Although they are low in protein, canned green beans provide many minerals and vitamins. Like many vegetables, green beans are also high in fiber and low in fat. Dietary Recommended Intakes (DRI) are for adults under age 50. Percentages vary for teenagers, children and older adults.
Calories and Carbohydrates
One cup of canned green beans contains 35 calories. The majority of these calories come from carbohydrates, of which there are 6.8 g per cup. Very few of the carbohydrates in green beans are in the form of sugar. One cup contains only 1.2 g of sugar, in a combination of sucrose, glucose and fructose. One cup also contains 1.5 g of starch and 3.5 g of fiber, which is 12.5 percent of the DRI of fiber for someone on a 2000-calorie-per-day diet.
Protein
Unlike some beans, such as pinto beans, green beans are low in protein. One cup contains only 1.8 g of protein. This protein is made up of trace of amounts of 18 different amino acids, such as leucine and alanine. Like all plant products, green beans are not a complete source of protein because they do not contain all of the essential amino acids.
Fat
Canned green beans are low in fat. One cup contains only .17 g of fat. This .17 g of fat is a mix of very small amounts of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
Minerals
Canned green beans contain a wide variety of essential minerals. One cup contains 1.33 mg of iron, which provides 17 percent of the DRI for men and 7.4 percent for women. One cup contains a significant amount of manganese as well, providing 17.3 percent of the DRI for women and 13.6 percent for men. One cup of canned green beans also supplies 8.5 percent of the DRI for potassium and 6.7 percent of the DRI for copper, as well as smaller amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium.
Sodium
The amount of sodium in one cup of canned green beans varies greatly in salted and unsalted products. One cup of standard green beans contains 16.7 percent of the DRI for sodium. One cup of canned green beans with no salt added contains only 3 percent.
Water-soluble Vitamins
Canned green beans contain numerous water-soluble vitamins. One cup contains 12.3 percent of the DRI for folate, which is a B vitamin important for protein metabolism and the prevention of some types of anemia. One cup also provides over 7 percent of the DRI for vitamin C and riboflavin, as well as smaller amounts of thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 and choline.
Fat-soluble Vitamins
While canned beans provide no vitamin D, less than 1 percent of vitamin E and less than 5 percent of vitamin A, they do provide a significant amount of vitamin K. One cup supplies 59.5 g mcg of vitamin A, which is 66 percent of the DRI for women and 50 percent of the DRI for men.
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