Dry Beans Provide Complex Carbohydrates

Sixty to 65% of the calories in dry beans are from carbohydrates, predominantly in the form of starch, resistant starch, and small amounts of non starch polysaccharides. Dry beans have a low glycemic index, with values varying from 27 42% relative to glucose and 40 59% relative to white bread. The reduced glycemic index of dry beans helps reduce the glycemic load of the diet when served in a mixed meal. The properties of the carbohydrates found in dry beans, along with their fiber content, make them ideal foods for the management of abnormalities associated with insulin resistance, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.