Chia Seeds vs Vigna Mungo Beans: How To Choose?

Although chia seeds 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 chia seeds 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 chia seeds 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 chia seeds and vigna mungo beans compare specifically.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are small, black seeds that come from the chia plant, which is native to Central and South America.
These seeds have gained popularity recently as a health food due to their high fiber and nutrient content.
Chia seeds have a slightly nutty and slightly earthy flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.
They can be added to a variety of dishes, including smoothies, cereals, and baked goods, or used as a topping for salads and other dishes.
Chia seeds are also available in oil form, which can be used in cooking or as a salad dressing.
Chia seeds are a good source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids.
They are also a good source of various vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Overall, chia seeds are a nutritious and versatile food that can be a valuable addition to a plant-based diet.
If you’re looking to add more fiber, protein, and healthy fats to your diet, consider giving chia seeds a try. They are versatile, nutritious, and may have a variety of health benefits.
Chia Seeds is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).
It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).
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.
Chia Seeds 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 chia seeds vs vigna mungo beans.
This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of chia seeds and vigna mungo beans and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.
Chia Seeds | Vigna Mungo Beans | |
---|---|---|
Energy | 486 kcal | 341 kcal |
Carbs | 42.1 g | 59 g |
Sugar | 6.6 g | |
Fiber | 34.4 g | 18.3 g |
Protein | 16.5 g | 25.2 g |
Fat | 30.7 g | 1.64 g |
Saturated Fat | 3.33 g | 0.114 g |
Chia Seeds vs Vigna Mungo Beans Calories
Comparing vigna mungo beans vs chia seeds for weight loss, vigna mungo beans are slightly lower in calories, with 341 calories per 100 grams, compared to 486 calories per 100 grams of chia seeds.
However, both chia seeds 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.
Chia Seeds vs Vigna Mungo Beans Protein
Legumes and most legume products, including chia seeds and vigna mungo beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.
Vigna Mungo Beans offer around 35% more protein than chia seeds.
Vigna Mungo Beans have 25.2 grams of protein per 100 grams, while chia seeds has 16.5 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Chia Seeds 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 chia seeds and vigna mungo beans.
The total amount of carbohydrates is around 29% higher in vigna mungo beans than in chia seeds. They have 59 grams per 100 grams, compared to 42.1 grams in chia seeds.
?>
There’s less sugar in chia seeds than in vigna mungo beans, 100% precisely.
One handful of chia seeds (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 chia seeds and vigna mungo beans.
Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.
With 9.6 grams of fiber per portion, chia seeds is a better source of fiber than vigna mungo beans which chia seeds offers 5.1 grams per portion.
Chia Seeds vs Vigna Mungo Beans Fats
Fats in chia seeds and vigna mungo beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.
Total fat in chia seeds and vigna mungo beans:
- Chia Seeds: 30.7 grams per 100 grams
- Vigna Mungo Beans: 1.6 per 100 grams
Speaking of saturated fats, vigna mungo beans are 97% lower in saturated fats.
Vigna Mungo Beans and chia seeds contain 0.1 grams and 3.3 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.
Chia Seeds vs Vigna Mungo Beans Vitamins Content
This section will discuss the vitamin content of chia seeds 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.
Chia Seeds has a higher amount of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.
However, vigna mungo beans have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and vitamin B3 (Niacin).
Chia Seeds and vigna mungo beans contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).
The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins chia seeds and vigna mungo beans contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.
Chia Seeds | Vigna Mungo Beans | |
---|---|---|
Vitamin A | 54 IU | 23 IU |
Vitamin C | 1.6 mg | 0 |
Vitamin D | 0 | 0 |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.62 mg | 0.273 mg |
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.17 mg | 0.254 mg |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 8.83 mg | 1.45 mg |
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) | 0 | 0.906 mg |
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) | 0 | 0.281 mg |
Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 49 µg | 216 µg |
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0 | 0 |
Vitamin E | 0.5 mg | 0.51 mg |
Vitamin K | 0 | 9 µg |
Chia Seeds 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 chia seeds and vigna mungo beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.
Chia Seeds is a better source of copper, fluoride, potassium, and sodium than vigna mungo beans.
On the other hand, vigna mungo beans are a higher amount of calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc.
Check out the table below to learn how chia seeds and vigna mungo beans compare when it comes to mineral content.
Chia Seeds | Vigna Mungo Beans | |
---|---|---|
Calcium | 631 mg | 138 mg |
Copper | 0.924 mg | 0.981 mg |
Fluoride | 0 | 2.2 µg |
Iron | 7.72 mg | 7.57 mg |
Magnesium | 335 mg | 267 mg |
Manganese | 2.72 mg | 1.53 mg |
Phosphorus | 860 mg | 379 mg |
Potassium | 407 mg | 983 mg |
Selenium | 55.2 µg | 8.2 µg |
Sodium | 16 mg | 38 mg |
Zinc | 4.58 mg | 3.35 mg |
The Final Word
Chia Seeds and vigna mungo beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.
Both chia seeds 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.
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.
- Chia Seeds Nutrients, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/167746/nutrients
-
Vigna Mungo Beans Nutrients, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/167746/nutrients
-
Listing of vitamins, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins/
-
Appendix 7. Nutritional goals for age-sex groups based on dietary reference intakes and Dietary Guidelines recommendations. (n.d.).
https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/appendix-7/
-
International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/114/5/1625/6320814?login=false
-
Health Claim Notification for Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Trans Fat, and Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/health-claim-notification-saturated-fat-cholesterol-and-trans-fat-and-reduced-risk-heart-disease
-
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
-
Protein And Amino Acid Requirements In Human Nutrition, WHO
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43411/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf
-
Nutrition Facts Labeling RDIs Nutrients, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/media/99069/download
-
Nutrition Facts Labeling DRVs Food Components, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/media/99059/download
- It's written and or reviewed by an expert.
- We cite relevant studies and trusted sources.
- It's regularly updated.
Read more about our process and team.