can boost brain power, and possibly protect against Alzheimer's disease. In a study at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, researchers tracked the diets of 965 people 65 and older for six years and found that participants whose diets were rich in foods such as green leafy vegetables, beans of all types, citrus fruits, and fortified breads and cereals, foods containing the highest amount of folic acid, had the lowest risk of developing Alzheimer's. It seems that beans are truly a "magical fruit". (Click on the Dining and Cooking tab for tips on preparing pintos) Easy Preparation Recipe
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