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Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo Beans: Which One is Better for You?

This article explains the key similarities and differences between chestnuts and vigna mungo beans, foods from the grains and legumes food groups. Read on to learn more about the chestnuts vs vigna mungo beans comparison.
Catherine Toledo, Journalist

Written by Catherine Toledo, Journalist. Updated on March 8, 2023.

Although chestnuts and vigna mungo 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, vigna mungo beans belong to legumes food group.

That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares chestnuts and vigna mungo 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 vigna mungo 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).

Vigna Mungo Beans

Vigna mungo, also known as black gram or urad bean, is a type of legume native to India.

It is a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to its high protein and fiber content, as well as its rich, nutty flavor.

Vigna mungo is also a good source of several important nutrients, including potassium, iron, and B vitamins.

It can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, such as black gram dal, curry, and sprouts.

In addition to being a nutritious food, Vigna mungo has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits.

It has been linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved blood sugar control, and it may also help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Vigna Mungo Beans are an excellent source of Vitamin B9 (Folate).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) and some Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin K.

Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo 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 vigna mungo beans.

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

ChestnutsVigna Mungo Beans
Energy224 kcal341 kcal
Carbs49.1 g59 g
Sugar6.6 g
Fiber18.3 g
Protein4.2 g25.2 g
Fat1.11 g1.64 g
Saturated Fat0.164 g0.114 g

Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo Beans Calories

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

However, both chestnuts and vigna mungo 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 Vigna Mungo Beans Protein

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

Vigna Mungo Beans offer around 83% more protein than chestnuts.

Vigna Mungo Beans have 25.2 grams of protein per 100 grams, while chestnuts has 4.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo 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 vigna mungo beans.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 17% higher in vigna mungo beans than in chestnuts. They have 59 grams per 100 grams, compared to 49.1 grams in chestnuts.

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

One handful of chestnuts (28 grams) contains 0 grams of sugar, while the same amount of vigna mungo beans contains 1.8 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in chestnuts and vigna mungo beans.

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

With 5.1 grams of fiber per portion, vigna mungo beans are a better source of fiber than chestnuts which offer 0 grams per portion.

Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo Beans Fats

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

Total fat in chestnuts and vigna mungo beans:

  • Chestnuts: 1.1 grams per 100 grams
  • Vigna Mungo Beans: 1.6 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, vigna mungo beans are 50% lower in saturated fats.

Vigna Mungo Beans and chestnuts contain 0.1 grams and 0.2 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo Beans Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of chestnuts and vigna mungo 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, vigna mungo beans have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

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

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

ChestnutsVigna Mungo Beans
Vitamin A202 IU23 IU
Vitamin C36 mg0
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)0.16 mg0.273 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.18 mg0.254 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)0.8 mg1.45 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.555 mg0.906 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.41 mg0.281 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)68 µg216 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E00.51 mg
Vitamin K09 µg

Chestnuts vs Vigna Mungo 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 vigna mungo beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.

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

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

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

ChestnutsVigna Mungo Beans
Calcium18 mg138 mg
Copper0.363 mg0.981 mg
Fluoride02.2 µg
Iron1.41 mg7.57 mg
Magnesium84 mg267 mg
Manganese1.6 mg1.53 mg
Phosphorus96 mg379 mg
Potassium447 mg983 mg
Selenium08.2 µg
Sodium3 mg38 mg
Zinc0.87 mg3.35 mg

The Final Word

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

Both chestnuts and vigna mungo 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.

Sources

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