
space-monkey-pics/iStock/Getty Images
Beans, including cranberry beans, give you a big nutritional bang for your buck. These nutrient-rich foods provide protein for fewer calories and without all of the fat and cholesterol found in meat, and they may also lower your risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity, according to North Dakota State University Extension. Add them to soups, salads or stews, or use them to make a side of baked beans.
Basic Nutrition Facts
Each cup of boiled cranberry beans provides 241 calories, 0.8 grams of fat, 16.5 grams of protein and 43.3 grams of carbohydrates. Cranberry beans don't contain any cholesterol and only have trace amounts of sodium, making them a heart-healthy protein choice.
Fiber All-Star
You'll get a big fiber boost whenever you consume cranberry beans, since each cup gives you 17.7 grams of fiber, or 71 percent of the daily value for those who follow a 2,000-calorie diet. Fiber adds bulk to make your diet more filling without adding calories since it isn't digested, making it beneficial for those who are trying to lose weight. It also helps you control your blood sugar, lower your cholesterol and decrease your risk for heart disease and digestive issues such as constipation and hemorrhoids.
Mineral Makeup
When you eat a cup of cranberry beans, you'll increase your intake of essential minerals. This serving provides 13 percent of the DV for zinc and more than 20 percent of the DV for manganese, copper, potassium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. You need zinc for cell division and healing wounds, manganese for forming bones and processing cholesterol and copper for keeping your blood vessels and nerves healthy. Potassium helps counteract the effects of sodium on your blood pressure, and iron is important for forming red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body. Magnesium is essential for energy production and blood sugar control, and phosphorus plays a role in forming cell membranes and DNA.
Featuring Thiamine and Folate
While cranberry beans only contain relatively small amounts of most vitamins, they do provide 92 percent of the DV for folate and 25 percent of the DV for thiamine per cup. Folate is essential for forming DNA and preventing certain types of birth defects, and you need thiamine for turning the food you eat into energy and proper brain function.
Related Articles
The Nutrition of 15-Bean Soup

Nutrition Information on Blueberries

The Nutritional Value of Edamame Beans

Nutrition Information for Adzuki Beans

Nutrition Drinks for Diabetics

Are Bean Sprouts Good for You?

The Nutritional Value of Anasazi Beans ...

What Are the Benefits of Great Northern ...

Calories per Cup of Cooked Navy Beans

List of High Protein Vegetables

Red Kidney Beans Nutrition

A List of Foods That Contain Choline

Ten Kinds of High-Fiber Beans

Vitamins for Mental Alertness

Which Is Highest in Fiber: Carrots, ...

Calories in Wild Alaskan Salmon

How to Make and Eat Edamame, Microwave ...

Vitamin B2 for Hair Growth

The Carbohydrates in Blueberries

How to Cook Pinto Beans in a Crock Pot
References
Writer Bio
Based in Massachusetts, Jessica Bruso has been writing since 2008. She holds a master of science degree in food policy and applied nutrition and a bachelor of arts degree in international relations, both from Tufts University.
Photo Credits
space-monkey-pics/iStock/Getty Images