Pinto Beans Calories

Pinto beans or 'painted' beans have a beige background and reddish brown patches all over their body. "Pinto" in Spanish means "painted." The colored spots on the beans disappear after cooking. Pinto beans, and other beans such as kidney beans, navy beans and black beans, belong to the group Phaseolus vulgaris and these all are usually referred to as "common beans". Cooked pinto beans have delightful creamy texture and they will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about three days, if placed in a covered container.

Pinto Beans Nutrition facts

Pinto beans are:

• High in starch, protein and dietary fiber.
• Packed with iron, potassium, calcium, molybdenum and selenium.
• Excellent source of thiamine, vitamin B6 and folic acid.
• Contain very little fat and no cholesterol.
• Rich in phosphorus and magnesium.
• Good source of vitamins K, E, C, niacin, riboflavin and minerals copper, zinc and manganese.

Calories in Pinto Beans

Various types of dishes containing painted beans can be enjoyed. Cooking pinto beans is very easy. You may enjoy refried beans, as a healthy snack. When you add these beans to a whole grain such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice, it becomes a healthy and delicious dish. Pinto beans calories are described below:

• Cooked beans: 1 cup (171 grams): 234 calories
• Canned beans: Half cup: 110 calories
• Re-fried beans: Half cup (130 gm): 90 calories
• Homemade beans: 1 cup: 245 calories
• Mature beans, Cooked, Boiled, With salt: 1 cup, (171 gm): 245 calories
• Mature beans, Canned: 1 cup, (240 gm): 205 calories
• Mature seeds, Cooked, Boiled, Without salt: 1 cup, (171 gm): 245 calories
• Painted beans, Immature seeds, Frozen, Cooked, Boiled, Drained, With Salt: 10 oz (284 gm): 460 calories
• Beans in sauce: Half cup, (125 gm): 100 calories

Canned pinto beans are available everywhere. Canned vegetables usually are deprived of their nutritional elements during canning, since they are best lightly cooked for a short period of time, while the canning process requires a long cooking time at high temperatures. On the contrary, beans require a long time to cook whether they are canned or you cook them yourself. Therefore, there cannot be great difference in the nutritional value of canned pinto beans and those you cook yourself. So no problem if you find using canned beans more convenient. Just be sure that you are not choosing those that contain extra salt or additives.

Pinto beans if incorporated in healthy diet, help to lower cholesterol level. High fiber from these beans prevents constipation and also prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal. Therefore these beans are especially recommended to individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. As they are virtually fat free, they lower your risk of suffering from heart attack.

Pinto beans calories and nutrients make them healthy and beneficial. Calories obtained from healthy foods can assure you a healthy and active life. Nutritional profile of these painted beans can boost your energy levels and can also protect you from health hazards.