by Meenakshi Nagdeve last updated - Medically reviewed by Vanessa Voltolina (MS, RD) ✓ Evidence Based

Green beans may seem like a typical staple at nightly dinners. However, what you may not be aware of are the health benefits that green beans have to offer. They appear to reduce the risk of heart diseases and colon cancer, help manage diabetes, provide a boost to the immune system, and contribute to the elimination of harmful free radicals.

These nutrient-packed beans are an excellent low-calorie dietary choice that is great for acquiring vitamins and minerals without adding any unwanted pounds.

What are Green Beans?

Green beans are members of the common bean family, Phaseolus vulgaris, and are a popular part of diets around the world. There are slight variations in the bean – they can be different shapes, colors (even purple), and by different names, including French beans, fine beans, string beans, or even squeaky beans, depending on the region of the world. There are approximately 150 varieties of green beans throughout the world! Despite the variable appearance of the beans, their nutritional content and health benefits remain similar.

Green beans are a versatile vegetable that grows in many different climates. This has made them popular and globally recognized food. Although popularized in many American and European dishes, they are widely cultivated across Asia and Africa as well. They appear in a wide array of cultural dishes and offer health benefits to people all around the world. They can be cooked in a variety of forms like roasted green beans, sauteed green beans, pickled green beans, and so on!

Watch Video: 9 Best Benefits Of Green Beans

Types of Beans

Green beans fall into two categories: “pole beans” and “bush beans”.

Pole beans tend to climb like vines, require support systems to grow properly, and are slightly slower in reaching maturity.

Bush beans are lower to the ground, require no support, and have faster developmental rates, meaning that some farmers and growers can have more than one crop of bush beans in a single season.

It is important to remember that green beans are unripe or immature foods, so some people prefer to soak or cook the beans before eating them. However, there are no proven harmful effects of eating raw green beans. Here, you can find out whether green beans are legumes or vegetables.

While many “common beans” share similar attributes, they are unique and are chosen according to the individual properties that each of the beans offers. Green beans are a favorite choice in many cultures for the variety of vitamins, nutrients, and beneficial properties they contain.

Nutrition Facts Beans, snap, green, raw Serving Size : 100 g 1 cup 1/2" pieces (100 g) 1 beans (4" long) (55 g) Nutrient Value Water [g] 90.32 Energy [kcal] 31 Energy [kJ] 131 Protein [g] 1.83 Total lipid (fat) [g] 0.22 Ash [g] 0.66 Carbohydrate, by difference [g] 6.97 Fiber, total dietary [g] 2.7 Sugars, total including NLEA [g] 3.26 Sucrose [g] 0.36 Glucose (dextrose) [g] 1.51 Fructose [g] 1.39 Starch [g] 0.88 Calcium, Ca [mg] 37 Iron, Fe [mg] 1.03 Magnesium, Mg [mg] 25 Phosphorus, P [mg] 38 Potassium, K [mg] 211 Sodium, Na [mg] 6 Zinc, Zn [mg] 0.24 Copper, Cu [mg] 0.07 Manganese, Mn [mg] 0.22 Selenium, Se [µg] 0.6 Fluoride, F [µg] 19 Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid [mg] 12.2 Thiamin [mg] 0.08 Riboflavin [mg] 0.1 Niacin [mg] 0.73 Pantothenic acid [mg] 0.23 Vitamin B-6 [mg] 0.14 Folate, total [µg] 33 Folate, food [µg] 33 Folate, DFE [µg] 33 Choline, total [mg] 15.3 Betaine [mg] 0.1 Vitamin A, RAE [µg] 35 Carotene, beta [µg] 379 Carotene, alpha [µg] 69 Vitamin A, IU [IU] 690 Lutein + zeaxanthin [µg] 640 Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) [mg] 0.41 Vitamin K (phylloquinone) [µg] 43 Fatty acids, total saturated [g] 0.05 16:0 [g] 0.04 18:0 [g] 0.01 Fatty acids, total monounsaturated [g] 0.01 18:1 [g] 0.01 Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated [g] 0.11 18:2 [g] 0.04 18:3 [g] 0.07 Tryptophan [g] 0.02 Threonine [g] 0.08 Isoleucine [g] 0.07 Leucine [g] 0.11 Lysine [g] 0.09 Methionine [g] 0.02 Cystine [g] 0.02 Phenylalanine [g] 0.07 Tyrosine [g] 0.04 Valine [g] 0.09 Arginine [g] 0.07 Histidine [g] 0.03 Alanine [g] 0.08 Aspartic acid [g] 0.26 Glutamic acid [g] 0.19 Glycine [g] 0.07 Proline [g] 0.07 Serine [g] 0.1 Sources include : USDA

Green Beans Nutrition

According to FoodData Central, these delicious and crunchy beans are low in calories and fat and contain no cholesterol. The fiber content is high, and these beans also provide some of the daily protein requirements. They also act as an easy source for acquiring vitamins like vitamins A, C, K, B6, and folic acid. In terms of minerals, green beans are a good source of calcium, silicon, iron, manganese, potassium, and copper.

Health Benefits of Green Beans

In addition to being versatile and delicious in many culinary preparations, green beans provide a wealth of nutrients. Let’s look at the wide range of benefits in detail.

Reduce Heart Diseases

Green beans may help reduce the risk of heart diseases due to their high levels of flavonoids. Flavonoids are polyphenolic antioxidants commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Test subjects with high flavonoid levels experienced anti-thrombotic results, preventing blood clots in the arteries and veins. Cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, and strokes are commonly caused by thrombotic activity, so incorporation of green beans in your diet may help mitigate some of these conditions.

Anticancer Potential

It has been suggested that increased produce (fruit and vegetable) consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancers. A recent study shows that green bean consumption may be beneficial for preventing pre-cancerous polyps that lead to colon cancer. Many studies have tried to link dry bean intake to cancer prevention, with limited results. However, new evidence suggests that increasing dietary green bean intake can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. However, more investigation is still needed before any more definitive conclusions can be made.

Additionally, the presence of chlorophyll in green beans may also be beneficial in cancer prevention. A research study conducted at Oregon State University in the United States notes that a compound in chlorophyll exhibits cancer chemopreventive properties.

Manage Diabetes

A study on plant foods at the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India claims that green beans are one of the vegetables known to have a definitive hypoglycemic influence on patients with diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that requires constant maintenance of blood sugar levels at a normal level so the body can perform necessary tasks. Natural regulators of diabetes are rare, so the connection of green beans and similar plants to the control or early prevention of diabetes is great news for many to manage and prevent the disease.

Boost Immunity

The presence of various immune system-boosting antioxidants in green beans is well known. Antioxidants are beneficial compounds in our body that seek out dangerous free radicals, with the goal of eliminating them from our system before they can cause illness or tissue damage.

Green beans are a good source of carotenoids and flavonoids, with carotenoids found in green beans containing antioxidants like beta carotene and lutein. Flavonoids contain basic antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol, but also the ones like catechin and epicatechin. Catechin has been associated with reducing the severity of strokes.

Regulate Digestive Function

The high fiber content of green beans can also positively impact the digestive system, easing the digestive process and promoting bowel movements, which decreases the stress on the bowel walls. Certain studies have shown a positive correlation between increased fiber intake and a reduction in colon cancer; but again, further in-depth research studies are still underway.

By keeping enough fiber in our diets, we are able to ease certain digestive issues like constipation, hemorrhoids, ulcers, and acid reflux disease. These conditions range from mild irritants to potentially life-threatening, and the amount of fiber we consume is a key element in their prevention. In a normal 110 grams serving of green beans, you gain 15 percent of the daily recommended amount of fiber. They are one of the few vegetables to ease the functioning of your stomach properly.

Fertility & Pregnancy

According to a study in the Harvard Medical School, the consumption of healthy foods like green beans and pumpkins increases fertility as these foods are a powerhouse of various nutrients.

Green beans are a great source of folic acid, which plays a key role in a number of internal processes, but none are more important than protecting infants in the womb. Folic acid levels in a woman’s body are vital to the normal and healthy development of the fetus. Green beans provide an easy and delicious way to keep folic acid levels high and ensure a healthy and happy baby.

Other benefits:

Eye care: Carotenoids found in green beans prevent macular degeneration and prevent any stress to the inner workings of the eye.

Carotenoids found in green beans prevent macular degeneration and prevent any stress to the inner workings of the eye. Improve bone health: Green beans are abundant in vitamin K, calcium, and silicone. These vitamins and minerals are vital in preventing bone deterioration and osteoporosis.

Green Beans Side Effects

Green beans are one of those foods with extremely few risk factors. A few risk factors include the following: