I’ve been eating a plant-based diet for 17 years. It has been pivotal in how I’ve aged, my overall health and is the one and the only reason I am able to maintain my ideal weight without issue. Beans instead of meat is a key principle.  The simple combo of rice and beans supplies the same nutrients as most meat, but with the added bonus of fiber, which animal tissue lacks.

Today’s high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate diet can easily become a diet insufficient in fiber. The principle “beans instead of meat” solves this problem. Fiber is key to a healthy colon. Colon cancer is the 2^nd leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. Our obsession with a high protein low carbohydrate diet is literally killing us in the form of heart disease and colon cancer. Swapping out beans for meat is an easy, extremely beneficial adjustment you can make in your diet for long term great health and disease prevention.

Be willing to try new flavors, experiment with new recipes, and more importantly, understand that beans are not the carbohydrates that are causing us to gain weight. If you want to go low carbohydrate, cut out all flour products, not beans, rice, lentils, potatoes or squash.

If you’d like more information on easy plant-based recipes or how to incorporate a more plant-based diet into your life for weight loss and great health, it would be my pleasure to help you.

5 ingredient Black Bean and Corn chili

15 min prep, 30 min cook
2 can Black beans- rinsed
1 can Fire-roasted Corn
1 can Fire-roasted Tomatoes
2T Taco Seasoning
1 Green bell pepper
1 Yellow Onion
2 T olive oil
Dice yellow onion and green pepper, sauté in oil with taco seasoning until tender-crisp. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer for 30 min.

C.J. English

Best Selling Author, and Rejuv’s Body and Wellness Director