Did you know that one serving of fresh green beans provides a whopping 25% of your vitamin K needs and is super important for maintaining strong bones? Vitamin K1 activates osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone. Osteocalcin anchors calcium molecules inside of the bone. Therefore, without enough vitamin K1, osteocalcin levels are inadequate, and bone mineralization is impaired. So if you are worried about Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease, green beans are a great natural helper in prevention. Vitamin K is also essential for blood to clot and it is a super green to eat for your heart – it really helps prevent plaque from building up on the walls of your arteries.

Green beans, while quite low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), are loaded with enough nutrients to not only power up the Jolly Green Giant, but to put a big smile on his face. Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K as mentioned and manganese.

Plus green beans are very good source of vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene), dietary fiber, potassium, foliate, and iron. And, green beans are a good source of magnesium, thiamine, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorous, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin. So eat ’em up and help yourself and your family to stay healthy!

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