Benefits and calorie content of green beans

Green beans have gained popularity in our country relatively recently. Previously, our kitchen used only bean seeds, which have long been known as one of the best plant sources of protein.

Story

People have used bean seeds to prepare various nutritious dishes since ancient times, but they only thought of tasting the green young stem of this legume plant in the 17th century. This was done by inventive Italian chefs who, having discovered the amazing taste of young pods, began to add them to all kinds of dishes. This was not very easy to do, since it was necessary to monitor the stage of ripening of the plant so as not to pick completely green fruits and at the same time not allow them to harden. To avoid all these inconveniences, resourceful breeders eventually developed a special variety of beans, which were called “French beans.” It is now known as green beans and is widely eaten throughout the world.

This bean variety is notable for its soft and very tender stems and equally tasty seeds that fill them. They contain less fiber than regular beans, which makes them more tender and, importantly, lower in calories. Green beans are inferior to the classic variety of this type of legume in terms of protein content, but at the same time significantly exceed it in terms of the content of a wide variety of vitamins and microelements beneficial for the human body.

Beneficial features

For example, green beans contain a huge amount of vitamin C, vitamins E and A, as well as a whole bunch of B vitamins. In addition, it contains useful elements such as zinc, folic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, chromium and a number of other substances necessary for the human body. Thus, everyone who monitors their health and strives for proper nutrition should turn their attention to this wonderful representative of garden culture. It is of even greater value for those who watch their figure and want to lose weight.

The fact is that the calorie content of green beans is just under 25 kcal per 100 grams, and the fiber and high content of vitamins and other nutrients make it an exceptional dietary product that can be safely included in the menu for anyone who cares about their appearance and health.

Regular consumption of green beans has a beneficial effect on digestion, as well as on the functioning of the genitourinary system. The active substances that make up this type of bean help cleanse the kidneys and can serve as a preventive measure for a number of diseases. Beans are also good for the cardiovascular system, and due to their ability to lower blood sugar levels, they are often recommended for people suffering from diabetes.

In addition, it has an antimicrobial effect and is good to use for bronchitis and other similar diseases. Green beans are also recommended for rheumatism, as well as salt deposits, since this product helps remove salt deposits from the body.

True, like many other products, green beans have their own contraindications.For example, it is not recommended for people suffering from certain intestinal diseases, as well as those with high levels of acidity in the body. It is not recommended to eat it for diseases such as gout and colitis.

Methods for cooking beans

As for cooking, green beans cook very quickly. You just need to put it in boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes. Steamed beans also turn out great. In this case, its preparation will take about 10 minutes. It should be noted that the finished beans should be quite firm, but not crunchy. If green beans are overcooked, they will become too soft, watery and lose their excellent taste.

Green beans can be served as a side dish for meat and fish dishes, since they can perfectly complement them, while being easily digestible and without overloading the dish with extra calories. Often these beans are used in salads, vegetable stews and even some soups.

Another advantage of green beans is their ability to retain their excellent taste and nutritional properties when frozen. That is why everyone who grows green beans should not worry about stocks of this valuable product for the winter. In order to provide yourself with vitamins during the cold season, it will be enough to simply freeze part of the harvest, and in winter take the beans out of the freezer and cook as needed.