The scientific name used for beans is Phaseolus vulgaris. But mostly called a common bean. It is an unripe, dry fruit and is the most cultivated plant of all. Beans are a good source of protein and fiber. These are used and cooked all around the world.
You can cook them in many ways. You can fry, bake, or boil them. They are a source of high energy. Beans are not very costly. It’s a standard diet that can be stored in your pantries.
Beans are used as a staple in many countries around the globe. Beans hold great importance because apart from being rich in protein and fiber, they lower our cholesterol. And thereby they protect us from heart diseases.
Having beans as our super keeps our stomach full, and many nutritionists also prescribe these as a full filling meal for weight control. During stressful days, if you want to gather some energy through proteins, take out a bag of beans from your pantries and cook delicious meals.
There are almost 400 different types of beans, but the most widely used and liked beans are as follows.
Types of Beans
Table of Contents
Great Northern Beans
These creamy white beans are white and oval shape. They have the domain of absorbing flavors as they retain moistness. Their shape isn’t changed after boiling, and most importantly, they have a creamy dissolve in the mouth kind of feel.
You can cook or experiment with these northern beans with other ingredients. The total amount of calories one by the fourth cup of northern beans is 170 calories.
Fava Beans
These green-colored fava beans are also called broad beans. Fava beans are fresh from collecting from the farms, and these beans are always used as young.
These fava beans can be pricey, but people love using them. Once you rip these beans from their pods, you can eat them raw. Fava beans are a great source of vitamin b and minerals.
Always blanch the fava beans before cooking them. You can use them in soups or sauté them to be used in pasta or steak. Excess usage of fava beans leads to a metabolic disorder Favism. This condition causes hemolytic rupture of red cells in our body.
Soya Beans
Soya extracted from these soya beans come in a great variety. This involves tofu, miso, soya milk, or liquid amino. These are the most multipurpose beans.
They are a great source of proteins, vitamin k, fiber, and isoflavones. The presence of isoflavones in soya beans helps to lower the risk of cancer, especially in females.
These soya beans are also debatable. These can be used as estrogen in postmenopausal women and helps them to combat hot flashes. And in pre-menopausal women, it acts as an anti-estrogen.
Black Beans
All commonly called black turtle beans. They are referred to as power banks for providing a considerable amount of energy to our bodies. These are cultivated mainly in central and south America. But now they are cooked all around the world.
They are huge source of protein, folate, and fiber. They have a lower glycemic index. This means that it reduces the rise in blood sugar levels and thereby prevents diabetes and heart diseases.
The Native Americans believe that if you eat black beans with a bowl of rice, they help lower the rise in sugar produced by the bowl of rice eaten. Black beans also strengthen your hair and give a glow to your skin if eaten once every week. So many benefits, aren’t they!
Kidney Beans
Kidney beans are curved and are red. They resemble kidney shape-wise. However, they are either large or medium size. And apart from red, they are also present in black, purple, or in dappled appearance.
These are mostly cultivated in chili, but these are cooked and enjoyed all around the globe. They are preferably eaten with rice or Cajun.
They lower the risk of colon cancer. And most importantly, it reduces blood sugar levels because it is also rich in fiber and folate. However, avoid eating them raw as they can easily upset your stomach and can lead to diarrhea.
Black-Eyed Peas
Also known as Hoppin johns. These are most commonly cultivated in the south. These beans are solid and firm but soft. There’s a myth in the south that eating these beans on the New Year brings success in one’s life; therefore, these beans are eaten a lot in the south.
Red Beans
Red beans are also famous as adzuki beans, and these are pretty much confused with kidney beans. But red beans are different. These are small and have a distinctive ruby color. These are mostly cultivated in East Asia.
These red beans are used in Latin and Caribbean cuisine. Red beans have a very earthy and soft texture, and these are used in both savory and sweet dishes. You can stuff your pastries with red beans paste. But always cook or boil them thoroughly and avoid eating raw.
Pinto Beans
Pinto beans are a specialty in Mexico. And it means painting in Spanish. Pinto beans have a stippled appearance. They have a light brown or pinkish-orange color. These beans have an earthy flavor with a soft texture.
You can fry, mash, or eat these beans as a whole. These beans are rich in fiber and folate. And thus, this helps reduce cholesterol. And also reduces the rise in blood sugar that happens after a meal.
Navy Beans
As the name indicated, these beans were baked and given to the navy soldiers as a meal. These beans are called as haricot beans or pearl haricot beans. These beans also have a creamy texture similar to northern beans.
They are rich in fiber and protein. And due to high fiber, these beans are good for combating against metabolic disorders. Having said, that eating five cups of navy beans every week helps to reduce waist perimeter.
Lima Beans
These are also known as butter beans. These beans have two types. These are either broad buttery beans or small baby beans. Lima beans have a buttery and creamy taste with a smooth texture.
These lima beans are commonly used in central and south America. Lima beans are the best source of potassium and help to reduce blood sugar levels in our blood.
Cannellini Beans
These are also called white kidney beans. These are commonly used in Italian cuisine. Because of the name, they have kidney shape appearance with a white hue. These beans can either be boiled or mashed.
These beans are used in stew or soups. These beans are fat-free and have high fiber and protein content. When cooked, they appear to be fluffy and nutty taste-wise.
Garbanzo or Chickpeas
One of the most versatile peas used in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. They are two types of chickpeas. These are either large Kabuli peas or small garbanzo peas.
They are round in shape with a firm texture. You can roast them or crushed them into fine form and stuff them into your bread. These are high in proteins and fibers hence helps in reducing cholesterol levels and increases insulin sensitivity.
Chickpeas are the best way to reduce weight. You can boil these and add a few of your spices and munch on these super delicious chickpeas. Or you can make a curry of it and have it with rice. Yummy, isn’t it.
Fayot Beans
Also known as flageolet beans. These are famously used in French cuisine. These beans have a light green or ivory kind of color with a smooth, creamy texture.
Lentils
These are commonly known as Dal in Asia. These lentils are present in different colors but are generally small in size. These are enriched source of iron, folate, and fiber. Lentils are either used in a curry or served with rice.
But you can fry or even bake them the way you want. Most importantly, these are highly useful in pregnancy since the folate present in these lentils reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
Cranberry Beans
Also known as borlotti beans. These have a round shape and a reddish stippled appearance. These are commonly used in Latin cuisine. These beans are served with warm food such as soups and stews. But you can also bake them.
Mung Beans
Mung beans are green in color and are small size-wise. You always have to soak the mung beans before cooking them. They have a soft, earthy, and texture. You can boil or stir fry these mung beans.
Conclusion
Beans and lentils are cheap dietary food that every being can afford easily. But being cheap doesn’t affect their quality and the number of benefits it provides us.
These beans are a great source of protein, fiber, folate, and vitamins. These beans can reduce your cholesterol and blood sugar level and also helps to reduce body mass.
