Green beans are a fantastic addition to a meal. Whether you’re serving them as part of the main dish, or as a side, they’re a great way to get one of your five a day.
They are tasty vegetable that is packed with goodness.
However, there is often a debate amongst people when it comes to whether or not green beans can be eaten raw. While some people state that it’s perfectly safe to do so, others strongly disagree.
As a result of this, it can be difficult to know which side of the fence to choose for the best.
We will also be focusing on the potential risks surrounding this, along with the benefits of eating green beans in general.
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What Are Green Beans?
Green beans can be referred to as a handful of different names, from snap beans, and French beans, to emotes and string beans. While they may have many names, they’re still referring to the same delicious vegetable.
Green beans, as their name suggests, are green vegetables.
They are thin, long, and are quite crunchy to eat, even when cooked. They are essentially a pod that contains seeds.
This vegetable can be served in many different ways. While some people prefer to eat them as a side to accompany chicken and potatoes, others prefer to place them in a stir fry or salad.
They are delicious and full of nutrients.
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Can You Eat Green Beans Raw?
While green beans are classed as a vegetable, technically speaking, they are a legume. This is why it is debated as to whether or not they can be consumed raw.
When it comes to legumes, there is often the assumption that they need to be cooked in order to be safe to consume.
This assumption comes from anti-nutrients. Some legumes contain these anti-nutrients, which are harmful to the human body.
Through cooking the legumes, these anti-nutrients are removed from the food, allowing it to be safe for consumption. These anti-nutrients are more commonly called lectins, and they’re a type of protein.
Due to these lectins, a lot of people assume they cannot eat green beans raw and as a result, they will avoid eating them. However, it’s worth noting that all types of beans contain different levels of lectins.
While some may contain too many and will make you ill, others are perfectly safe to eat raw.
In addition to this, each individual bean will not contain the same amount of this protein as others.
So, while one green bean may have a low percentage of protein, another may contain high amounts. This is the reason many people prefer to eat them cooked, to be on the safe side.
However, there are many people who will only eat green beans raw.
This is because vegetables and legumes are often linked to nutrient loss when cooked. If they’re overcooked, a person will not receive the same goodness as they would when the vegetable was raw.
Taking all of this into consideration, yes, green beans can be eaten raw.
In the vast majority of instances, this is something that is perfectly acceptable and safe to do, contrary to popular belief.
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What Are The Risks Of Eating Green Beans Raw?
As explained, in the vast majority of cases, green beans are perfectly safe and healthy to eat raw.
You shouldn’t experience any issues with this. However, as with any type of food, in some instances, there are still risks associated with eating green beans, which we will discuss.
The risks are linked to the lectins within the green beans.
If you were to consume a raw green bean that contains a high level of lectins, this can cause illness.
This is why care does need to be taken with legumes.
While the majority of green beans will not feature amounts high enough to cause you to become ill, in some instances this is still possible, especially when a high amount is ingested.
Some of the most common symptoms that are linked to these lectins include digestive issues.
You may experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and nausea, none of which are pleasant.
These symptoms are caused because this protein is resistant to the digestive enzymes within the human body. This means that they cannot be broken down.
As a result, they interfere with the digestive process when they are within the system, which, in turn, can cause potential illness.
While green beans can be eaten raw, in some instances, it may not be worth risking. This is an informed decision you will need to make.
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What Are The Benefits Of Eating Green Beans?
There are many health benefits linked to eating green beans, especially when it comes to eating them when cooked.
They are full of vitamins, which are beneficial for the human body. Some of these nutrients include vitamin C and folate.
When green beans are cooked, they become far easier for the human body to break down and digest, and when cooked correctly, you don’t need to worry about the green beans losing out of their nutrients.
There are many antioxidants released when green beans are cooked, which are also beneficial for you. In general, it is always best to cook green beans where possible.
Summary
To summarize, yes, technically speaking, green beans can be eaten raw. In the vast majority of cases, this is completely fine to do, especially if you are not eating a significant amount in one sitting.
However, due to the lectins within the green beans, care should always be taken when doing this. While it’s typically fine to do, in some instances, if the level of this protein is particularly high, it can cause some illnesses.
As a result, you should always make your own informed decision before consuming green beans raw. When cooked correctly, they have a number of different health benefits and are better to eat in this way.
Through Addicted To Veggies, I want to share with you my favorite raw recipes. From brownie recipes, to recipes containing pumpkin, my site is full of delicious and wonderful options to consider.
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