Some early research suggests mung beans may have a variety of health benefits, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Mung beans are a type of pulse that has a good nutritional balance with plenty of vitamins and minerals. Preparing mung beans is straight forward, and people can add them to a variety of dishes.

In this article, we discuss the potential health benefits of mung beans and their nutritional value. We also give advice on how much of this food type to eat, how to prepare them, and some recipe ideas.

Health benefits

Mung beans are a type of pulse, which means they are an edible seed of the legume plant family.

Similarly to all pulses, mung beans are nutritionally balanced. They contain vitamins, minerals, and beneficial enzymes, which makes them an excellent part of a healthful diet.

According to a 2014 reviewTrusted Source, evidence suggests that mung beans may have several potential health benefits, including:

  • Antioxidant effects. Research shows that several compounds in mung beans demonstrate antioxidant activity.
  • Antifungal and antimicrobial activity. These include some against the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.
  • Anti-inflammatory activity. Test tube studies suggest that mung bean extracts may have potential to improve symptoms of inflammatory conditions, such as allergies.
  • Diabetes. Studies in rats suggest mung bean extracts may help lower blood glucose levels.
  • Hypertension. Studies in rats suggest sprout extracts may help lower blood pressure.
  • Cancer. Test tube studies suggest that compounds in mung beans may have antitumor properties.

However, further studies in humans are needed for scientists to confirm and better understand these properties.

Nutrition

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)Trusted Source, 100 grams (g) of boiled mung beans contain:

  • 7.02 g of protein
  • 19.15 g carbohydrate, including 2 g sugar
  • 7.60 g dietary fiber

Mung beans are also a good source of B vitamins that are necessary for a range of bodily functions and help maintain the brain’s healthTrusted Source.

In particular, mung beans are an excellent source of vitamin B-9, also known as folate, which helps a person’s body make DNA. Folate is essential before and during pregnancy, as it helps prevent some birth abnormalities.