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Poppy Seeds vs Mung Beans: How Do They Compare?

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

Written by Catherine Toledo, Journalist. Updated on March 18, 2023.

Although poppy seeds and mung 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 poppy seeds belong to the nuts and seeds group, mung beans belong to legumes food group.

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

Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) are the tiny, black seeds of the poppy plant, native to the Mediterranean region.

These seeds have a slightly nutty and slightly earthy flavor, and are often used in a variety of dishes, including breads, pastries, and savory dishes.

Poppy seeds are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

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

There are many ways to incorporate poppy seeds into your diet.

They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used as a topping for salads and other dishes.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious seed to add to your diet, consider giving poppy seeds a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Poppy Seeds is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

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

Mung Beans

Mung beans (Vigna radiata), also known as green gram or moong bean, are a type of legume native to India and Southeast Asia.

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

Mung 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 mung bean soup, sprouts, and curry.

In addition to being a nutritious food, mung 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.

Mung 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) and some Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.

Poppy Seeds vs Mung Beans Nutrition

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

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

Poppy SeedsMung Beans
Energy525 kcal347 kcal
Carbs28.1 g62.6 g
Sugar2.99 g6.6 g
Fiber19.5 g16.3 g
Protein18 g23.9 g
Fat41.6 g1.15 g
Saturated Fat4.52 g0.348 g

Poppy Seeds vs Mung Beans Calories

Comparing mung beans vs poppy seeds for weight loss, mung beans are slightly lower in calories, with 347 calories per 100 grams, compared to 525 calories per 100 grams of poppy seeds.

However, both poppy seeds and mung 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.

Poppy Seeds vs Mung Beans Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including poppy seeds and mung beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Mung Beans offer around 25% more protein than poppy seeds.

Mung Beans have 23.9 grams of protein per 100 grams, while poppy seeds has 18 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Poppy Seeds vs Mung 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 poppy seeds and mung beans.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 55% higher in mung beans than in poppy seeds. They have 62.6 grams per 100 grams, compared to 28.1 grams in poppy seeds.

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There’s less sugar in poppy seeds than in mung beans, 56% precisely.

One handful of poppy seeds (28 grams) contains 0.8 grams of sugar, while the same amount of mung beans contains 1.8 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in poppy seeds and mung beans.

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

With 5.5 grams of fiber per portion, poppy seeds is a better source of fiber than mung beans which poppy seeds offers 4.6 grams per portion.

Poppy Seeds vs Mung Beans Fats

Fats in poppy seeds and mung beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in poppy seeds and mung beans:

  • Poppy Seeds: 41.6 grams per 100 grams
  • Mung Beans: 1.2 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, mung beans are 93% lower in saturated fats.

Mung Beans and poppy seeds contain 0.3 grams and 4.5 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Poppy Seeds vs Mung Beans Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of poppy seeds and mung beans.

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

Poppy Seeds has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), and vitamin K.

However, mung beans have a higher amount of vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and vitamin E.

Poppy Seeds and mung beans contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

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

Poppy SeedsMung Beans
Vitamin A0114 IU
Vitamin C1 mg4.8 mg
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)0.854 mg0.621 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.1 mg0.233 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)0.896 mg2.25 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.324 mg1.91 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.247 mg0.382 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)82 µg625 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E1.77 mg0.51 mg
Vitamin K09 µg

Poppy Seeds vs Mung 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 poppy seeds and mung beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Poppy Seeds is a better source of fluoride, and potassium than mung beans.

On the other hand, mung beans are a higher amount of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc.

Check out the table below to learn how poppy seeds and mung beans compare when it comes to mineral content.

Poppy SeedsMung Beans
Calcium1440 mg132 mg
Copper1.63 mg0.941 mg
Fluoride02.2 µg
Iron9.76 mg6.74 mg
Magnesium347 mg189 mg
Manganese6.71 mg1.04 mg
Phosphorus870 mg367 mg
Potassium719 mg1250 mg
Selenium13.5 µg8.2 µg
Sodium26 mg15 mg
Zinc7.9 mg2.68 mg

The Final Word

Poppy Seeds and mung beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both poppy seeds and mung 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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