Green beans---also known as string beans or snap beans---are one of the few types of beans eaten fresh, not dried. Whether steamed or stir-fried, green beans can be a crunchy and delicious addition to your diet. Low in fat and calories, they provide fiber as well as vitamins.
Fat and Calories
According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation's Fruits & Veggies More Matters website, a 3/4-cup serving of fresh cut green beans contains 20 calories, 0 g of fat and 0 mg of cholesterol. A 1/2-cup serving of low-sodium canned green beans also has 20 calories, 0 g of fat and 0 mg of cholesterol, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Protein, Carbohydrates and Fiber
Green beans are packed with fiber but not protein. In a 3/4-cup serving of fresh cut beans, there are 5 g of carbohydrates, 3 g of which is dietary fiber. That's 12 percent of your recommended daily value of fiber. A 1/2-cup serving of low-sodium canned green beans has 3 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of which is fiber---10 percent of the recommended daily value. But each of these servings contains 1 g or less of protein.
Vitamins
By eating green beans, you also add to your stores of essential vitamins. A serving of fresh beans has 4 percent of your recommended daily value of vitamin A and 10 percent of vitamin C. A serving of low-sodium canned beans provides 6 percent of both vitamins A and C.
Minerals
Fresh cut beans have no sodium but contain 4 percent of your recommended daily value of calcium and 2 percent of iron in each 3/4-cup serving. Low-sodium canned beans, on the other hand, have 5 percent of your recommended daily value of sodium, 2 percent of calcium and 4 percent of iron.
Storage
To store your fresh green beans, seal them in plastic and refrigerate them. Under these conditions, they should stay fresh for about a week. Canned green beans should stay in a cool, dry place until you're ready to use them. If you don't use a whole can of green beans in one meal, store what's left in the refrigerator in a covered non-metal container.
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