Green Beans

Though canned and frozen green beans (also known as string beans) are not as nutritious as fresh ones, there are still contain valuable nutrients (loosing, on average only 10% of their nutritional value). Green beans are an excellent source of fiber, folate, manganese, and vitamins A, C, and K. Green beans are also high in essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and one of the few vegetal providers of natural silicone, a mineral vital to healthy bone growth and connective tissue formation. For maximal health benefits, steam green beans or alternatively, sautee them. Boiling always leaches the most nutrients from vegetables.

It is always best to shop for green beans where they are sold loose so you can sort through and choose them yourself. In choosing, green beans should emit a crunchy snap when you break them. Buying frozen green beans (or freezing them yourself) can be a good option since green beans retain valuable amounts fo nutrients for 3-6 months.

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