Are All Beans Legumes? Differences Between Legumes and Beans

You might be wondering “Are all beans legumes?” Yes, they are. There are no beans that aren’t legumes. However, but not all legumes are beans. People are normally confused as to whether all legumes are also beans. So, what are legumes precisely? What are the types of legumes available? Which beans are legumes? Keep reading to find out.

What Are Legumes? Differences Between Both.

These are plants whose fruits grow in pods. What is the difference between a bean and a legume? The difference between legumes and beans is that the seeds collected from different plants are called beans but legumes are plants that have the same type of fruit.

Legumes and beans are families of plants known as Fabaceae and they come from the same seeds or fruits. The different types of legumes include peanuts, alfalfa, lentils, beans, green beans, black-eyed peas (not the black-eyed peas group in case you’re wondering), sugar snap peas, asparagus beans, soybeans, and peas.

One might be thinking are why are green beans legumes? Green beans are legumes and not beans because the green bean plant can be found in a pod. This automatically places them in the legume class and not in the beans class. Beans are a good source of vegetarian protein, fiber, vitamin B, and a much better replacement of meat.

They are also a great replacement for meat as a source of vegetarian protein. Which Beans Are Legumes? Kidney beans, black beans, soybeans, and adzuki beans.

Types of Beans

There are more than 40,000 bean varieties in the world but it’s only a small percentage of the beans that are produced for mass consumption. Interested in knowing the common types of beans you can find around. Check out the following list.

• Great Northern Beans
• Kidney Beans
• Navy Bean
• Pinto Beans
• Black Bean

Are Beans Legumes Or Pulses?

Pulses are edible seeds of plants that can be found in the legume family. Examples of common pulses are edible beans, dried peas, chicken peas and they are rich in fibers and protein.

 Are beans and legumes good for you? Generally, they are for most people. However, people with health issues need to find out from their doctors if they are good for them or not.

For instance, people with digestive problems might need to run away from these two because they might worsen their health issues.

Are Lentils Better Than Beans?

No, in fact, they complement each other very well and you gain more health benefits from eating both together. Are beans and lentils the same thing? No, they are not even though they are both legumes that contain incomplete proteins. Lentils are biconvex seeds, flat disk-like, and smaller than beans. Beans are kidney or oval-shaped, large seeds that grow in longs pods.

Here’s a comparison chart from Pediaa showing the differences between lentils and beans

Are canned beans healthy?

Yes, they are healthy so far as the canned beans do not have ingredients like sugar, salt and contains only beans. Nothing more added to it.

Can I Lose Weight By Eating Beans?

Yes, there are some kinds of beans that help with weight loss. According to Healthline,  beans, and legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, and black beans assist in losing weight but should be prepared properly due to the fact that many people have issues with beans and legumes.

Do beans make you gain weight? No, because they actually aid in weight loss. Beans are also good for belly fat due to the high level of fiber and protein in them.

Watch the following video from Tuko on the 6 types of beans you should eat.

https://youtu.be/747QHCNkXKw

In summary, all beans are legumes but not all legumes are beans. Both are also a good addition to your diet if you are trying to lose weight but make sure you prepare it properly. So be sure to incorporate it into your diet.

Also, if anyone pops the question to you, now you know the answer to give them.