Yay, they like dried beans

[Kristal]

This strikes me as a really good thing. Is it?

[mugzeezma]

I don't see why not but certainly wouldn't overdo it ...I feed mine frozen peas and green beans. haven't tried the dried ones yet.
I've thought about this as well. I make a lot of lentil soup in the cold months so I have them around.

[Kristal]

I gave them some dried fava beans.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4321/2

They're high in protein, high in vitamins and minerals and low in fat/carbs... but now that I am looking, they are on the foods to avoid list, as is tofu, another really healthy thing to eat...

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16093

why is that?

[Kristal]

They just dig them because they are always wanted toothsome foods... things that they have to crunch or crack to eat. I cannot see why these would be bad for them given that green beans are good. I am hoping for a good answer on this one.

[PDXErik]

The only thing I could see with it is the dry beans absorbing water in their stomachs and swelling.

[Kristal]

wanting, btw, silly mental autocomplete. They are always wanting toothsome foods.

I thought of that, Erik, but in the wild they eat bark, dirt, all kinds of things that are at least partly indigestible. They are also opportunistic omnivores and will occasionally chow down on bones, eggshells, even small animals or bugs. I imagine they must have very tough digestive systems.

[PDXErik]

wanting, btw, silly mental autocomplete. They are always wanting toothsome foods.

I thought of that, Erik, but in the wild they eat bark, dirt, all kinds of things that are at least partly indigestible. They are also opportunistic omnivores and will occasionally chow down on bones, eggshells, even small animals or bugs. I imagine they must have very tough digestive systems.

Don't forget: birds, smaller mammals, insects, etc. Hell, I've seen her nibble her own poop.

I was just thinking of the hazards of dehydration and swelling. We all throw birdseed instead of rice now. Maybe that's a false meme, but, it's logical. I'm going to try out a christmas light tomorrow and see how that goes, I'll let you know.

[mugzeezma]

I gave them some dried fava beans.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4321/2

They're high in protein, high in vitamins and minerals and low in fat/carbs... but now that I am looking, they are on the foods to avoid list, as is tofu, another really healthy thing to eat...

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16093

why is that?
I believe it's because of phytoestrogens. I am not sure that ALL legumes have the same levels as soybeans.
There seems to be some controversy as to whether Soy causes tumors in rats but I have yet to see any data on that. In fact The data I have seen has said that it actually shrinks tumors :dono
Soy is also GM so who knows what happens after all that gene splicing to create a more productive disease free plant :shakehead

[PDXErik]

I believe it's because of phytoestrogens. I am not sure that ALL legumes have the same levels as soybeans.
There seems to be some controversy as to whether Soy causes tumors in rats but I have yet to see any data on that. In fact The data I have seen has said that it actually shrinks tumors :dono
Soy is also GM so who knows what happens after all that gene splicing to create a more productive disease free plant :shakehead

I know soybeans are purported to have unusually high levels of estrogen (is this your 'phytoestrogen'?).

I also know that soy protein is the only protein that will replace actual meat protein for vegans (eggs and milk have this for the normal veggie-goer).

[mugzeezma]

I know soybeans are purported to have unusually high levels of estrogen (is this your 'phytoestrogen'?).

I also know that soy protein is the only protein that will replace actual meat protein for vegans (eggs and milk have this for the normal veggie-goer).
Yes... plant estrogens, phytoestrogens, whateva
Quinoa, a grain, is another source of good vegetable protein. Supposedly it contains the full compliment of amino acids that soy does.
I have yet to compare them.

[mugzeezma]

I gave them some dried fava beans.
I forgot to ask if you served it up with a nice little Chianti!:rotfl

[Kristal]

Nah, my kits are beer drinkers

http://blogs.wvgazette.com/beerstoyou/files/2007/02/squirrel.gif

[Kristal]

I've been doing a bit of searching on dried beans. Apparently the protein in them is difficult for them to synthesise:

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf60191a016

However soybean meal, presumably ground soybeans, is digestible. I will keep reading and report in with what I find. It seems like they must be heated, however. They used an autoclave. I wonder if I could boil them and then let them dry out so that they are more toothsome...

But hey, they prevent cancer in rats:

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/138/11/2091

Also, tofu is fine, it would seem:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html

raw bulk tofu—can contain bacteria; packaged raw tofu is safe

Tofu is a very healthy and protein rich food. I am going to try to get my kits to eat it. Maybe the healthy diet should be amended to specify that beans are fine if previously heated to high temperatures and tofu is fine if it is packaged. I know the kind of tofu they are talking about. They sell it in icky pails in chinatown like the polish sell pickles. You just reach in and take what you want from the open pail. It's probably not good for anyone unless it is well cooked... But I always get mine in individual, closed containers or wrapped in plastic at the factory. Tofu is made from soybeans, btw, which got better results than beans for digestibility and protein synthesis.

[Kristal]

well, better results than the other kinds of beans they used, I should have said...