Navy beans are small, pea sized beans that are creamy white in color. They are mild in flavor and are dense and smooth. Like most other common beans, navy beans are one of the 13,000 species of the family of legumes, or plants that produce edible pods. Combined with whole grains, such as rice, navy beans provide virtually fat-free high quality protein. 

Navy beans are very rich in cholesterol-lowering fiber. In addition to lowering cholesterol, navy beans' high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making them an excellent choise for individuals suffering from diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. Navy beans also contain folate and manganese and are a great source of protein and vitamin B1 as well as minerals such as phosphorus, copper, magnesium and iron. 

Medicinal Applications:

•       Navy beans are a very rich source of dietary fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in the digestive tract that combines with bile, which contains cholesterol and ferries it out of the body. Studies have shown that insoluble fiber not only helps to increase stool bulk and prevent constipation, but also helps prevent digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.

•       Navy beans can offer substantial help in maintaining a healthy heart. The reason they are so helpful for the heart is not only the rich amounts of fiber, but also the folate and magnesium they contain. Folate helps lower the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is an intermediate product in a metabolic process called methylation cycle. Elevated homocysteine levels are linked to heart attacks, strokes or peripheral vascular disease. Additionally, magnesium helps lessen resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Potassium, which is also present in navy beans, is an improtant electrolyte involed in nerve transmittion and the contraction of all muscles including the heart.

•       In addition to its beneficial effects on the digestive system and the heart, the dietary fiber in the nave beans help stabilise blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy.

•       Navy beans provide slow burning complex carbonhydrates and can also increase ones energy by helping replenish the iron stores. Boosting iron storess with navy beans is excellent for women during menstruation, who are more prone to iron deficiency. Navy beans are a great idea for iron, unlike red meat because they are low in calories and virtually fat-free.

•       Navy beans are a great source of manganese and copper, trace minerals which are essential cofactors of a key oxidative enzyme named superoxide dismutase. This enzyme disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria. Copper is also necessary for the activity of an enzyme involved in cross-linking collagen and elastin, both of wich provide flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.

•       Thiamin present in navy beans, also known as vitamin B1, is critical for brain cell or cognitive function. Thiamine is important for the synthesis of acetylcholine, are important neurotransmitter essential for memory.

•       Navy beans can replace red meat because they are a good source of protein and when combined with a whole grain, provide protein comparable to that of meat or dairy foods without the caloric surplus or saturated fat found in meat. 

Safety Profile:

Navy beans have a high oxalate content. Oxalates are naturally occuring organic acids found in a wide variety of foods and in the case of certain medical conditions, they must be greatly restricted to prevent over-accumulation inside the body.