Health experts are urging Americans to eat more beans and legumes, noting they are cheap, nutrient-dense foods that remain underused despite their wide-ranging health benefits. New York-based nutrition and wellness expert Samantha Cassetty, founder of Sam's Plate, says fewer than 14% of American adults eat beans on any given day, which she calls a missed opportunity given their protein, fibre and slow-releasing carbohydrate content.

Cassetty and other experts highlight beans as a source of steady energy, heart-supporting nutrients and digestive benefits, recommending greater variety in the beans people choose to include in meals. The article also references a TikTok user, Koya Simpson, who said eating two cans of beans daily curbed her appetite, eased anxiety, and improved her workouts and mood, underscoring the growing public interest in beans as an accessible health food.