Millet flour vs Adzuki Beans: What’s The Difference?

Although millet flour and adzuki beans belong to different food groups, while millet flour belong is a grain, and adzuki beans belong to legumes food group, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.
That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares millet flour and adzuki beans, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.
Generally speaking, foods from grains and legume food groups are both high in carbs and protein and valuable addition to a plant-based diet.
Now, let’s see how millet flour and adzuki beans compare specifically.
Millet flour
Millet flour (Panicum miliaceum) is made from ground millet, which is an ancient grain that is grown in many parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and Europe.
It is a good source of carbohydrates, dietary fibers, and small amounts of vitamins and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. It is also gluten-free and easy to digest, making it a great option for people with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.
Millet flour is commonly used in baking and is a good alternative to wheat flour for gluten-free or alternative baking. It is also used in traditional African and Asian dishes.
Millet flour is considered a functional food, as it has been shown to positively impact health when consumed regularly as part of a balanced diet. It is also a sustainable crop, as it is drought-tolerant and can be grown in poor soil conditions.
Millet flour is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid).
It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).
Adzuki Beans
Adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), also known as red beans, are a type of small, reddish-brown legume that are native to East Asia.
They have been grown and consumed for thousands of years in countries such as Japan, China, and Korea and are a popular ingredient in many traditional dishes.
One of the main health benefits of adzuki beans is their high protein content.
Adzuki beans are a good source of plant-based protein, making them a popular choice for vegetarians and vegans.
They are also high in fiber, which can help to improve digestion and lower cholesterol levels.
Adzuki beans are rich in iron, potassium, and B vitamins. They also contain a number of plant compounds that have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
In terms of health benefits, adzuki beans have been shown to have many positive effects on the body.
They are a good source of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help balance the gut microbiome.
Adzuki beans may also help to reduce the risk of certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, due to their high content of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.
Adzuki 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).
Millet flour vs Adzuki Beans Nutrition
Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing millet flour vs adzuki beans.
This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of millet flour and adzuki beans and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.
| Millet flour | Adzuki Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 382 kcal | 329 kcal |
| Carbs | 75.1 g | 62.9 g |
| Sugar | 1.66 g | 0.62 g |
| Fiber | 3.5 g | 12.7 g |
| Protein | 10.8 g | 19.9 g |
| Fat | 4.25 g | 0.53 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.536 g | 0.191 g |
Millet flour vs Adzuki Beans Calories
Most calories in raw grains and legumes come from carbs. Peanuts are an exception here, but they are often considered a nut instead of a legume because of their nutritional profile.
Comparing adzuki beans vs millet flour for weight loss, adzuki beans are slightly lower in calories, with 329 calories per 100 grams, compared to 382 calories per 100 grams of millet flour.
However, both millet flour and adzuki 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.
Millet flour vs Adzuki Beans Protein
Legumes and most legume products, including millet flour and adzuki beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.
Adzuki Beans offer around 46% more protein than millet flour.
Adzuki Beans have 19.9 grams of protein per 100 grams, while millet flour has 10.8 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Millet flour vs Adzuki 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 millet flour and adzuki beans.
The total amount of carbohydrates is around 16% higher in millet flour than in adzuki beans. It have 75.1 grams per 100 grams, compared to 62.9 grams in adzuki beans.
There’s less sugar in adzuki beans than in millet flour, 60% precisely.
One handful of adzuki beans (28 grams) contains 0.2 grams of sugar, while the same amount of millet flour contains 0.5 grams.
Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in millet flour and adzuki beans.
Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.
With 3.6 grams of fiber per portion, adzuki beans are a better source of fiber than millet flour which offer 1 grams per portion.
Millet flour vs Adzuki Beans Fats
Like most other grains and legumes, with the exception of lupins and peanuts, millet flour and adzuki beans are low in fat.
Fats in millet flour and adzuki beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.
Total fat in millet flour and adzuki beans:
- Millet flour: 4.3 grams per 100 grams
- Adzuki Beans: 0.5 per 100 grams
Speaking of saturated fats, adzuki beans are 60% lower in saturated fats.
Adzuki Beans and millet flour contain 0.2 grams and 0.5 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.
Millet flour vs Adzuki Beans Vitamins Content
This section will discuss the vitamin content of millet flour and adzuki beans.
Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.
Millet flour has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B9 (Folate), and vitamin K.
However, adzuki beans have a higher amount of vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin E.
Millet flour and adzuki beans contain the same amount of vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).
The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins millet flour and adzuki beans contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.
| Millet flour | Adzuki Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 9 IU | 17 IU |
| Vitamin C | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin D | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.413 mg | 0.455 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.073 mg | 0.22 mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 6.02 mg | 2.63 mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) | 1.27 mg | 1.47 mg |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) | 0.372 mg | 0.351 mg |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 42 µg | 622 µg |
| Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin E | 0.11 mg | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.8 µg | 2.4 µg |
Millet flour vs Adzuki 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 millet flour and adzuki beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.
Millet flour is a better source of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc than adzuki beans.
On the other hand, adzuki beans are a higher amount of selenium.
Millet flour and adzuki beans contain the same amount of fluoride.
Check out the table below to learn how millet flour and adzuki beans compare when it comes to mineral content.
| Millet flour | Adzuki Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 14 mg | 66 mg |
| Copper | 0.535 mg | 1.09 mg |
| Fluoride | 0 | 0 |
| Iron | 3.94 mg | 4.98 mg |
| Magnesium | 119 mg | 127 mg |
| Manganese | 1 mg | 1.73 mg |
| Phosphorus | 285 mg | 381 mg |
| Potassium | 224 mg | 1250 mg |
| Selenium | 32.7 µg | 3.1 µg |
| Sodium | 4 mg | 5 mg |
| Zinc | 2.63 mg | 5.04 mg |
The Final Word
Millet flour and adzuki beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.
Both millet flour and adzuki 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 grains 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 and grains 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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Adzuki Beans Nutrients, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/167746/nutrients
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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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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/
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International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review
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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
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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
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43411/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf
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Nutrition Facts Labeling RDIs Nutrients, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/media/99069/download
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Nutrition Facts Labeling DRVs Food Components, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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