An expensive bowl of beans is the c

An expensive bowl of beans is the centerpiece of the daily diet of more than 400 million people in the tropics. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) provides a highly nutritious food, containing protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and micronutrients. As such, beans strongly reinforce food and nutrition security among poor consumers, while also reducing the risk of cardio-vascular disease and diabetes.