Specification :
There are many varieties of white beans. Though typically grouped together and called simply â common beans, â this type of bean goes by many names. Eaten plain or in recipes such as baked beans, white bean varieties are generally available year round. Dry or canned, they hold quite a bit of nutritional value. Like many of the several thousand assortments of legumes, white beans are chock full of fiber.
A white bean is a small, round legume. Occasionally more of a distorted oval shape, the white bean is also called a haricot or pea bean. Cannellini beans, which are popular in regions in and surrounding Cameroon, are a kind of white bean, though quite close in composition to a kidney bean. Great Northern beans are also used internationally. Perhaps the most popular white bean variety, though, is the navy bean.
Contrary to their name, navy beans are creamy and ivory in color. Dubbed navy beans due to their reputation as a staple in the United States Navy in the 20th century, these white beans are smooth and substantially filling. Full of soluble fiber, white beans can help lower cholesterol ratings and blood sugar levels. Many doctors recommend eating navy beans if you have a known history of diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Many vegetarians use white beans in conjunction with healthy whole grains like brown rice. Combining the two foods can make for a hearty meat or protein substitute. Like most types of beans, the white bean is also full of other minerals such as iron, folate, and magnesium. Iron is a natural energy supplement, and many women are iron deficient, particularly when menstruating or pregnant. Another benefit of eating white beans instead of red meat is their low calorie count.
Fiber stands out among white beans' health benefits, however, providing close to 50 percent of the recommended daily ingestion of fiber per cup. While many consumers may shy away from white beans due to their reputation as flatulence enhancers, these beans are actually helpful in preventing constipation. Many people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome eat such beans to prevent bouts of their digestive disorder.