Green beans are a healthy nutritious food common in many households all over the world. They are not only good for us humans, but dogs can also enjoy them as delicious and nutritious treat! Let’s take a deep dive into a big bowl of green beans, look at their health benefits and why they are such a nutritious treat for your dog.
Green beans set themselves apart from other beans as they are harvested and eaten in the pod, they are enclosed in. There are over 130 recognized varieties of green beans, and the nutritional content is comparably similar amongst them. These beans are usually classified into two based on the way that they grow, bush beans and pole beans. Pole beans are climbers, whereas bush beans grow on smaller stubby bushes.
The nutrition facts for green beans based on 1 cup or 100g are as follows: 31 Calories, 1.8g of Protein, 7g of Carbohydrates, 3.3g of Sugar, 2.7g Of Fiber and 0.2g of fat.
Green beans contain almost no fat or cholesterol are a good source of complex carbohydrates and contain many beneficial vitamins such as A, C, K, B6 and B9(folates). They are also rich in other minerals such as iron, manganese, potassium, silicon, iron, and calcium.
Vitamin A and C are antioxidants, and they work alongside other valuable nutrients to combat free radicals which can cause oxidative damage to healthy cells. They also help to boost your dog’s immune system.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient key to your dogs’ blood clotting ability.
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble nutrient important to carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism as well as the formation of red blood cells.
Vitamin B9 or folic acid is a water-soluble nutrient which is key in red blood cell formation and healthy cell growth and function.
Green beans are a great healthy low calorie treat for your dog and giving a green bean treat in the place of a cookie or biscuit can help them lose or maintain their weight. This is especially important in senior dogs as it can be harder for them to lose weight as they are not able to get as much as exercise as their younger counterparts to burn extra calories. This means adjusting their food intake is the main part of their weight loss regime. Greens beans can help them feel more satisfied due the fiber they contain helping your dog to feel fuller.
As with any treat, it is exactly that, a treat! A healthy rule to follow is treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily food.
Emily Charlton is a lifelong animal lover drawing on more than 12 years experience in a veterinary clinic.
Want an easy way to give your dog green beans as a treat or food additive? Check out Nibbles freeze-dried green beans, our healthy dog treat alternative.
