Lima Beans Nutrition Facts

Thanks to the delicate flavor, lima beans suit a variety of dishes, soups, and stews being common. Fresh beans of this kind are quite difficult to find, however, they are available throughout the year in canned and dried form. These species come in two primary forms; large and small. The larger species are believed to be endemic to the Andes, and the smaller, Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America). Due to the starchy texture of the beans, they are also known as 'butter beans'.

Nutritional Value of Lima Beans

A table has been put up below, giving the nutritional values of lima beans. It is to be noted that the values in percentage are based on a 2000 calories diet.

Serving Size: 10 ounce.

Nutrients	Value
Total Fat	1 g (2%)
Sodium	215 mg (9%)
Total carbohydrate	60 g (20%)
Dietary fiber	18 g (72%)
Sugars	4 g
Protein	19 g
Vitamin A	591 IU (12%)
Vitamin C	39.8 mg (66%)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	0.2 mg (15%)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	0.2 mg (11%)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	3.3 mg (17%)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)	0.4 mg (19%)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	65.3 mcg (16%)
Pantothenic Acid	0.5 mg (5%)
Calcium	93.3 mg (9%)
Iron	5.7 mg (31%)
Magnesium	131 mg (33%)
Phosphorous	302 mg 30%)
Zinc	2.3 mg (15%)
Copper	0.5 mg (26 %)
Manganese	2.0 mg (101%)
Potassium	945 mg (27%)
Selenium	1.9 mcg (3%)

The calorie count for these beans for the same serving size comes up to 320.

Health Benefits of Lima Beans

• The high dietary fiber content of these beans prevent the blood sugar level from rapid rise, which usually happens soon after a meal.
• The beans' richness in fiber also helps in lowering the cholesterol in the body.
• Given to the richness in iron, these beans boost the growth and development of cells in the body. This is especially beneficial for people who follow a strict vegetarian diet.
• These beans contain healthy carbohydrates, which aid to the metabolism of the body and promote weight loss.
• Most researchers have come up with a study that regular intake of butter beans and other legumes show a reduction in heart diseases by a good 82%, and that's a remarkable figure. The reason these beans help in preventing heart diseases, is their content of folate and magnesium. Also, folate is a must for a healthy fetal development.
• Butter beans when combined with whole grains like brown rice, wheat pasta, etc., provide enough protein to the body, which can be otherwise obtained from meat or dairy products. However, the advantage with these beans is, they do not contain the high calories or saturated fat, that are usually found in meat and dairy products.
• People whose diet do not allow high intake of sodium, can include these beans in their diet, as they are low in sodium.
• The copper content of the beans serve as an important antioxidant in the body, preventing illnesses, damage to cells and other ailments.

It is easy to understand from the article about benefits you can reap by including these humble looking seeds in your diet. They may not look very appealing, but foods such as these that help you lead a healthy lifestyle.