You may have hated seeing them in your lunchbox, but the fact is that green beans are some of the most nutritional vegetables children can eat. And your parents knew that well. One of the oldest cultivated vegetables, green beans have many varieties you could pick from - String beans, French beans or Snap beans are all rich in vitamins A, C, and K, they are a good source of folic acid and heart protective calcium and fiber. Harvesting green beans is an interesting process.
The book ‘Healing Foods’ writes, “fresh green beans are edible pods picked early in the plant’s growth cycle. As they
mature, the pods become tough, fibrous and inedible”. Here are 7 Health benefits of green beans you should know before scoffing at this
1. Green Beans forEnergy: Green beans contains about twice the amount of iron as compared to spinach. Iron is a
component of red blood cells which is essential to transport oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body.
If you are struggling with anemia, dripping energies or low metabolism - then green beans is the magical food you
need.
2. Green Beans are great for Skin, hair and nails: This nutritional powerhouse can do wonders for your skin, hair and nails.Green beans are loaded with an easily absorbed type of silicon, which are important for the formation of healthy connective tissues and strengthening nails and boosting skin health.
3. Bone Health: According to the book ‘Healing Foods’ green beans are abundant in Vitamin K, which activates osteocalcin which is the main non-collagen protein found in bones. This compound locks calcium molecules together inside bone, strengthening them from within.
4. Green Beans protects against free radical damage: Green beans are loaded with antioxidants preventing the free radical damage activity.
Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. These molecules can bind together and form chains which can affect important cellular components making them function poorly and causing them to die. In worse cases it can also trigger heart ailments and cancers. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. Green beans with their high quantum of antioxidants can prevent the activity. The book ‘Healing Food’ notes, “ Levels of antioxidants lutein, beta-carotene, violaxanthin and neoxanthin are comparable to those in carotenoid –richvegetables, such as carrots”.
5. Detox effects: Green beans with its strong diuretic properties can serve as a great detox and help rid your body from unwanted toxins.
6. Boosts Heart Health: Green beans pack abundant amounts of calcium and heart protective flavonoids. Flavonoids are polyphenolic antioxidants that are commonly found in fruits and vegetables. The high amounts of flavonoids have immense anti-inflammatory properties, which regulate thrombotic activity in the cells and prevent blot clots in the arteries.
7. Good for eyesight: Rich in carotenoids, green beans could play an effective role in preventing macular degeneration (a condition that causes decrease in vision and eye function). They are also rich in lutein and Zeaxanthin which help maintain good eyesight and night vision.
Have them alone or add them to your salads, soups or stews or serve as a side dish. You can also pair them with your meat and poultry. It is better to have them whole and not cut them to preserve their nutritional contents. So what are you waiting for? Load up on these healthy greens already!
