Navy bean

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	1,468 kJ (351 kcal)
Carbohydrates	60.75 g
Sugars	3.88 g
Dietary fiber	4.3 g
Fat	1.5 g
Protein	22.33 g
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

The navy bean, haricot bean, pearl haricot bean,^[3] Boston bean,^[4] white pea bean,^[5] or pea bean^[6] is a variety of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) native to the Americas, where it was first domesticated.^[7] It is a dry white bean that is smaller than many other types of white beans, and has an oval, slightly flattened shape.^[3] It features in such dishes as baked beans,^[3] various soups such as Senate bean soup,^[8] and even pies.

The green bean plants^[4] that produce navy beans may be either of the bush type or vining type, depending on which cultivar they are.^[9]

History

The name "Navy bean" is an American term coined because the US Navy has served the beans as a staple to its sailors since the mid-1800s.^[10]

In Australia, navy bean production began during World War II when it became necessary to find an economical way of supplying a nutritious food to the many troops—especially American troops—based in Queensland. The United States military maintained a large base in Kingaroy and had many bases and camps throughout south-east Queensland. It actively encouraged the widespread planting of the beans.^[10] Kingaroy is known as the Baked Bean Capital of Australia.^[10] Another popular name for the bean during this time was "the Yankee bean".^[10]

Cultivars

Navy bean cultivars include:

• "Rainy River"^[11]
• "Robust", resistant to the bean common mosaic virus (BCMV),^[12] which is transmitted through seeds^[11]
• Michelite, descended from 'Robust', but with higher yields and better seed quality^[11]
• Sanilac, the first bush navy bean cultivar^[11]

Other white beans

Other varieties of white beans include:

• Cannellini (or fazolia^[4]) are a white kidney bean that is popular in central and southern Italy, but first developed in Argentina.^[4] They are larger than navy beans and closely related to the red kidney bean^{[citation needed]} They are used in minestrone soups.^[4]
• Lima beans, also known as Butter Beans.
• Great northern, also called "large white" beans, are larger than navy beans as well, but smaller than cannellini beans. They have a flattened shape similar to lima beans and a delicate flavor.^{[citation needed]}
• The runner bean, Phaseolus coccineus, is a large white bean known in Greece as gígantes (Greek: γίγαντες, "giants") and eléfantes (ελέφαντες, "elephants").
• The marrow bean, a medium to large white bean with a bacon-like flavor, which was popular for baked beans in the U.S. in the 19th and early 20th centuries.^[13]

Nutritional value

White beans are the most abundant plant-based source of phosphatidylserine (PS) currently known.^[14] It contains notably high levels of apigenin, 452±192 μg/kg, which vary widely among legumes.^[15]

Consumption of baked beans has been shown to lower total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.^[16][17] This might be at least partly explained by the high saponin content of navy beans. Saponins also exhibit antibacterial and anti-fungal activity, and have been found to inhibit cancer cell growth.^[18] Furthermore, navy beans are the richest source of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid among the common bean varieties.^[19]

Storage and safety

Dried and canned beans stay fresh longer by storing them in a pantry or other cool, dark place under 75 °F (24 °C). With normal seed storage, seeds should last from one to four years for replanting, with a very large timetable for cooking for well-kept seeds, nearing on indefinite. Avoid beans that are discolored from the pure white color of these beans, as they may have been poorly handled while they dried.^[20]

References