Benefits:

▣ For women of child-bearing age, consuming more iron from plant sources such as spinach, beans, pumpkin, and green beans appears to promote fertility, according to Harvard Medical School. Other studies have shown a correlation between a woman’s level of fertility and the level of according to, including iron, that she consumes.

▣ Pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods like tomatoes, bell peppers, or berries can improve iron absorption. Adequate folic acid intake is also needed during pregnancy, to protect the Fetus against neural tube defects. One cup of green beans provides approximately 10 per cent of daily folic acid needs and 6 per cent of iron.

▣ Adequate vitamin K consumption improves bone health by modifying bone matrix proteins, improving calcium absorption, and reducing urinary excretion of calcium.

▣ One cup of green beans provides 14.4 micrograms of vitamin K, or almost 20 per cent of the daily requirement, 4 per cent of a person’s daily need for calcium.

▣ It is important to remember that it is not the individual vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants alone that make vegetables like green beans such an important part of our diet.

▣ It has been proven that isolating these healthful nutrients in supplement form will not provide the same outcomes. It is best to consume them as part of a healthy, varied diet.

▣ Green beans are available fresh, frozen, or canned. It is important to rinse and drain canned beans, as this reduces the sodium content by up to 41 per cent.

▣ Fresh beans should be crisp and bright green in colour. Refrigerating them in a bag can maintain freshness.