These days, it’s hard to escape the onslaught of ‘superfoods’ touted for their age-defying benefits. Usually, these come in the form of costly powders, exotic berries, or high-priced supplements.

But you might be surprised to learn that one of the best-kept secrets for anti-aging is likely already in your pantry—and it costs less than a dollar per serving: canned black beans.

According to nutrition experts, the true powerhouse of anti-aging isn’t tucked away in upscale wellness aisles. It’s readily available in supermarkets, found in humble cans of beans.

Beans are not only affordable and long-lasting, but they also offer versatility in meals. Rich in fiber and loaded with plant compounds linked to healthier aging, these ordinary beans deserve recognition as a true superfood.

While social media influencers might be pushing expensive supplements, Anne Till, a registered dietitian and the owner of Anne Till Nutrition Group in North Carolina, argues that black beans are essential in the conversation about longevity.

‘While exotic powders and imported berries dominate the ‘superfood’ spotlight, humble black beans quietly deliver everything those expensive trends promise – at a fraction of the cost,’ Till tells Daily Mail.

Tara Schmidt, the lead dietician at Mayo Clinic Diet in Minnesota, agrees, adding that beans are overdue for a glow-up. 

‘If there were an award for the most underrated food in the grocery store, beans would be near the top of the list,’ says Schmidt. ‘They’re affordable, versatile, shelf-stable and packed with fiber, plant protein, vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds.’

The ‘Longevity Magic’ in Black Beans

So, what makes these humble little beans such a big deal? 

A lot of it comes down to ‘inflammaging,’ the chronic, low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress that can speed up aging and raise the risk of problems like heart disease, insulin resistance and cognitive decline, according to Harvard Health.

Put simply, black beans may help calm some of that inflammation and a lot of the good stuff is right in their dark outer coat. 

‘The dark, rich coat of the black bean is where the longevity magic lives,’ explains Till. ‘That deep color is driven by potent anthocyanins… alongside powerful polyphenols like quercetin and kaempferol.’

Those compounds act a bit like cleanup crews for your cells, helping neutralize harmful free radicals before they can do damage. 

‘Black beans contain nutrients that support the body’s long-term health. Their fiber feeds beneficial gut bacteria, while naturally occurring polyphenols, including anthocyanins, help protect cells from oxidative stress,’ she told Daily Mail. 

‘Together, these components contribute to an eating pattern that’s associated with healthier aging.’

The Heavy-Hitting Science

If you’re doubting the idea that a 99-cent can could compete with a $30 supplement, the research is pretty compelling. 

In a meta-analysis published in Advances in Nutrition that tracked over 1.14 million participants, researchers found that adding just 50 grams of legumes a day, roughly a third of a can, was linked to a six percent lower risk of dying from any cause.

The heart-health case is strong, too. Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that eating at least four 100g servings of legumes per week is linked to a 14 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease. 

And modeling data from the Food4HealthyLife study published in PLoS Medicine suggests that shifting your diet toward more legumes from early adulthood could add more than two years to your life expectancy.

And here’s the part that makes canned black beans especially lovable: they’re convenient. Time is one of the biggest roadblocks to eating well, and canned beans basically remove the excuse. 

‘From a nutrition standpoint, canned beans absolutely hold their own,’ says Schmidt. ‘If the convenience of canned beans helps you to eat said beans, I’m all for it.’

Shopping Tips

When you’re shopping, look for cans labeled ‘No Salt Added’ or ‘Low Sodium’ if you want the healthiest pick.

If regular canned beans are what you have, no problem: dump them into a colander, drain off the liquid, and give them a good rinse under cold water. Till says that simple step can wash away a big chunk of the added sodium.

You also don’t have to eat a big bowl of beans every day to get the perks. 

These experts suggest using them as an easy upgrade – something you can add to meals in place of more processed ingredients.

For meat-eaters, Till likes what she calls the ’50/50 swap.’

‘When making ground meat dishes like tacos, chili, bolognese or burger patties, swap out half of the ground beef for an equal amount of rinsed, lightly mashed black beans,’ Till says. 

‘This directly mirrors the clinical trial protocols that successfully reduced systemic inflammation, instantly cutting saturated fat while boosting fiber.’

Schmidt takes a similar approach with her family meals: ‘My family exclusively uses beans for dishes like quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas.’ 

‘If replacing animal meat completely is a step too far, consider simply adding them into other dishes that contain ground meat. Lastly, liven up your breakfast by adding beans to eggs, along with avocado and salsa.’

For a fast, cooking-free lunch, keep it simple: drain and rinse a can, then toss the beans with lime juice, olive oil, and whatever veggies are sitting in your fridge.

The Bottom Line

Eating for longevity doesn’t have to mean blowing your grocery budget or spending hours on complicated recipes. 

By working canned black beans into your meals, you’re giving your heart health a boost and supporting healthier aging in one of the easiest, cheapest ways possible. 

‘Black beans aren’t a trendy “anti-aging miracle potion” – they are simply the smartest, cheapest cardiometabolic insurance policy you can buy in a grocery store,’ Till said.

And Schmidt added: ‘Healthy aging isn’t about finding one miracle food, it’s about consistently eating nutrient-rich foods, and black beans make that easy and convenient.’

In Nevada, a local man has confessed to buying arsenal-grade firearms and bullets destined for Mexican drug cartels, while also admitting to laundering money and unlawfully employing individuals in the U.S., as announced by the Justice Department. 

Luis Alberto Osorio was involved with collaborators from April 2020 until last September, orchestrating the acquisition of 140 firearms, magazines, and ammunition on behalf of notorious Mexican cartel operatives. These weapons were intended to be smuggled across the border for profit, highlighted the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada.

The weapons cache included formidable, long-range firearms like the Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR .50 BMG, Barrett M82A1 and M107A1 .50 BMG anti-material rifles, and other powerful guns such as the FN Herstal M249S 5.56x45mm and the FN Herstal SCAR 17S 7.62x51mm rifles, detailed in the court papers.

Osorio further confessed to recruiting unauthorized workers for a mining enterprise in Nevada, acknowledging this breach of employment laws.

Osorio, of Elko, pleaded guilty to one count of straw purchasing of firearms; one count of trafficking in firearms; one count of harboring certain aliens; and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

He faces a maximum of 70 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.

“Firearms trafficking networks feed the violent cartels that terrorize border communities and pump illicit drugs into our neighborhoods,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada said in a statement. “By cutting off this supply chain and holding this defendant accountable, we are directly disrupting the operational capabilities of these dangerous criminal organizations.”

Osario’s sentencing is scheduled for February.

“Trafficking military-style firearms and ammunition to drug trafficking organizations in Mexico fuels violence, strengthens criminal networks and threatens communities on both sides of the border,” said Jonathan Sherwin, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas. “This guilty plea is the result of relentless work by HSI and the Homeland Security Task Force and our federal, state and local partners to disrupt the flow of weapons, money and criminal support that allows these organizations to operate.”

The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, which was created by an executive order President Donald Trump signed on his first day in office last year.

“In the world of organized crime and drug trafficking, guns and drugs go hand-in-hand,” David S. Olesky, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which covers Nevada, said in a statement. 

“As a member of the Homeland Security Task Force, DEA and our partners will bring to bear all resources and draw on the full scope of our agencies’ expertise to hold accountable those individuals and organizations which pose a public health and safety threat to our communities through the trafficking of drugs and firearms.”

Luis Robert Jr. is set to transition to a new role in left field.

The New York Mets are shifting gears to offer more playing time in center field to rookie sensation A.J. Ewing, the long-term plan for his position. As a result, Robert is slated to make his first-ever appearance in left field in the major leagues this Sunday, as confirmed by interim manager Andy Green.

“He’s confident that he’ll ultimately thrive in that spot,” Green remarked prior to the Mets’ thrilling comeback victory over the Nationals at Citi Field. He pointed out that Robert has been honing his skills with outfield coach Gilbert Gomez in preparation for this move.

Green anticipates that Ewing, who has predominantly been covering left field, will increase his frequency in center field from once every three games to twice within the same timeframe.

Meanwhile, Robert will continue to occupy center field for one out of every three games.

The Mets hoped to trade Robert before the deadline, but a deal never materialized, leaving them with two center fielders.

Ewing got his opportunity this season after Robert went on the injured list in April and has played the position at a high level.

Kodai Senga indicated to Green during the last trip that he was fine to pitch a second straight day if needed.

The right-hander wasn’t needed, but it served as a message to Green that back-to-back appearances shouldn’t be an issue for Senga, who has shifted to the closer’s role with Devin Williams on the injured list. Senga earned his second save in as many chances Friday.

“Assuming he feels good, a back-to-back is imminent if the situation arises,” Green said. “I don’t feel pressed to force it just to say he threw back-to-back. It’s going to happen, so if it doesn’t happen today or this week, I am not bothered by it. We’ll let the games determine how he is used.”

Carson Benge has reached base in 18 straight games thanks to his 1-for-2 effort against the Nationals on Saturday, the second-longest such streak by a Mets player this season.

Juan Soto reached base in 18 straight games from March 26 to May 2 (with an IL stint in the middle).

In a tragic turn of events, a shooting on Saturday evening at a Kentucky park left one person dead and four others injured.

Governor Andy Beshear addressed the unfolding news of the Lexington shooting during his speech at the Kentucky Democratic Party’s Moving Forward Together event held at the Hyatt Regency. The venue was just a short distance from Charles Young Park, where the shooting occurred.

A gripping video shared by Devine Carama, who leads the Lexington mayor’s youth gun violence reduction program, captured the moment gunfire erupted.

“My heart is broken,” Carama expressed. “This evening we experienced a shooting at the park, resulting in multiple victims and one person battling for life. While I was trying to shield four young individuals, someone standing merely eight inches away was shot,” he recounted in a post.

The video startlingly captures at least 13 shots echoing through the park.

Carama recalled other parkgoers ‘trying to help with CPR,’ one lifting a young victim ‘who got shot,’ and ‘EMS responding to multiple victims in real time.’

‘This is not normal. We come together every year as a family and kick it on the Eastside and we haven’t had something like this happen, EVER,’ he wrote.     

Chief of Lexington Police Lawrence Weathers was on the scene investigating as well, LEX News reported. 

‘To stop mass shootings, we have got to elect Democrats that will actually do something about it,’ Beshear said during his speech, hours after other shootings in Virginia and Michigan.

Chief Weathers said multiple children were among those shot in an update issued at the scene shortly thereafter.

He said a 4-year-old, a 14-year-old and two adults were shot around 6.45pm at Charles Young Park. All were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.   

The park was in the midst of an outdoor concert event slated for 6 to 8pm, the Lexington Herald Leader first reported.

It remains unclear whether a suspect was apprehended.

Weathers told reporters at the scene that he didn’t believe there was a threat to the public, the Herald Leader reported. 

A Lexington Police Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail the investigation was still active around 10pm ET. 

‘No further details are available at this time,’ they said.

The University of Kentucky HealthCare, meanwhile, reportedly sent an email to employees saying that it had responded to the ‘tragic shooting at Charles Young Park’ to provide care to ‘multiple patients.’

Police were filmed making a perimeter around the park with their cruisers before sundown.

Chief Weathers told reporters during his press conference: ‘If you know somebody who might be inclined to use a weapon, please do anything you can do to let us know before something happens. Please let us know.’ 

A Michigan mass shooting that took place on Friday left a 45-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy dead.

Suspected gunman Chad Hickman is also believed to have killed a 53-year-old man at a second home nearby and a 29-year-old woman who was found dead in a wooded area alongside Hickman, who turned the gun on himself, cops said.

A shooting at Virginia State University early Saturday injured five people, including a student, in an incident that involved ‘multiple suspects,’ according to the school. A 19-year-old suspect was arrested Saturday evening. The shooting remains under investigation.

In a dramatic encounter earlier this week, a runner in Anchorage, Alaska, found herself in a battle for survival against a bear and ended up in the hospital thereafter.

While running solo on the Wolverine Bowl trail at Prospect Heights, the woman courageously managed to escape the clutches of the brown bear, effectively deploying her bear spray to fend off the threat, as reported by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Following the harrowing ordeal, she was promptly transported to a nearby hospital, where she received medical attention for her injuries.

In response to the incident, biologists investigated the scene, gathering evidence, although no bears were spotted during their survey.

The department said anyone who sees a bear or another wild animal acting aggressively or unusually should report it.

Warning signs have been posted at the Prospect Heights trailhead, the departmet said, adding that hikers should stay off closed trails.

“Thick, dense summer foliage can block sightlines, making surprise encounters more likely,” the department said. “Choose hiking routes with good visibility and away from known attractants, like salmon-bearing streams.”

When hiking in bear country, people should carry a deterrent such as bear spray or a firearm, stay in groups, make noise to avoid surprising a bear, stay alert for signs of bears, don’t approach bears and keep pets on a leash.

“If you surprise a bear, especially one with cubs or on a food cache, it may react in a threatened or defensive manner,” the department said. “The bear may be agitated and may huff, stomp, make a popping sound with its teeth, salivate or lay its ears back against its head and charge.”

They urged staying calm, standing your ground, readying deterrent, staying in a group and talking calmly. Never run.

“If the bear is stationary, move away slowly while keeping your eyes on the bear,” the department said. “If the bear starts to move toward you or charges, stop and stand your ground. Let the bear know you are not a threat. Behaving calmly, moving slowly, and speaking in a low calm voice will help de-escalate the situation. If the bear continues to approach, use your deterrent when the bear is within range.”

The attack comes less than a month after another woman was mauled by a bear in Anchorage.

The July victim was walking with a friend and her three dogs in the Bear Valley residential neighborhood, adjacent to Chugach State Park in south Anchorage, when the bear approached.

Officials said the hikers were on an unofficial, user-made trail that climbs a steep hillside in a zigzag pattern. The area was heavily overgrown with dense vegetation, which created poor visibility and increased the risk of surprising wildlife, the department said.

“The bear came out of the dense alders, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and left the scene,” the department added.

The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to recover.

In a whimsical turn of events, OpenAI’s office in Bellevue, Washington, became the unlikely stage for a protest that felt more like a carnival than a rally. Demonstrators arrived armed with balloons and dressed up as rebellious AI characters, creating a scene that defied the usual gravity of such events.

Caught on video and shared on the platform X, the protest displayed an elaborate choreography of imagination. Participants took over staircases, waved their arms in sync, engaged in playful chase with balloons, and amused themselves with leapfrog, all while clapping with exuberance. Naturally, this peculiar display quickly captured attention and provoked smiles across the internet.

X user Mario Nawfal humorously remarked on the shift in protesting styles, saying, “Long gone are the days when revolutions involved pitchforks, torches, and angry mobs… The anti-AI crowd is getting TOO creative!”

Observers couldn’t help but contrast this playful protest with the more serious demonstrations of the past, such as activists chaining themselves to the doors of tech giants like Facebook and Twitter, highlighting the unique playful nature of this latest activism.

Reactions online were as varied as they were entertaining. Descriptions of the protest as the “most unserious” were common, and debates emerged about its actual impact. Additionally, some raised environmental concerns over the use of balloons, sparking a wider conversation on the methods employed by those advocating against AI advances.

The anti-AI protesters are calling on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to address a series of issues. Among them are discussions about AI’s limitations in mathematics and plans to ensure the technology remains a tool.

OpenAI officially opened its new engineering office in downtown Bellevue, Washington, earlier this year, its largest outside of San Francisco. The retro-modern, wood-paneled space was designed for the company’s roughly 250 employees in the area with room for as many as 1,400.

California has become the epicenter of recent tech layoffs, with more than 16,000 tech workers laid off over the past seven months, according to state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification data reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

More recently, Salesforce announced plans for additional layoffs in October as the company continues implementing AI throughout its operations.