Cashews vs Pinto Beans: What’s The Difference?

Although cashews and pinto 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 cashews belong to the nuts and seeds group, pinto beans belong to legumes food group.

That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares cashews and pinto 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 cashews and pinto beans compare specifically.

Cashews

Cashews (Anacardium occidentale) is a type of nut that is native to South America.

These nuts have a sweet and buttery flavor and are often used in a variety of dishes, including sweet and savory recipes.

Cashews are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate cashews into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often used in dishes as a creamy and flavorful addition.

Cashews are a common ingredient in vegan and vegetarian dishes, as they can be used to create a creamy texture when blended or soaked.

They can also be ground into flour or used to make cashew butter.

Cashews are widely available and can be found in many forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.

They can be purchased raw, roasted, or salted and are often sold with the skin removed.

Whether you’re looking for a tasty snack or a versatile ingredient to add to your cooking, cashews are a great choice.

They are delicious and nutritious and can be easily incorporated into many dishes.

Cashews is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin K.

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin E.

Pinto Beans

Pinto beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are a type of legume native to Central and South America.

They are a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to their high protein and fiber content, as well as their rich, nutty flavor.

Pinto 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 pinto bean soup, chili, and salads.

In addition to being a nutritious food, pinto 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.

Pinto Beans are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) and some Vitamin C, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin K.

Cashews vs Pinto Beans Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing cashews vs pinto beans.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of cashews and pinto beans and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.

Cashews vs Pinto Beans Calories

Comparing pinto beans vs cashews for weight loss, pinto beans are slightly lower in calories, with 347 calories per 100 grams, compared to 553 calories per 100 grams of cashews.

However, both cashews and pinto 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.

Cashews vs Pinto Beans Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including cashews and pinto beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Pinto Beans offer around 15% more protein than cashews.

Pinto Beans have 21.4 grams of protein per 100 grams, while cashews has 18.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Cashews vs Pinto 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 cashews and pinto beans.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 52% higher in pinto beans than in cashews. They have 62.6 grams per 100 grams, compared to 30.2 grams in cashews.

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There’s less sugar in pinto beans than in cashews, 65% precisely.

One handful of pinto beans (28 grams) contains 0.6 grams of sugar, while the same amount of cashews contains 1.7 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in cashews and pinto beans.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 4.3 grams of fiber per portion, pinto beans are a better source of fiber than cashews which offer 0.9 grams per portion.

Cashews vs Pinto Beans Fats

Fats in cashews and pinto beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in cashews and pinto beans:

• Cashews: 43.8 grams per 100 grams
• Pinto Beans: 1.2 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, pinto beans are 97% lower in saturated fats.

Pinto Beans and cashews contain 0.2 grams and 7.8 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Cashews vs Pinto Beans Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of cashews and pinto beans.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Cashews has a higher amount of vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

However, pinto beans have a higher amount of vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

Cashews and pinto beans contain the same amount of vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins cashews and pinto beans contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Cashews vs Pinto 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 cashews and pinto beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Cashews is a better source of calcium, fluoride, potassium, and selenium than pinto beans.

On the other hand, pinto beans are a higher amount of copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.

Cashews and pinto beans contain the same amount of sodium.

Check out the table below to learn how cashews and pinto beans compare when it comes to mineral content.

The Final Word

Cashews and pinto beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both cashews and pinto 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.