String bean nutrition can cause some confusion. Several decades ago, there was both string and string-less beans available for purchase. String beans, by nature, had a fibrous strip that ran down the length of the bean. This portion had to be removed before it could be enjoyed. String-less beans, however, were founded in 1984 when farmers created a way to grow string beans without this fibrous strip running down the bean. As a result, just about all beans grown and sold in supermarkets and farmer's markets around the country are of the string-less variety, but they are called string beans.

Regardless of the semantics, string beans can be very nutritious. Although string beans are available all year long, it's best to eat them when they are fresh throughout the summer and even into the early fall.

Vitamins

String beans contain a variety of vitamins that are great for your health. Here are the main vitamins and nutrients you'll get by eating a single serving of string beans:

• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C
• Maganese
• Vitamin A
• Dietary Fiber
• Potassium
• Folate
• Tryptophan
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B2
• Copper
• Vitamin B1
• Calcium
• Phosphorous
• Protein
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids
• Vitamin B3

The Benefits of String Bean Nutrition

There are a variety of benefits that you can enjoy by eating your string beans. For one, a serving of string beans contains enough vitamin K to help your bones to grow strong over time. String beans help prevent your bones from breaking down as well. Outside of your bones, the vitamin A contained in a serving of string beans will help you to get better cardiovascular protection. Vitamin A and vitamin C both help to fight off radicals that may work against the body. In addition to this, green beans can help protect you against colon cancer, migraine headaches and even offer antioxidants.

One of the most important facts about bean nutrition is that string beans are a great source of iron, which is not present in many of the foods that you probably eat. Iron works to increase the amount of energy in your body, and it's incredibly important that young children and teenagers get their daily fill of iron.

Eating More String Beans

Maybe the best thing about string beans are that, despite all the bean nutrition that they provide for your body, they are incredibly low in calories. This means that eating string beans will not increase your daily calorie intake dramatically. However, that said, they do still provide for a great side dish with a meal or even for a snack. If you want to add more string beans to your diet, purchase them at a store of farmer's market that gives you the chance to purchase them loose so that you can choose the string beans of the highest quality.

Look for a bright green color, and avoid any string beans that may have blemishes or dark marks on them. Finally, the trademark of a healthy string bean is the snapping sound that it makes when broken. Enjoy more string beans today to get the bean nutrition that they provide.