Almonds vs Mung Beans: What’s The Difference?

Although almonds and mung beans belong to different food groups, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.
While almonds belong to the nuts and seeds group, mung beans belong to legumes food group.
That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares almonds and mung beans, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.
Generally speaking, foods from nuts and seeds group are usually higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs than legumes, but both are valuable addition to a plant-based diet.
Now, let’s see how almonds and mung beans compare specifically.
Almonds
Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are the seeds of the almond tree and have been enjoyed as food for thousands of years.
Almonds have a sweet and nutty flavor and are often eaten as a snack on their own or used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
They can be roasted, blanched, or ground into flour and are a common ingredient in many types of baked goods, including cookies, cakes, and bread.
In addition to their tasty flavor, almonds are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.
They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Almonds are widely available and can be found in many forms, including whole, sliced, slivered, and ground. They can be purchased raw, roasted, or salted and are often sold with the skin removed.
Almonds are also available in a variety of flavors, including plain, honey-roasted, and chocolate-covered.
Whether you’re looking for a tasty snack or a versatile ingredient to add to your cooking, almonds are a great choice. They are delicious and nutritious and can be easily incorporated into the diet.
Almonds is an excellent source of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin E.
It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).
Mung Beans
Mung beans (Vigna radiata), also known as green gram or moong bean, are a type of legume native to India and Southeast Asia.
They are a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to their high protein and fiber content, as well as their delicate, nutty flavor.
Mung beans are also a good source of several important nutrients, including potassium, iron, and B vitamins.
They can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, such as mung bean soup, sprouts, and curry.
In addition to being a nutritious food, mung beans have been shown to have a number of potential health benefits.
They have been linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved blood sugar control and may also help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Mung Beans are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).
They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) and some Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Almonds vs Mung Beans Nutrition
Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing almonds vs mung beans.
This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of almonds and mung beans and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.
| Almonds | Mung Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 579 kcal | 347 kcal |
| Carbs | 21.6 g | 62.6 g |
| Sugar | 4.35 g | 6.6 g |
| Fiber | 12.5 g | 16.3 g |
| Protein | 21.2 g | 23.9 g |
| Fat | 49.9 g | 1.15 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3.8 g | 0.348 g |
Almonds vs Mung Beans Calories
Comparing mung beans vs almonds for weight loss, mung beans are slightly lower in calories, with 347 calories per 100 grams, compared to 579 calories per 100 grams of almonds.
However, both almonds and mung beans can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.
Almonds vs Mung Beans Protein
Legumes and most legume products, including almonds and mung beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.
Mung Beans offer around 11% more protein than almonds.
Mung Beans have 23.9 grams of protein per 100 grams, while almonds has 21.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Almonds vs Mung Beans Carbs
Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.
It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in almonds and mung beans.
The total amount of carbohydrates is around 65% higher in mung beans than in almonds. They have 62.6 grams per 100 grams, compared to 21.6 grams in almonds.
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There’s less sugar in almonds than in mung beans, 33% precisely.
One handful of almonds (28 grams) contains 1.2 grams of sugar, while the same amount of mung beans contains 1.8 grams.
Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in almonds and mung beans.
Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.
With 4.6 grams of fiber per portion, mung beans are a better source of fiber than almonds which offer 3.5 grams per portion.
Almonds vs Mung Beans Fats
Fats in almonds and mung beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.
Total fat in almonds and mung beans:
- Almonds: 49.9 grams per 100 grams
- Mung Beans: 1.2 per 100 grams
Speaking of saturated fats, mung beans are 92% lower in saturated fats.
Mung Beans and almonds contain 0.3 grams and 3.8 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.
Almonds vs Mung Beans Vitamins Content
This section will discuss the vitamin content of almonds and mung beans.
Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.
Almonds has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), and vitamin K.
However, mung beans have a higher amount of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), and vitamin E.
Almonds and mung beans contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).
The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins almonds and mung beans contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.
| Almonds | Mung Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 2 IU | 114 IU |
| Vitamin C | 0 | 4.8 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.205 mg | 0.621 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 1.14 mg | 0.233 mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 3.62 mg | 2.25 mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) | 0.471 mg | 1.91 mg |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) | 0.137 mg | 0.382 mg |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 44 µg | 625 µg |
| Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin E | 25.6 mg | 0.51 mg |
| Vitamin K | 0 | 9 µg |
Almonds vs Mung Beans Minerals Content
Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.
Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the almonds and mung beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.
Almonds is a better source of fluoride, iron, potassium, selenium, and sodium than mung beans.
On the other hand, mung beans are a higher amount of calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.
Check out the table below to learn how almonds and mung beans compare when it comes to mineral content.
| Almonds | Mung Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 269 mg | 132 mg |
| Copper | 1.03 mg | 0.941 mg |
| Fluoride | 0 | 2.2 µg |
| Iron | 3.71 mg | 6.74 mg |
| Magnesium | 270 mg | 189 mg |
| Manganese | 2.18 mg | 1.04 mg |
| Phosphorus | 481 mg | 367 mg |
| Potassium | 733 mg | 1250 mg |
| Selenium | 4.1 µg | 8.2 µg |
| Sodium | 1 mg | 15 mg |
| Zinc | 3.12 mg | 2.68 mg |
The Final Word
Almonds and mung beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.
Both almonds and mung beans are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.
Antioxidants found in nuts, seeds and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.
Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.
Legumes, nuts and seeds are a versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.
Holy Peas has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals, associations and government institutions. Read more about our process.
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Listing of vitamins, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins/
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Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine
https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/nutrientrecommendations.aspx
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Protein And Amino Acid Requirements In Human Nutrition, WHO
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