String beans

A representative of a vegetable culture plant from the family of legumes is a string bean. It is also called green, asparagus or sugar beans.

Beans are known since the XVI century, but then it was used only for decorative purposes, because it is a pretty beautiful climbing plant. To eat beans began with the XVIII century, but the food was only grain. Nobody tried to try the pods until it was done in Italy: the taste of young unripe pods was so popular with the Italians that a new bean variety - string beans - was soon introduced. Her taste became even more gentle and pleasant. Later in France they began to cultivate bean varieties: a green and yellow sort of green beans appeared, which differ in their protein content, but contain much more vitamins necessary for the body.

The undoubted advantage of this plant is its unpretentiousness in growing: beans are not capricious to the composition of the soil, it coexists with practically all other vegetable crops. It is enough just to water and weed the plant regularly. Harvest of green beans is harvested from July to September.

Properties of green beans

A lot of vitamins are in the string beans: it is a large amount of folic acid, vitamins of group B, C, A, E. In addition, there is a wide variety of minerals: salts of zinc, magnesium, potassium, and sulfur, chromium, calcium, iron . Beans are rich in useful fiber, which improves the functionality of the digestive tract.

Due to the maximum content of useful substances, the consumption of beans is very important for maintaining health, strengthening immunity, protecting against external destructive factors. If you regularly eat beans, then your health will improve significantly, which will become noticeable in your appearance.

String beans can have a pronounced restorative effect, improves digestive functions, brings relief from pulmonary and infectious lesions.

With anemia and a decreased level of hemoglobin, the green beans, which have the ability to positively affect the production of red blood cells, will also help.

Beans normalize blood sugar, which is very important for those who suffer from diabetes, as well as for those who are dieting: by normalizing the carbohydrate balance, the bean stabilizes metabolic processes, and also perfectly calms the hunger, without heavier gastrointestinal tract.

Antimicrobial abilities of beans are used for tuberculous lesions, diseases of the oral cavity, with pathologies of the intestine. Patients with hypertension, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia should always use a string bean in daily nutrition.

Green beans contain a large enough amount of zinc, which is considered an extremely necessary microelement for the human body (especially for men). Healthy principles in nutrition and the presence of zinc are inseparable concepts. Taking beans for food (especially instead of potatoes or bread), it is possible to lose extra pounds. Given that the string bean is a low-calorie product, it can be used almost without restrictions.

Energy value of green beans

The energy value of green beans can depend on the type of product, and they are known to be quite a lot. In addition to caloric content, varieties can differ in color, shape of pods and maturation time.

Caloric content of green beans in raw form can be from 23 to 32 kcal per 100 g of product. However, beans, as a rule, do not consume crude: it contains a certain amount of toxic substances that are rendered harmless after a short heat treatment. After the cooking process, beans can save almost 80% of the benefits, even with prolonged processing (conservation). However, cooking of beans certainly affects the final calorie content of the dish. The change in the number of calories can occur as a result of the transformation of proteins, fats and carbohydrates into other components, as well as by adding additional components to the dish, such as butter, seasonings, spices, cream, etc.

For example, the caloric content of boiled green beans is in the range from 47 to 128 kcal / 100 g. This bean is perfect for salads, omelettes, it can be used as a side dish while following a diet.

A less suitable option for an unloading diet is fried beans. Caloric content of fried green beans can reach 175 kcal / 100 g of product.

Many people prefer to cook beans by extinguishing. Caloric content of stewed beans is 136 kcal. This is a more dietary dish compared to fried beans, but lags behind in the "diet" from boiled and steamed.

Caloric content of frozen green beans is 28 kcal / 100 g.

As you know, the caloric content of food concentrates in their rational components: proteins, fats and carbohydrates. For example, in one gram of fat 9 kcal are produced, in gram of carbohydrate and protein - 4 kcal, respectively. By the ratio of these components, one can determine their influence on the energy value of the product.

[1]

Nutritional value of green beans

By the concept of nutritional value we mean a combination of useful properties of the product for the most complete satisfaction of the physiological needs of the human body in fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

The content of food components in green beans is as follows:

• proteins - 2.5 g
• lipids - 0.3 g
• carbohydrates - 3 g
• water 90 g
• amount of organic acids - 0.1 g
• amount of dietary fiber - 3.4 g
• di- and monosaccharides - 2 g
• starchy substances - 1 g
• the amount of saturated fatty acids is 0.1 g
• ash - 0.7 g

Vitamins in green beans are presented as follows:

• Vitamin PP - 0.5 mg
• β-carotene 0.4 mg
• retinol (Vitamin A) - 67 μg
• thiamine (Vit B.1) 0.1 mg
• riboflavin (Vit. B²) 0.2 mg
• pantothenic acid 0.2 mg
• pyridoxine 0.2 mg
• folic acid - 36 mcg
• ascorbic acid (Vit. C) 20 mg
• tocopherol (VitE) 0.3 mg
• niacin analogue vit. PP: 0.9 mg

The chemical composition of green beans is represented by macro- and microelements:

• calcium salts - 65 mg
• magnesium salts - 26 mg
• sodium salts - 2 mg
• potassium - 260 mg
• phosphorus 44 mg
• iron 1.1 mg
• zinc 0.18 mg
• sulfur 9 mg
• iodine 0.7 mg
• copper - 33 mcg
• selenium 1.4 μg
• fluorine 2.5 μg
• Silicon - 5.25 mg
• cobalt - 1 μg

Glycemic index of green beans is equal to 15. This means that only 15% of the carbohydrate composition is converted into glucose in the blood. Such an indicator of the glycemic index indicates that the green beans do not have a negative effect on the main metabolism, does not contribute to the appearance of fatigue and extra pounds.

Benefits of green beans

String beans are one of the few crops that can not accumulate toxins entering the plant from the soil and the environment.

String beans help stabilize the hormonal balance due to a successful combination of vitamins. For this reason, this kind of beans should be eaten by teens during sexual development, women in menopause, and pregnant and lactating to reduce the likelihood of hormonal failure.

String beans help to cope with the phenomena of anemia: thanks to healing pods hemoglobin production improves. Beans are included in the menu of people who care about their health, maintain their shape and watch the figure. In addition, bean pods are recommended in dietary nutrition in the fight against obesity.

String beans are an excellent remedy for diabetes mellitus. This plant is able to lower the amount of glucose in the blood: this reduces the need for insulin preparations. An insulin-like element, arginine, was found in the pods, which decreases the proportion of glucose in the blood. The most effective in this matter is the use of decoction of pods in combination with the leaves of blueberry: such a drink is drunk for ½ cup before meals.

String beans are an excellent tranquilizer and antibacterial agent. Dishes from this culture are extremely useful and can improve the prognosis even with tuberculosis.

The use of green beans is also found in cardiology: the regular use of this culture in food can inhibit the processes of age-related changes in tissues, reduce cholesterol, stop the development of atherosclerosis, prevent hypertensive crisis and arrhythmia.

In principle, if you consume pod beans regularly, you will not have to follow a weight loss diet. Normalization of metabolic processes will gradually bring your weight to normal.

Bean pods serve as an excellent prophylaxis for prostatitis, calculous pyelonephritis and cholecystitis, and disorders of potency.

The harm of green beans

To eat dishes from bean pods should not be those who suffer from gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, colitis, and also have an increased acidity of gastric juice. People with unstable bowel work are not recommended to eat dishes from green beans daily or in large portions.

In connection with the fact that almost all dishes from legumes can provoke increased gas formation, when preparing beans, seasonings should be added, which eliminate the symptoms of bloating. Such seasonings include cumin, dill, etc.

String beans with pancreatitis are used only in the stage of recovery, but only boiled, without spices and oil.

String beans with gastritis are not recommended.

Varieties of beans

Varieties of green beans are known quite a lot, about fifty. There is a bean growing in bushes, or one that curls like a grapes. Among such varieties, Chinese and Japanese beans are most interesting: their follicle elements can grow to a length of up to 90 cm.

In our region, the most common are red string beans and yellow string beans. Meanwhile, they have quite a few varieties:

• the Dutch "reindeer king" - is famous for the early and large harvest of pods, which have a bright yellow lemon color and a very delicate taste. Such beans can yield up to two seasonal harvests;
• Polish "fan" - green pods with white seeds. This variety is very resistant to various diseases, it has good antimicrobial properties, and is therefore suitable for canning;
• Polish "panther" - such yellowish juicy pods are used even in raw form;
• American "royal purple" - has a characteristic purple pods, which when cooked are painted in a rich green color;
• Austrian "blau hilde" - a tall plant with pods of violet and creamy grain;
• American "indiana" - an interesting and widespread variety of pods, contains light grains with a cherry pattern reminiscent of the contours of the silhouette of an Indian in a hat;
• American "blu laika" - purple pods with large grains, gives a good abundant harvest;
• American "golden nectar" - pods are harvested after 2 months after sowing. The plant is tall, and the pods are long - up to 25 centimeters;
• American "ad ram" - a yielding variety with a pinkish-lilac grain. It is interesting that the grain of this bean has a tender mushroom smell, which is transmitted to the dish during cooking;
• Japanese "Akito" - also has a mushroom smell, but the grain is black, and the amount harvested from the bushes harvest is beyond any competition.

Bean can be canned, marinated, salted, and used for cooking first dishes, omelettes, casseroles, side dishes, salads, etc.

Recipes of green beans

Many of us often came across attractive multi-colored pods in supermarkets or markets, but did not know how to cook a string bean. In fact, recipes for cooking pods are great. Moreover, beans in pods are almost always prepared quickly and delicious, and given its benefit to the body, the use of beans becomes simply necessary.

In order to prepare a dish from bean pods, it is not necessary to be an experienced culinary expert: a novice will cope with simple recipes. What is the combination of green beans? She is superbly "friends" with meat (especially with chicken), with vegetables (potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, sweet pepper), with lemon, pasta, eggs and even mushrooms.

The ideal combination of bean pods with other products is sure to suit your taste and your family.

Salad from green beans

What will be needed: 0.5 kg of fresh beans, 0.3 kg of carrots, up to 3 st. Spoons of grape or rice vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar, a little olive or sunflower oil, to taste - salt and ground pepper, a little finely chopped parsley or cilantro.

Carrot cut into strips (as for Korean). In boiling salted water, lower the prepared carrots and beans, cut into small pieces. Hold, without covering the lid, over a large fire for 5-6 minutes. Then discard in a colander, rinse in cool water and dry. Transferring to the bowl, add a little sugar, spices, salt, vinegar and oil, stir and sprinkle with herbs. Salad ready.

Frozen string beans with mushrooms

Ingredients: 4 medium bulbs, large red sweet pepper (or two small), one medium carrot, 400 grams of melted frozen beans, 400 g of freshly chopped mushrooms, 4 cloves of chopped garlic, 150 grams of cheese, pepper, salt, a little vegetable oil.

On a hot frying pan pour a little vegetable oil, add finely chopped onion, passivate. Carrots rubbed on grater, pepper cut into strips, poured into a frying pan with brown onions. After 5 minutes, add the beans, after 5 minutes - chopped mushrooms, then garlic. In the end, add the spices and sliced cheese, give it a chance to melt it up. Remove from the fire: the dish is ready.

Marinated string beans

It will be required: 0.5 kg of string beans, 50 g of vegetable oil, 2 tables. Spoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, 5 cloves of garlic, dill, salt.

Cooking: bean pods cook in the water for 5-7 minutes, discarded in a colander, let cool. While cooling down, we prepare marinade. Mix the butter, lemon juice or vinegar, chopped (or let through the press) garlic and finely chopped dill. Experts say that it is impossible to spoil our dish with garlic and dill, so lovers of ostrenkogo put these ingredients more.

Then marinade poured into pods, mixed by shaking, put in a salad bowl and put in the cold for a couple of hours (you can overnight). Our dish is ready.

Chicken with green beans

Ingredients: chicken fillet (2 pcs.), Honey (full teaspoonful), 2 table. Spoons of soy sauce, salt and pepper, olive oil, 0.5 kg of string beans, 4 cloves of garlic.

Cut chicken into small pieces and marinate. Marinade includes soy sauce, honey, salt and pepper to taste, a little olive oil. While the meat is marinated, cleaned, cut into cubes and boil the bean pods (for 5-6 minutes). We merge the water.

Frying pan grease with vegetable oil, put on it boiled pods, add crushed garlic, salt and pepper. After 2 minutes, remove from the fire and put it on a plate. In the same frying pan fry the pickled chicken fillet for 5 minutes until cooked. We put the meat on top of the beans without stirring. Enjoying.

String beans with egg

What you need: 0.4 kg of bean pods, two eggs, salt, pepper, butter.

The dish can be eaten hot or cold.

Cook the peeled and chopped beans with beans 7-8 minutes in water. We throw it in a colander. Put the butter on a hot frying pan, then the beans, fry and break two eggs there. Stir until the dish is fried. When serving, you can add a fresh tomato and sprinkle with herbs. Bon Appetit.

Meat with green beans

What is needed: 0.4 kg of frozen green beans, 300 g of beef or pork meat ground, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 medium onions, vegetable oil, salt and pepper, greens.

We cut finely onions, fry in a skillet until golden. Add the minced meat and quickly mix, continue stirring for five minutes over a large fire. Add spices, herbs and soy sauce. Pods of string beans are placed in the unfrozen meat, covered with a lid and stewed on a small fire, sometimes stirring, until cooked. When feeding, you can additionally sprinkle with fresh dill.

Bean Soup Soup

Ingredients: 3 l of water, one onion, two medium carrots, five potatoes (can be replaced with cauliflower), celery root, 300 g of bean pods, two slices of white bread, greens, salt, pepper.

Cooking: the onion finely chopped, carrots rubbed on the grater, all thrown into boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Pod beans and celery cut into small pieces (small) and fry in a skillet in olive oil. Potatoes cut into small cubes and add to onions and carrots. When the potatoes are ready, we add celery with beans, salted, bring to a boil and remove from the hob. Slightly cooled the soup with a blender and mash it. Once again, the mashed potatoes should be brought to a boil. We serve soup in a hot form, sprinkling with herbs. To such soup is very appropriate to toast of white bread, which advantageously complement the taste of the dish.

String beans in the multivarque in Polish

From the ingredients we need: pods frozen beans 0,4-0,5 kg, 2 smoked sausages, smoked breast 200 g, one medium onion, 4 cloves of garlic, marjoram, salt and pepper, tomato sauce (or tomatoes in own juice).

The main parameters for the multivark: 860 watts, with the main program - quenching - half an hour; with an additional program - frying - half an hour.

On the frying regimen in vegetable oil fry the chopped onion, then add chopped sausages and breast. Add the tomato sauce or tomato in your own juice (pre-crushing it with a spatula). Mix and turn off the mode. Add frozen, slightly melted beans, marjoram. You can add salt and pepper, but you can not add, orient yourself to your taste. Mix and set the "quenching" mode, for 30 minutes will be enough. Bon Appetit.

Preparation of green beans

Before preparing dishes from pods of beans, you need to know a few tricks of cooking:

• some varieties of pods have a membranous part between the valves (the so-called vein), which should be removed, otherwise the pods will not be chewed properly;
• long pods must be subjected to obligatory slicing about 1-2 cm;
• the pods should be washed and cut off the base of the peduncle before cooking;
• if the pods are thick enough and dense, they can not be cut, but break their hands on blocks with a length of 4 cm;
• if the pods are "not the first freshness," you can soak them in cold water for several hours. This way you can return the pods moisture and juiciness;
• Do not cook beans in an aluminum pan: it will lose color;
• Salt in a string bean is better to add already after the end of cooking: so you save a bright fresh color of the pods;
• if you do not intend to use beans directly after cooking, the pods should be cooled under cold running water.

How much to cook a string bean? Ideally pods are boiled for 5-7 minutes. If you cook less - the beans will remain moist, if more - the pods can simply be digested. The string beans should be dense to taste, but not crunch; Chew well enough, but do not fall apart.

String beans with breastfeeding

Is it possible to breastfeed a string bean? Can! Sometimes young moms are afraid to eat certain foods to protect their child from possible consequences. To the green beans are also treated with caution: will there be increased gas production and stool disorder in the child? We can reassure you: tender green pods have little to do with ordinary beans, moreover, if you include beans in the menu, the baby has a stool and constipation.

The bean pod can also be used as a part of vegetable complementary foods: the children gladly eat such puree without suffering with flatulence or stomach upset.

If you are still overcome with doubt, you can add a little dill to a dish of green beans. This simple trick is 100% safe for you and your baby from increased gas production.

Diet on green beans

Beans are a beautiful and useful plant. Thanks to a large amount of fiber and proteins, this product quickly and qualitatively satisfies hunger, and low caloric content makes the product ideal for use in dietary nutrition.

You can stay on a 3-day or 7-day diet on the pods, or just eat a salad of beans instead of one of the main meals.

• Let's talk about a 3-day diet on bean pods. This diet is great for unloading after holidays, holidays or weekends.

First day.

• Breakfast - contains a protein omelet (from a pair of eggs), 200 g of boiled bean pods, seasoned with tsp. Vegetable oil.
• Lunch - 120-150 grams of lean fish (or chicken breast) with salad from vegetables, dill and boiled string beans.
• Snack - you can eat an apple.
• Supper can be a vegetable salad with pods of beans, cooked in a double boiler with lemon juice.

The second day.

• Breakfast - 100 g, served in a double boiler of green beans, seasoned with low-fat yogurt and dill.
• Lunch - puree soup of pods, with the addition of sweet pepper, zucchini and tomato. You can add a couple of dry toast of dark bread (or whole wheat bread).
• At noon you can eat an apple.
• We are having supper - steam pods of beans, seasoned with dill and vegetable oil.

Third day.

Unloading days: boil in a steamer and a half kilogram of beans, season with two tablespoons of vegetable oil and lemon juice. This number of pods will be divided into 4 parts and eat throughout the day. Nothing else to eat, drink only clean water without gas.

• We will pass to a seven-day diet on a string bean. The advantages of this dietary diet is that it will suit both those who prefer meat food, and vegetarians. The diet involves five meals a day (every 3 hours), so you will not have to starve. During the diet, you can not drink alcoholic beverages, instant coffee, carbonated water. This way of eating should not last more than a week. You can eat no more than 2 cups of natural brewed coffee.

Example diet of dietary nutrition:

• Breakfast - 200 g of bean pods from a double boiler with ch. L. Vegetable oil and 200 g of buckwheat or wheat porridge.
• Snack - 200 g of strawberry or 2 apples.
• Lunch - lean soup with pods of beans, 150 grams of cottage cheese or low-fat cheese.
• Snack - a glass of kefir or soy milk.
• We dine with vegetable salad with steamed beans.

Diets based on bean pods are considered very effective and easily transferred.

String beans with diabetes

String beans are an ideal food for diabetics. The bean pod is rich in amino acids represented by lysine and arginine. These substances, having got into the body, establish the production of their own proteins, in particular, insulin.

The combination of vitamins and microelements necessary for the body also plays a role in controlling the normal level of glucose in the bloodstream. Fiber, which is abundant in bean pods, interferes with the absorption of carbohydrates in the digestive tract, while regulating metabolism and eliminating the risk of a jump in glucose levels.

Alternative treatment for diabetes involves the use of decoctions and infusions of green beans. Against the background of drug treatment and diet compliance, alternative methods significantly improve the dynamics of the disease. Pods can lower blood sugar and hold the level for 7 hours. However, remember that you can not change the dosage of insulin or prescribed medications by yourself.

• 50 g of chopped pods pour a glass of boiling water and insist in the thermos during the night. Take half a glass for half an hour before meals.
• 4 tablespoons chopped pods boil in 1 liter of water. Drink before eating 1 cup of broth.

Drugs and infusions with the use of green beans must be mixed before use. It is not permitted in any case to add sugar to drinks.

Treatment with pods must always be agreed with the doctor in charge.

How to store string beans?

The stalk bean variety does not lend itself to storage. At a temperature of 22-25 ° C, the pods are stored 12 hours, in the refrigerator - day. After this time, the quality of the bean becomes worse. Storage of young pods is carried out by placing them in polyethylene with subsequent frost. Frozen beans can be stored for a long time, but do not re-freeze and freeze again.

You can also conserve pod beans. The process of conservation is not difficult, and from canned bean pods, you can prepare a variety of side dishes, as well as the first dishes, salads, saute, etc.

We offer you a recipe for tasty canned bean pods.

Ingredients: beans pods 2.5 kg; water 2 liters; rock salt - half table. Spoons; half a cup of grape vinegar.

Young beans pods washed, cleaned of veins, cut into blocks 2-3 cm, blanched in boiling water for 5-6 minutes. After that, discarded on a sieve and washed under running cool water, densely packed in jars, rammed, filled with a prepared warm marinade, covered with lids, sterilized and rolled.

Marinade is prepared as follows: boil water, add salt and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add the prescribed amount of vinegar. Bon Appetit.

String beans are an amazingly useful crop, worthy of attention of all who follow a healthy lifestyle and preach the principles of proper nutrition. If you see on sale gentle beans - do not pass by, take yourself and your family the pleasure of trying this delicious and tender product. String beans are easy to digest, it can be used by adults and children.