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String beans or French beans are known in France as haricot verte and if they are allowed to become old, they become the dried haricot beans. Like all green beans, if these string beans are sliced before cooking the loss of flavour and nutrients into the water is considerable. The fresh juice of these french beans is not very high in any particular vitamin or mineral constituent but it is a better source of vitamin B6 than many other vegetables and fruits. Therapeutically string beans is used as a nervous stimulant and a number of practitioners have said that the juice stimulates the production of insulin. French beans is usually used for this purpose in combination with Brussels sprout juice Treatment for diabetes should, however, always be under the control of a practitioner. French bean juice is recommended during convalescence and for gout. The usual dose is quite small, about half a glass or 5floz (150ml) a day being sufficient for these purposes. The diabetic, who must in any case be on a strictly controlled diet, needs rather more The usual requirement is 10floz (275ml) a day with an equal amount of Brussels sprout juice.

String beans can be described as the edible part of the bean plant, which could either be the fruit, or even the plant itself. They get the name “string bean” from the fibrous string that runs through the length of the entire pod; the strings are generally removed, before the beans can be cooked or consumed. These beans are also commonly referred to, as snap beans because they can be snapped into two if they are at their freshest. They are available in a variety of colors, some of which include purple or yellow. String beans have different names and are available in a variety of sizes. Some of the other common names used for string beans include bush beans, pole beans or runner beans. A very popular type of string bean, cultivated in France, includes haricot vert. Unlike the other members of the bean family, string beans are eaten by people before they fully mature, in the pod. Most weight watchers are advised to eat high quantities of these beans, since they are quite low in calories. The number of calories in string beans is around 40 calories per serving. These are the calories in string beans that are raw. The calories in cooked string beans may vary based on the cooking style as well as the other ingredients used in the preparation of the legume. Hence, the calories in cooked string beans could vary between 45 calories and 175 calories a cup. Nevertheless, after getting to know about their nutritional facts, there are several people who decide to make this plant a regular feature of their daily diet. Fortunately, there are several ways in which green beans can be eaten. Some of the most common recipes include string bean salad and string bean soup. However, there are people who may find such recipes bland and boring and may like to sample different dishes which mainly comprise sautéed string beans.

Sauted String Beans

People who are asked to eat high amounts of string beans often complain that they are fed up of eating canned beans, or just adding bean to a salad. Therefore, a different recipe like sautéed string beans should suit the palate of all the members in the family, including those who are not on a diet.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound of fresh string beans, snapped and trimmed
• 1 Dried onion, minced
• 1 Jar of marinated cocktail onions with the liquid
• 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
• Garlic powder to taste
• Garlic salt to taste

Method

• Place a wok on a high flame and heat the olive oil in it. Once the oil is hot, reduce the flame to a medium one
• Add the string beans to the wok and cook them for about ten minutes, covering the wok with a lid, but stirring the beans occasionally, so that they do not burn or stick to the bottom
• Add the minced onion, garlic powder and garlic salt to the wok and stir all the ingredients thoroughly.
• Just before the beans are completely tender, mix the cocktail onions, along with its liquid into the wok. Let all the ingredients cook for another 5 minutes, before serving the beans

Sauteed string beans calories per serving: 119

Sauteed String Beans with Almonds

Another popular recipe with many weight watchers and people who are fitness conscious is sautéed string beans with almonds, since the nuts help increase the nutritional value of the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups string beans, trimmed and chopped
• ¼ Cup almonds, slivered
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Shallot, minced
• 1 Teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 Teaspoon butter
• 1/8 Teaspoon onion powder
• Salt to taste

Method:

• In a frying pan, melt the butter, along with the olive oil, over a medium low heat.
• Add the shallots and the minced garlic to the pan and allow them to cook for a minute or so
• Sprinkle the onion powder and salt and then mix the string beans. Mix all the ingredients well, till the beans appear well-coated.
• Cook the beans for 5 to 10 minutes, till they are a bit tender
• Pour the slivered almonds into the pan and continue to cook till the beans are quite tender.
• Serve the beans as a side dish, or with a portion of rice

Sauteed string beans calories, per serving (with almonds): 86

There are several other recipes easily available through books and online resources, which could include sautéed string beans Chinese style, sautéed string beans with mushrooms and parsley or other herbs. Hence, people can choose to prepare sautéed string beans Chinese style or any other recipe, based on their tastes. There are several recipes that also include haricot vert seeds as one of the ingredients.

String Beans Nutritional Value

In spite of the fact that there are only 44 calories in a cup of string beans, these legumes are loaded with nutrients. They are an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, manganese, iron, dietary fiber, folate and potassium. They also contain magnesium, niacin, protein, calcium, riboflavin, omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus, copper as well as thiamin. However, people suffering from certain health concerns need to be aware of all the string beans nutritional facts, before adding them to their diet. Health experts state that string beans are one of the few food items that have a measurable quantity of oxalates, which is a naturally occurring substance, found in humans, animals and plants. If the levels of oxalates in the body go too high, the substance can crystalize, which could be harmful for the body. Therefore, people who have gall bladder conditions or kidney problems that have not been treated should refrain from eating string beans on a regular basis. In fact oxalates are known to interfere with the absorption of calcium; hence, in case a person suffers from calcium deficiency, or is taking calcium supplements, a time gap of at least 3 hours should be maintained between the consumption of the bean and the supplement. This could also apply to the consumption of haricot vert. seeds and therefore, it is best to consult a doctor.