Health Benefits - Vitamins and Minerals in Lima Beans

Green beans (string beans) have the same nutritional benefits as other common beans such as lima beans, mung beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and navy beans. Common beans are low in fat and offer an excellent source of protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. They are also a very good source of folic acid and molybdenum. They provide significant amounts of iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganesese, and potassium.

Lima beans are seeds, a good source of starch and very high in dietary fiber, including insoluble cellulose and lignin in the seed covering and soluble pectins and gums in the bean. The lima bean’s proteins are plentiful but limited in the essential amino acids methionine and cystine.

Health Benefits of Lima Beans

• The major health benefit of common beans is their ability to lower cholesterol due to their rich source of fiber.
• Common beans promote heart health due to their fiber, antioxidants, folic acid,
  vitamin B6, and magnesium.
• Apart from providing slow-burning complex carbohydrates, lima beans can increase energy levels by helping to restore more iron.
• The magnesium content of lima beans is a calcium channel blocker. When enough magnesium is present veins and arteries relax, which reduces resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. 

Amount

• One cup of cooked large lima beans with no added salt contains 13.2 grams fiber.

Protein  - 14.66 grams

Calories  -  216

Minerals Contained

• Potassium - 955 mg
• Phosphorus - 209 mg
• Magnesium - 81 mg
• Calcium - 32 mg
• Selenium - 8.5 mg
• Iron - 4.49 mg
• Sodium - 4 mg
• Zinc - 1.79 mg
• Manganese - 0.97 mg
• Copper - 0.442 mg
• Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamins Contained

• Pantothenic Acid - 0.793 mg
• Niacin - 0.791 mg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.303 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.103 mg
• Vitamin B6 - 0.303 mg
• Folate - 156 mcg
• Vitamin K - 3.8 mcg
• Vitamin E - 0.34 mg
• Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.