Beans return to the center of discussions about health

World Bean Day, celebrated on February 10, rekindles the debate on changes in the Brazilian diet and its direct effects on public health. In recent decades, beans have been losing their place on the daily plate, while the rates of chronic diseases associated with poor diet are increasing. Recurring estimates in public debate point to around 57 thousand premature deaths per year related to diabetes, in addition to a direct impact of approximately R$ 45 billion on the Unified Health System, adding up the costs of care and indirect effects such as loss of productivity, absences from work, and family complications. In this context, beans are presented as a central part of a structural solution. More than just a single food, they support the Ready-Made Plate, composed of rice, beans, vegetables, and greens, recognized as an accessible, culturally ingrained, and cost-effective nutritional base. The defense of this standard is treated as a practical strategy to reduce the incidence of ...