Nutritional Value of Beans

Soybean

Source:

Dried yellow colored ripe seed of Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fam. Leguminosae)

Nutrient content:

Protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, fat, carotene, soy isoflavones, D-pinitol, vitamin B, vitamin E, anthocyanins, iron, calcium etc.

Property in TCM:

Neutral, sweet.

Remove food stagnation, invigorate the function of the spleen, induce urination, to counteract toxicity, and reduce swelling

The composition of Soybean and black soybeans are similar but in different content. Traditionally, soybeans are used for food; black soybeans have higher health value, and usually used for medicinal purposes.

Can be used for cooking, for soup or sprouting into soy sprouts.

Soybeans can also be made into a variety of foods such as soy milk, tofu, bean paste, Japanese natto, miso, soy sauce etc.

Suitable: Most people can eat it, especially suitable for menopausal women, diabetes, cardiovascular patients.

Caution: Soybean contains a high amount of Purin. Person suffering from gout, high uric acid level should be reducing the consumption of soy beans.

Soybeans may cause flatulence, for those with poorer digestive function should reduce consumption.

Eating soy beans during skin wound recovery may possibly cause scars.

Black Soybean

Source:

Dried black colored ripe seed of Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fam. Leguminosae)

Nutrient content:

Protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, fat, carotene, soy isoflavones, D-pinitol, vitamin B, vitamin E, anthocyanins, iron, calcium etc.

Property in TCM:

Neutral, sweet.

To replenish essence, improve vision, nourish blood, dispel wind evil, induce diuresis, clear toxin.

Pharmacological effect: Hypolipidaemic effect, anti-atherosclerosis, liver protection, resist fatty liver, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, anti-tumor etc.

The total content of soy isoflavones, D-pinitol content and total anthocyanin content in black beans was significantly higher than that of soybeans.

You can use Black soybean to boil water for tea, stew soup, or making black soy milk, and stir-fry Black soybean for snacks.

Black beans and soybeans are similar in nature, and suitable populations are similar.

The antioxidant capacity of black beans is obviously stronger than that of soybeans, which is more suitable for patients with hypertension, high cholesterol and myocardial infarction.

Chinese medicine believes that black color benefit the kidney, patient with kidney deficiency can also use black beans.

Caution: Note that regardless of the soybean and black soybeans, it is not suitable to eat as raw food.

Mung Bean

Source:

Dried ripe seed of Vigna radiate (L.) R. Wilczak (Fam. Leguminosae)

Nutrient content:

Protein, carbohydrate, fat, dietary fiber, carotene, flavonoids, phospholipids, etc.

Property in TCM:

Cold, sweet.

Counteracts heat toxins, clear summer-heat and increases urine excretion.

Pharmacological effect: Antibacterial, hypolipidaemic effect, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-tumor, detoxification effects etc.

Can be used as soup, simmering water, porridge, can also be made into desserts.

Such as mung bean paste, mung bean cake, mung bean biscuit etc.

External use for traumatic injuries.

Tips: Do not remove the seed coat if used for medicinal purposes.

Suitable: For dire thirst caused by summer-heat, sores and skin infection with local redness and swelling, difficult discharge of urine.

Particularly suitable for skin itching during summer heat, high blood pressure and edema.

Caution: Mung bean is cold in nature, for those with spleen-stomach deficiency cold syndrome, diarrhea, cold in the hands and feet, low blood pressure, and women during menstruation should be reducing the consumption.

Rice Bean

Source:

Dried ripe seed of Vigna umbellata Ohwi et Ohashi or Vigna angularis Ohwi et Ohashi (Fam. Leguminosae)

Nutrient content:

Protein, fat, carbohydrates. Trace elements such as iron, zinc and manganese. Pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids and tannins etc.

Property in TCM: Neutral, sweet.

Induce diuresis to alleviate edema, detoxification and drain pus.

Pharmacological effect: Antioxidative activity, enhanced immunity, antibacterial, diuretic, estrogen-like effect etc.

It is usually used in soups or porridge. E.g. Dispel dampness soup and rice bean porridge.

External use of Rice bean fine powder for treatment of mumps.

Suitable: Edema, chronic nephritis nephrotic syndrome, jaundice, postpartum hypogalactia etc.

External use for sores, sputum

Caution: Should be used with extra care in case of yin deficiency and fluid depletion.

Not suitable for frequent urination, high uric acid level, gout patients and person with no dampness-heat syndrome.

White Hyacinth Bean

Source:

Dried ripe seed of Dolichos lablab L. (Fam. Leguminosae)

Nutrient content:

Fat, carbohydrates, proteins, polysaccharides, calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins, etc., and contain toxic plant lectins.

Property in TCM:

Slightly warm, sweet.

To fortify the spleen and resolve dampness, particularly the summer-damp, and clear summer-heat.

Pharmacological effect:

Antibacterial and antiviral, increase white blood cell function, promote cellular immune function, and White Hyacinth Bean Polysaccharide can prevent and treat alcoholic liver disease.

Can be used as soup and porridge, e.g. Winter melon white hyacinth bean soup, yam white hyacinth bean porridge, etc.

For summerheatdampness syndrome, dysentery, and vomiting caused by spleen deficiency, poor appetite, diarrhea, dire thirst, excessive leukorrhea, etc.

Suitable: Spleen deficiency, diarrhea, poor appetite, diarrhea, excessive leukorrhea, pattern of summerheatdampness assailing the exterior.

Caution: Not suitable for high uric acid level and gout patients.

Tips: Do not overeat. White hyacinth bean contain toxic ingredients. Raw white hyacinth beans are prone to poisoning and may cause indigestion, so they should be cooked and eaten. Its toxic components can be greatly reduced in toxicity after heating.