In South Korea, black beans are considered an elixir of health and beauty, a beauty secret for achieving healthy, strong hair and toned and radiant skin. And if you take a closer look at the skincare and haircare products in your collection, you may just find that black beans are the star ingredient.
But what exactly are they? And why are they so good for our skin and hair? Read our full guide below…
What are black beans?
Black beans (scientific name Phaseolus vulgaris) are a legume native to South and Central America, where they were already cultivated and consumed by pre-Columbian people, such as the Mayans and Aztecs.
The world’s largest producer of this legume is Brazil, where “feijão preto” is an integral part of the national culinary tradition and the daily diet of many in the population. Nutritious and inexpensive, and higher in protein and fibre than other bean varieties, this food is full to the brim with nutrients that help create strong hair and radiant skin.
Black beans are not only a staple food in Korean, Caribbean and Latin American cuisines: they’re a super-legume with a rich and complex nutritional profile. They contain minerals such as iron, magnesium, and calcium, as well as B vitamins, folic acid (essential during pregnancy), powerful antioxidants like anthocyanins, amino acids valuable for athletes, and protein needed to strengthen muscles —a priority today, even for women.
They’re also a versatile, inexpensive and tasty food that is useful for increasing the amount of protein in our diet, especially if, for ethical reasons or to safeguard the planet, we are trying to reduce meat consumption. Here’s how they stack up nutritionally:
Nutritional values of 170g black beans (cooked)
- Calories: 227
- Protein: 15 grams
- Fats: 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 41 grams
- Fibre: 15 grams
- Folic acid: 64% of the recommended daily value (DV)
- Copper: 40% of the DV
- Manganese: 33% of the DV
- Magnesium: 29% of the DV
- Iron: 20% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 19% of the DV
- Potassium: 13% of the DV
- Vitamin B6: 7% of the DV
- Calcium: 2% of the DV
- Selenium: 2% of the DV
Black beans: properties and benefits
- They help create strong hair: the combination of minerals such as iron and zinc, vitamins such as biotin and folic acid (vitamin B9), and amino acids and antioxidants, makes black beans a highly beneficial food for health, vitality, and healthy hair growth
- Chock-full of antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids, they fight free radicals and help maintain supple, toned skin
- They are rich in anthocyanins, antioxidants that help prevent degenerative diseases
- Due to their high fibre content, they promote proper digestion and intestinal transit
- Rich in prebiotic fibre, they are beneficial for the gut microbiome
- They help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol
- They help stabilise blood sugar levels
- Rich in protein and fibre, they give a sense of satiety, keeping you full for longer