Beans may get a bad rap for making people gassy, but that's no reason to cut them out of your diet.

1. Beans pack a lot of fiber

Just a half cup of cooked navy beans contains nearly 10 grams of fiber. Beans have fiber in both the skin and the flesh.

2. Beans are good for digestion

Beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, so they work double to keep your digestive system running smoothly. The first slows down digestion, which gives you that full feeling, and the second helps prevent constipation.

Just be sure to drink lots of water while eating beans.

3. Beans can help regulate blood sugar

On top of being high in fiber, most beans also score low on the glycemic index, a ranking of foods based on how they affect blood sugar. Beans help keep your blood sugar steady.

4. Beans can help lower cholesterol

High levels of LDL cholesterol can stick to the walls of your blood vessels, causing inflammation and plaque buildup. Beans help to prevent cholesterol being absorbed in the blood.

5. Beans are good for your heart

A diet rich in beans is good news for your heart. With every 1 percent reduction of total blood cholesterol, there is about a 2 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack.

6. Beans can keep weight in check

Beans are rich in protein, so after eating them you won’t feel hunger soon and eating much.  While many people turn to meat for their protein fix, most don't realize that beans are stocked with the nutrient too.

7. Beans are high in iron

Iron is very important for those who suffer from anemia. Eating beans is one way to get started on boosting your iron intake.

8. Beans are a good source of B vitamins

In many bean varieties, you'll find some types of B vitamins which help you convert food to energy, reduce inflammation, etc. Research has shown that this type of vitamins may be helpful for lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease, too.

9. They may reduce cancer risk

Beans are rich in antioxidants, which protect against free radicals that could damage your cells and lead to cancer. Women who ate beans or lentils at least two times a week over 8 years were less likely to develop breast cancer.