Safflower Seeds vs Black Beans: How Do They Compare?

Although safflower seeds 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 safflower seeds 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 safflower seeds 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 safflower seeds and black beans compare specifically.
Safflower Seeds
Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius) are the seeds of the safflower plant, which is 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, cereals, and granolas.
Safflower 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 safflower seeds into your diet.
They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used as a topping for salads and other dishes.
Safflower seeds are also available in a variety of forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.
Safflower seeds are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores.
They are often sold roasted or raw, and can be purchased with or without the shell.
If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious seed to add to your diet, consider giving safflower seeds a try.
They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.
Safflower Seeds is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).
It also contains a good amount of 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.
Safflower Seeds 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 safflower seeds vs black beans.
This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of safflower seeds and black beans and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.
| Safflower Seeds | Black Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 517 kcal | 341 kcal |
| Carbs | 34.3 g | 62.4 g |
| Sugar | 2.12 g | |
| Fiber | 15.5 g | |
| Protein | 16.2 g | 21.6 g |
| Fat | 38.4 g | 1.42 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3.68 g | 0.366 g |
Safflower Seeds vs Black Beans Calories
Comparing black beans vs safflower seeds for weight loss, black beans are slightly lower in calories, with 341 calories per 100 grams, compared to 517 calories per 100 grams of safflower seeds.
However, both safflower seeds 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.
Safflower Seeds vs Black Beans Protein
Legumes and most legume products, including safflower seeds and black beans, are important sources of plant-based protein.
Black Beans offer around 25% more protein than safflower seeds.
Black Beans have 21.6 grams of protein per 100 grams, while safflower seeds has 16.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Safflower Seeds 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 safflower seeds and black beans.
The total amount of carbohydrates is around 45% higher in black beans than in safflower seeds. They have 62.4 grams per 100 grams, compared to 34.3 grams in safflower seeds.
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There’s less sugar in safflower seeds than in black beans, 100% precisely.
One handful of safflower seeds (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 safflower seeds 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 safflower seeds which offer 0 grams per portion.
Safflower Seeds vs Black Beans Fats
Fats in safflower seeds and black beans are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.
Total fat in safflower seeds and black beans:
- Safflower Seeds: 38.4 grams per 100 grams
- Black Beans: 1.4 per 100 grams
Speaking of saturated fats, black beans are 89% lower in saturated fats.
Black Beans and safflower seeds contain 0.4 grams and 3.7 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.
Safflower Seeds vs Black Beans Vitamins Content
This section will discuss the vitamin content of safflower seeds and black beans.
Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.
Safflower Seeds has a higher amount of vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.
However, black beans have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).
Safflower Seeds and black beans contain the same amount of vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).
The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins safflower seeds and black beans contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.
| Safflower Seeds | Black Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 50 IU | 17 IU |
| Vitamin C | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin D | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1.16 mg | 0.9 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.415 mg | 0.193 mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 2.28 mg | 1.96 mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) | 4.03 mg | 0.899 mg |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) | 1.17 mg | 0.286 mg |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 160 µg | 444 µg |
| Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin E | 0 | 0.21 mg |
| Vitamin K | 0 | 5.6 µg |
Safflower Seeds 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 safflower seeds and black beans comparison focuses on their mineral content.
Safflower Seeds is a better source of calcium, iron, potassium, selenium, and sodium than black beans.
On the other hand, black beans are a higher amount of copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.
Safflower Seeds and black beans contain the same amount of fluoride.
Check out the table below to learn how safflower seeds and black beans compare when it comes to mineral content.
| Safflower Seeds | Black Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 78 mg | 123 mg |
| Copper | 1.75 mg | 0.841 mg |
| Fluoride | 0 | 0 |
| Iron | 4.9 mg | 5.02 mg |
| Magnesium | 353 mg | 171 mg |
| Manganese | 2.01 mg | 1.06 mg |
| Phosphorus | 644 mg | 352 mg |
| Potassium | 687 mg | 1480 mg |
| Selenium | 0 | 3.2 µg |
| Sodium | 3 mg | 5 mg |
| Zinc | 5.05 mg | 3.65 mg |
The Final Word
Safflower Seeds and black beans are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.
Both safflower seeds 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.
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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Listing of vitamins, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins/
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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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