Nana's Famous Green Bean Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are green beans good for diabetics? ›

With high fiber and protein content, eating green beans helps the sugar to be released into the blood more slowly. In addition, the antioxidants vitexin and isovitexin in mung beans also work to lower blood sugar and help insulin work more effectively, helping to control diabetes more effectively.

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

It's best to store your fresh green beans in the fridge, otherwise store green beans in the freezer if you want them to last longer. You can also store unwashed and unblanched green beans in the refrigerator for up to about seven days before you need to store your green beans in the freezer.

1. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts. Sulforaphane is a type of isothiocyanate that has blood sugar-reducing properties.

Green beans have a moderate glycemic index, which means they can cause a moderate increase in blood sugar levels and subsequently insulin levels. However, the spike in insulin levels is not as significant as with high glycemic index foods.

They are rich in nutrients, extremely healthy, and have several health benefits. Green beans are generally safe for most people. Those who are taking blood-thinners, such as warfarin, should not suddenly change the amount of vitamin K-containing foods such as green beans because vitamin K helps blood clotting.

Green bean has more alpha-carotene than broccoli, however, broccoli contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than green bean. Both green bean and broccoli are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium. Broccoli has more pantothenic acid.

Regular canned green beans are high in salt, though, so that is the only thing you need to be careful of if you are on a sodium-restricted diet. If you need to watch your sodium intake, just buy the “no salt added” version. Green beans are one of the things you can as much as you want on just about any type of diet.

How to cook green beans Jamie Oliver? ›

Put a pan of salted water on to boil. Meanwhile, trim the the beans. Once the water is boiling, steam or boil the beans until tender. Drain well, then tip the cooked beans into the bowl with your dressing and toss everything together, making sure all the beans get coated.

Your cooked beans last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge. To store them, let the beans cool down after cooking, then pop them in the refrigerator within an hour. Getting them stored quickly and chilled in the fridge will help prevent the growth of bacteria.

Fresh green beans in good condition will feel firm and should snap apart when bent. Older green beans that feel limp and have started to develop a slimy texture are no longer safe to eat. If you see any fuzzy mold on them, they are definitely too bad to eat.

As beans start to spoil, you may see brown spots or notice that they feel soft and slimy. They can feel limp and might have a sour, rotten smell. Moisture is usually the biggest threat to green bean freshness.

Spinach, collards and kale are dark green leafy vegetables packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, E and K, iron, calcium and potassium. These powerhouse foods are low in calories and carbohydrates too. Try adding dark leafy vegetables to salads, soups and stews.

Kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans and chickpeas are all great for blood glucose control, as they are very high in fibre and take a long time to digest. On the whole, dried beans are a better choice than canned, as they are less expensive and contain less sodium.

Carrots. These are considered non-starchy (as are string beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower) and good in a diabetes diet. High-fiber grains. Farro, quinoa and barley keep sugars more stable than white rice or pasta.

Mushrooms, spinach, kale, soybean sprouts, celery, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, radishes, and asparagus are among the vegetables with the lowest sugar content available. Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.