Can California red beans fight depression? Foods can fight depression if you are deficient in their nutrients. California red beans happen to be quite high in nutrients associated with depression. They are high in folate, iron, magnesium, zinc, and B6, all important brain-building nutrients.

However, when we consider the mineral content of beans, the data are somewhat misleading because beans have a substance that inhibits your absorption of iron called phytic acid. You can improve your absorption of iron in beans by eating your beans with a high vitamin C food such as fresh tomato or orange. Salsa on beans certainly works. Eating your beans with meat will help as well.

There are also easy food preparation techniques to make the iron, magnesium, and zinc  more easily absorbed. Soak the beans overnight to reduce the phytic acid in the food. The amount of time you soak your beans and the soaking temperature both matter. The right technique will improve the iron absorption of your beans and will also help them cook more quickly. Read more about phytic acid in beans to improve your iron absorption.

Related posts:

Soaking beans to increase iron absorption at the Rebuild blog

Soaking grains to reduce phytic acid at the Rebuild blog

Phytic acid in soy: Stick with fermented soy at the Rebuild blog

Soy milk and phytic acid: A mineral-dense food? at Phytic Acid Research

Phytic acid in nuts: How much and is it a problem? at Phytic Acid Research