String or asparagus beans are rightfully considered one of the most popular vegetable crops, in which all the nutrients are in a balanced state. Learn more about the benefits of the presence of this product in the diet of a person of any age, and also whether there is any possible harm from it.

The composition and caloric content of green beans

Our bodies require a sufficient amount of nutrients and vitamins for normal daily life. In green pods, these components are in harmony, therefore, with regular consumption of the vegetable in question, our cells can be constantly replenished with the necessary number of necessary elements.

The table shows the average calorie content, as well as nutrients per 100 g of green product:

Thus, the table shows high nutritional value with a small amount of calories. And green beans are valuable by the presence of a small amount of dietary fiber compared to peeling beans (12.4 g) - therefore, the digestibility of the product is easier and faster.

Did you know? Green beans (asparagus) - not a separate species or variety, but just plain beans that have not reached maturity.

Health Bean Properties

Asparagus beans have many different properties that it does not lose even when frozen. However, it is important to remember that repeated freezing and thawing of the product can lead to the loss of beneficial properties. For convenience, it is recommended that the pods be frozen in small portions.

Benefit

• Useful properties of garden crops are as follows:
• a balanced composition of nutrients in green beans will protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals;
• people who regularly consume a leguminous product will always have normal teeth, nails, and hair;
• beans helps in the digestion, alleviates the condition with bronchitis, dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis;
• the presence of iron in its composition normalizes the process of blood formation;
• potassium in the composition is useful for the cardiovascular system;
• the soothing effect of asparagus beans with increased nervousness is known;
• positive effect on sleep and overall well-being;
• antimicrobial property can relieve the symptoms of tuberculosis;
• destroys tartar;
• does not give a feeling of fatigue during a diet for weight loss, which will be useful for people who want to lose weight;
• facilitates the condition at high pressure;
• reduces the amount of bad cholesterol;
• regulates lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, reducing the risk of obesity;
• zinc content restores reduced potency, promotes the production of healthy sperm, and also helps to avoid prostate adenoma;
• normalizes the function of the genitourinary tract.

Harm and contraindications

When familiarizing yourself with a number of useful properties of asparagus beans, you may get the impression that it is practically harmless and has no side effects. In fact, everything is not so simple.

• Here are some restrictions on eating bean greens:
• the consumption of a bean product will bring significant harm to the body if a person has a number of chronic or acute diseases;
• beans in pods, like other legumes, increase gas exchange, so people with chronic constipation should not get too involved in it;
• a bean dish will be harmful if it is overloaded with animal fat or protein, since in the compound these components are difficult for the body to absorb.

Important! To avoid increased gas formation from the consumption of bean greens, you should boil the product twice, and both times - in new water.

Features of use

Having considered the positive, and not so, aspects of the use of a leguminous product, we must not forget that its use at different ages, with different conditions and pathologies has its own characteristics.

For children

In childhood, and even infants in their first year of life, it is simply necessary to add green beans to the food, preparing tasty and wholesome food from them.

Beans should be present in the children's menu for the following reasons:

• not an allergen;
• babies from 8 months. boiled and mashed young asparagus beans - the best vegetable complementary foods;
• It is useful for older children to use it as part of a dietary vegetable dish weekly.

During pregnancy

Pods in the nutrition of pregnant women are also necessary, because they contain the necessary nutrients and microelements for the mother and the unborn baby:

• fiber will help the intestines empty easily;
• iron will help avoid iron deficiency anemia;
• nicotinic acid helps to normalize blood pressure, neutralize the effects of stressful situations, establish metabolic processes;
• Beans protect against hyperpigmentation.

• to prevent flatulence, the pods are briefly soaked in water before cooking;
• to avoid weakening of the intestines, the pods should boil well for 15–20 minutes;
• pregnant women should not use the described product in combination with meat dishes, it is better to cook it as an independent food.

When breastfeeding

A nursing mother should eat this product several times a week, as a separate dish, for the entire lactation period. She needs a similar diet for the following reasons:

• in the green product there are all the necessary elements for herself and the child;
• properly prepared pods do not contribute to excessive gas exchange in infants and normalize bowel movements;
• during childbirth and during breastfeeding, a woman’s health may be weakened, but by eating dishes with green beans, she will recover faster and avoid the risk of anemia;
• kidney burden is reduced;
• the digestion process is facilitated, which is important in the prevention of constipation and hemorrhoids.

Important! Green string beans practically do not accumulate harmful chemical components from the soil and the atmosphere, so the vegetable can rightly be called an environmentally friendly product.

With pancreatitis

Pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis) is an absolute contraindication to the use of a bean plant. The only case when it is permissible to use it with this pathology is the stage of recovery. It is important to consider that the vegetable is taken exclusively in boiled form, without spices and oil.

With other diseases

The balanced composition of some nutrients (iron, sulfur) in green pods can successfully cope with some uncomplicated digestive disorders.

But the described product categorically can not be used in food for the following diseases:

• gastritis of the stomach with a high level of acidity;
• acute pancreatitis;
• gallbladder inflammation;
• stomach ulcer;
• inflammation in the intestines in the acute period;
• colitis;
• pyelonephritis;
• arthritism (gout).

Other uses for beans

This vegetable is considered to be valuable and universal. Thanks to a large set of utilities, it can be used both in cooking and in other areas. For example, the active use of beans in cosmetology, traditional medicine and dietetics (to get rid of excess weight) is known.

In cosmetology

Asparagus beans are successfully used as a means to preserve the youth and beauty of the dermis. Due to the richness of the vitamin-mineral composition, they are able to generously nourish the epidermis and enrich it with useful substances that stimulate the production of collagen in it and increase its elasticity.

Did you know? In ancient Rome, bean leaves were used not only in cooking, but also in the form of effective facial cosmetics: they were used in the preparation of powder, smoothing wrinkles, and masks were also prepared on their basis.

Options for using bean greens for cosmetic purposes:

1. Fresh green juice lotion. Grind the green leaves, squeeze, and wipe the face with this juice in the morning and at night. Such a lotion will whiten your face, narrow your pores and eliminate rashes.
2. Anti-aging mask. It is prepared from one shredded green leaf, adding grated avocado pulp to the gruel, then 5 drops of orange oil and 5 drops of jojoba oil are dripped. The mask is kept on the face for 15 minutes, and then washed off with cool water.
3. Mask for skin rashes. To one chopped bean leaf add 1 tsp. lemon juice, drip a couple of drops of tea tree oil, mix and apply on face for 15 minutes. After rinse with cool water.
4. To nourish the dermis. Mix 2 chopped pods with 1 tbsp. grapefruit juice and 1 tbsp. olive oil, then apply on face and stand for 20 minutes. Rinse off with water at room temperature.

In dietetics (for weight loss)

Green bean pods deservedly have a reputation as an indispensable ingredient and assistant in the health food complex who want to be slim. If you start to eat them regularly, you can forget about complex and debilitating diets for slimness of the body, because after a while the weight itself will return to normal.Here are some recipes for diet dishes with beans:

1. Salad. Take 350 g of greenery, boil, put in a colander and cool. Chop one onion and one bell pepper, mix with beans, add 150 g of green olives, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, herbs and salt add to taste, add 2 tbsp. oil sauce from a can with olives. Stir all the ingredients.
2. Garnish. Boil 300 g leafs and allow to cool. Grind the dried leaves of rosemary and basil with lemon juice (2 tbsp.), Add 2 hours of olive oil and pour beans with this marinade. Thus prepared side dish is well suited to meat and fish.
3. Soup. Cut the pods and boil for 10-15 minutes. Add chopped sweet pepper, 3 tomatoes, one carrot and one onion to them. Boil another 5-8 minutes. Before the end of cooking, pour a glass of tomato juice and chopped greens into a stew. Boil a couple more minutes.

Important! Bean pods are an indispensable ingredient in the diet for the treatment of diabetes, since the juice prepared from them contains an arginine substance similar in action to insulin.

In folk medicine

Healers from the people have long been using the beneficial properties of green pods, making healing broths and infusions from them, which are used to alleviate conditions in various inflammations and infectious diseases. Recipes of decoctions:

1. Stomatitis and stale breathing. Eliminate by rinsing the oral cavity with a decoction of bean sashes (6 times a day).
2. With reduced immunity. Take the following composition: 20 g of crushed pods pour 1 liter of boiling water and heat in a water bath over low heat for about 3-4 hours until 1/2 of the broth is evaporated. Take a decoction of 150 ml 3 times a day for 20 minutes before eating.
3. With diabetes. Take dried pods, nettle and blueberry leaves, and dandelion root (in equal proportions). Grind the components and pour 1 tbsp. herbal mixture of 400 ml of boiling water. Boil the broth in a water bath over low heat for 15 minutes. Then cool, strain and drink 0.5 cups 3 times a day.
4. Inflammation of the genitourinary system. Take 4 tbsp. dry, crushed pods and pour them with 2 cups of hot water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Then strain the broth and drink 100 ml 3 times a day for 1 month.

1. To lower blood sugar. Take 3 tbsp. dry pods, pour into a thermos and brew in 0.5 l of boiling water. Insist for 6 hours. Drink 200 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before eating.
2. From wounds and burns. Heals the infusion of dry bean seeds. Take 1 tbsp. crushed dried seeds and pour 150 ml of boiling water. Allow to cool, strain. A cotton swab dipped in infusion, apply to the damaged areas two to three times a day.
3. From rheumatism and renal edema. Take 1 tbsp. dry chopped cusps, pour 2 cups boiling water. Let it brew for 5 hours. Drink 3-4 times a day.
4. From dropsy and rheumatoid arthritis. Pour 50 g of dried pods into an enameled container and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Cover, wrap thoroughly and let stand for five hours. The infusion is taken three times a day.

Important! Infusions and decoctions of bean greens can only serve as auxiliary means to maintain health in the treatment of diseases. You can use them only on the recommendation of your doctor.

Basic storage rules

Asparagus beans cannot be stored for a long time. Usually it is collected for direct consumption, or for harvesting for the winter. Here are some guidelines for storing green beans:

1. Fresh pods can be stored from 2 to 7 days. With a longer period, the product will begin to lose moisture, turn yellow and become stiff.
2. The optimal conditions for storing green pods can serve as refrigerators with a constant temperature of + 2 ° C and humidity not lower than 90%.
3. A short storage (up to 3 days) of fresh product can be provided by a cold cellar, where greens are laid out on a flat surface in one layer. If you need to save the product for a longer period, it should be frozen.

Summing up the above, it is safe to say that beans in the form of pods, constantly present in the diet of a healthy person of any age, bring invaluable benefits to his life.