Chestnuts vs Black Beans: Which Is Healthier?

Although chestnuts and black 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 chestnuts belong to the nuts and seeds group, black beans belong to legumes food group.

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

Chestnuts

Chestnuts (Castanea spp.) are a nut native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

These nuts have a sweet and slightly starchy flavor and are often used in sweet and savory dishes.

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

They are lower in fat and calories compared to many other nuts and are a good source of complex carbohydrates, making them a good choice for those watching their carbohydrate intake.

There are many ways to incorporate chestnuts into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often peeled and cooked before use.

Chestnuts are often used in sweet dishes, such as chestnut puree or chestnut flour, and used to make chestnut bread or pastries.

They can also be used in savory dishes, such as chestnut stuffing or soup.

Chestnuts are available fresh or canned and are often sold peeled or unpeeled. It is important to store chestnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh, as they can become rancid quickly.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving chestnuts a try.

They are versatile, flavorful, and can be easily incorporated into various dishes.

Chestnuts is an excellent source of Vitamin C.

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin A, and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

Black Beans

Black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are a type of legume that are 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 and rich, nutty flavor.

Black beans are also a good source of antioxidants. They have been shown to have a number of potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of certain types of cancer and helping to lower cholesterol levels.

They are easy to incorporate into a wide range of recipes and can be enjoyed in dishes such as black bean soup, burritos, and salads.

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

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) and some Vitamin K.

Chestnuts vs Black Beans Nutrition

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

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

Chestnuts vs Black Beans Calories

Comparing chestnuts vs black beans for weight loss, chestnuts is slightly lower in calories, with 224 calories per 100 grams, compared to 341 calories per 100 grams of black beans.

However, both chestnuts and black 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.

Chestnuts vs Black Beans Protein

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

Black Beans offer around 81% more protein than chestnuts.

Black Beans have 21.6 grams of protein per 100 grams, while chestnuts has 4.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Chestnuts vs Black 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 chestnuts and black beans.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 21% higher in black beans than in chestnuts. They have 62.4 grams per 100 grams, compared to 49.1 grams in chestnuts.

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There’s less sugar in chestnuts than in black beans, 100% precisely.

One handful of chestnuts (28 grams) contains 0 grams of sugar, while the same amount of black beans contains 0.6 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in chestnuts and black 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, black beans are a better source of fiber than chestnuts which offer 0 grams per portion.

Chestnuts vs Black Beans Fats

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

Total fat in chestnuts and black beans:

• Chestnuts: 1.1 grams per 100 grams
• Black Beans: 1.4 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, chestnuts is 50% lower in saturated fats.

Chestnuts and black beans contain 0.2 grams and 0.4 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Chestnuts vs Black Beans Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of chestnuts and black beans.

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

Chestnuts has a higher amount of vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

However, black beans have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

Chestnuts and black beans contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

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

Chestnuts vs Black 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 chestnuts and black beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Chestnuts is a better source of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc than black beans.

On the other hand, black beans are a higher amount of manganese.

Chestnuts and black beans contain the same amount of fluoride.

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

The Final Word

Chestnuts and black beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both chestnuts and black 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.