Long Beans (பைதங்காய்) 500g

Yard-long beans are one of the ancient cultivated crops. Young, immature pods are one of the very low-calorie vegetables; 100 g beans contain just 47 calories.

The pods contain large quantities of soluble and insoluble fibers. Since the entire green pod is eaten as in green beans, sufficient amount of dietary fiber is obtained in the diet. Dietary fiber helps to protect the colon mucosa by reducing its exposure time to toxic substances as well as by binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon. Fiber rich food also found to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels by decreasing reabsorption of cholesterol binding bile acids in the colon.

Fresh yard-long beans are one of the finest sources of folates. 100 g beans provide 62 µg or 15% of daily requirement of folates. Folate along with vitamin B-12 is one of the essential components of DNA synthesis and cell division. Adequate folate in the diet around conception and during pregnancy may help prevent neural-tube defects in the newborns.

Fresh beans contain a good amount of vitamin-C. 100 g yard-long beans provide 18.8 mg, or 31% of vitamin-C. Vitamin-C is a powerful water-soluble antioxidant, and when adequately provided in the diet, it helps build immunity to combat infections, contribute to maintaining blood vessel elasticity, and offer some protection from cancers.

Furthermore, the long beans are excellent sources of vitamin-A. At 865 IU per 100 g; the beans have more of this vitamin than that of the other same family legumes such as lima beans, fava, green beans, etc. Vitamin-A is one of the essential vitamins for the body provided through our diet. Vitamin-A maintains mucosal integrity, enhances skin complexion, and improves night vision.

Also, yard long beans provide average amounts of minerals such as iron, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium. The body uses manganese as a cofactor for the important antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.