Pinto Beans Nutrition

Pinto beans are a nutritional powerhouse, packing high amounts of numerous nutrients into a low-calorie and low-fat food. They're also inexpensive, easy to prepare and mild-tasting, meaning the meal possibilities for pinto beans are endless.

Fiber

• One cup of cooked pinto beans has 58.8 percent of the recommended daily intake for fiber, an important part of a heart-healthy diet.

Calories and Fat

• A cup of cooked pinto beans has 234 calories and less than a gram of fat.

Folate

• Pinto beans are also rich in folate, with 73.5 percent of the recommended intake in just one cup. According to the American Heart Association, folate can lower levels of homocysteine, too much of which can raise your risk for coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke.

Iron

• A cup of pinto beans contains 24.8 percent of the recommended intake for iron, needed for proper metabolism and energy production.

Protein

• Pinto beans are also an excellent low-fat, vegetarian protein source, with 14 grams in a single cup.