Broad Beans Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts

Nutritional summary

Broad beans are unique in dietary guidelines because they are classified as both a vegetable and a protein source, providing a combination of plant-based protein and dietary fibre .
Regular consumption of legumes like broad beans is consistently linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, with major health institutions recommending 1.5 to 3 cups per week as part of a heart-healthy diet .
These beans contribute a diverse range of essential micronutrients, including folate (a B vitamin vital for cell growth), iron, and phosphorus .
Broad beans contain significant concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic and oleic acids, which are associated with improved metabolic health .

Interesting fact

Broad beans are one of the oldest known cultivated plants, with archaeological evidence of their consumption in the Mediterranean dating back to at least 6000 BCE.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Pantothenic acid

EPIC

SOURCE

Folate

ELITE

SOURCE

Dietary fibre

ELITE

SOURCE

Vitamin C

kcal per 100g

Protein5.70g

Fat1.00g

Carbs5.90g

Fiber6.10g

Sugar1.30g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat0.50g

Monounsat0.10g

Saturated0.10g

Seasonality

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeakIn seasonOther months

Diet

VeganVegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeDairy Free

Sustainability

Lighter footprint

Legumes are nitrogen-fixing plants that improve soil health and require minimal synthetic fertilizer.

Confidencehigh

Storage

Refrigerate

3–5 days

Keep in pods until ready to use

Freeze

6–12 months

Blanch before freezing for best results

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 2 validated sources

Phenol-Explorer

2 contributing source foods

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Legumes and Pulses - The Nutrition Source - Harvard University

[1]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

Health Benefits of Plant-Based Nutrition: Focus on Beans in ... - PMC

[5]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Proximate analysis and vitamin B contents of fresh-made, canned chickpea and broad bean dips commercially produced in Jordan - PMC

[6]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vegetables and Fruits - The Nutrition Source

[10]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

Bean Consumption Accounts for Differences in Body Fat and Waist Circumference: A Cross-Sectional Study of 246 Women - PMC

[11]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

100.0

Version

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