Adzuki Beans?

[lucyeleanor]

Does anybody supplement their hamsters with Adzuki beans? Sprouted? Dry? Cooked?

A while ago, I posted a thread about Co-operative Broth & Soup Mix (http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/feeding-nutrition/33709-co-operative-wholefoods-broth-soup-mix.html) which has in it:

Pearl Barley (30%)
Yellow Split Peas (20%)
Green Split Peas (18%)
Marrowfat Peas (14%)
Red Split Lentils (8%)
Aduki Beans (8%)
Barley Flakes (4%)

As far as I can find, all of the ingredients are safe. But I did come across something about most raw beans being toxic?

beans and other legumes are among the most nutritionally valuable vegetable foods. The seeds of beans are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber and many minerals, while low in fat and cholesterol. But they also contain a protein that can be toxic in sufficiently high concentrations if the beans are eaten raw. Kidney beans in particular contain enough of this toxin to cause acute symptoms, even if only a few raw beans are consumed.
See this thread. (http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=67784)

There was another user on HC, back in 2010, who was using exactly the same mix to supplement her own hamster's food. She got the thumbs up?

dry country style soup mix of adzuki beans, barley flakes, pearl barley, red split lentils, green split peas, yellow split peas and marrowfat peas. Should I supplement the Dwarf Hamster Harvest with these foods? If so, in what quantities?

See this thread. (http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/feeding-nutrition/7338-burgess-new-dwarf-hamster-harvest.html)

I'm unsure what to do. I'd love to add the mix to my hamster's food, especially for the robos and dwarfies as they prefer small seeds to the normal biscuits.

Right now I'm picking the adzuki beans out, not sure if I should just bin them? Or cook them? Or sprout them?

Anyone want to offer any opinions?
Thanks :)

[Biscotti]

The protein in question is Lectin, which in high amounts, can be toxic by causing diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and prevent proper nutrient absorbtion. While lectin can be found in almost everything your hamster eat, it is espcially high in beans and legumes, which is why people do not feed them raw. As they say, "The poison is in the dose." Since we don't have concrete studies of at what level of lectin does it become toxic for hamsters, some people tend to err on the safe side and not feed the beans.

That said, the level of lectin can be lowered significantly by cooking or sprouting, and it is worth doing so because adzuki (and mung) beans are very nutritious addition to your hammie's diet. I haven't fed my hams cooked ones since the beans get a bit mushy, but the sprouted ones are a big hit. :D

[lucyeleanor]

Thank you Biscotti! This is exactly the kind of information which I wanted to know but was struggling to find on the internet! I will have a go at sprouting them and feed them as an occasional supplement. Thank you :)