Lima beans or Butterbean are among the legumes most often recognized for their health value. Considered by some to be the healthiest food on earth, these legumes provide protein and numerous nutrients that improve health, prevent disease, and promote good overall health. These include but are not limited to calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B, and several others that improve immune system, cardiovascular health, and other areas. However, as they are somewhat expensive food, few people are able to easily obtain them, hence its limited market penetration.
Lima beans are relatively easy to get. They are available at local supermarkets and markets in many parts of the world such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and some Middle Eastern countries. In the United States, they are grown primarily in four locations: in Texas, in Arkansas, in Florida, in Louisiana. They are sold fresh at markets or canned, frozen, or dried. Although they are quite expensive, one can buy enough to last a month’s worth of eating which is an ideal solution for those who want to meet their daily nutrition requirements but cannot afford to eat much more than this.
Artichoke, another legume very popular in the United States, is rich in antioxidants and other minerals that are good for health. It is a tasty vegetable that is often combined with tomatoes and onions for a classic food. Artichoke, although it originated in Greece, can now be found in many restaurants all over the world and is often served raw or cooked. It is often included on Italian menus.
Lima beans or Butter bean are also sold in the form of prepackaged flakes, patties, reconstituted dried or fresh juice, or even in the form of sauces. Although it is a legume, it has a slightly bitter taste and is difficult to digest for some people. For this reason, they are commonly served with meat or mixed into a salad. Lima beans or butter bean soup is a favorite dish in many countries, especially those where kidney beans are common, such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea.
Aside from being a popular food and a delicacy, Lima beans or butter bean soup has long been used as a medicinal treatment. The Incan warriors were said to drink the soup with their morning breakfast when recovering from wounds. Another reference to the medicinal properties of the green bean dates back to the Puebloans, who would grind them to make a paste that they used for healing sicknesses.
Lima beans or butter bean is not only a healthy food but also a good source of protein and other vitamins. Azuki beans (or adzuki) provide calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin E. Garbanzo beans or ceci beans contain good amounts of iron, manganese, and phosphorus, while Lima beans (or caffeocco beans) contain magnesium, potassium, and sodium. As far as vitamins go, Lima beans or caffeocco beans are also good sources of vitamin A, B-complex, and E. Lima beans and Azuki, on the other hand, are not considered to be good sources of vitamin C.