Lentils vs. Lima Beans

Nutrition comparison of Cooked Lentils and Lima Beans


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of cooked lentils versus lima beans (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in lentils and lima beans:

  • Both lima beans and lentils are high in calories, dietary fiber, iron and potassium.
  • Lentil has more pantothenic acid and folate.
  • Lentil is a great source of protein.
  • Lima bean is an excellent source of Vitamin C.
Detailed nutritional comparison of lentils and lima beans is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Lentils (Lentils, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt) and Lima Beans (Lima beans, immature seeds, raw) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Lentils src
Image of Lima Beans src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Both lima beans and lentils are high in calories. Lima bean is very similar to lima bean for calories - lima bean has 113 calories per 100 grams and lentil has 116 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, lentils is heavier in protein, lighter in fat and similar to lima beans for carbs. Lentils has a macronutrient ratio of 30:67:3 and for lima beans, 24:70:7 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Lentils Lima Beans
Protein 30% 24%
Carbohydrates 67% 70%
Fat 3% 7%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Lima beans and lentils contain similar amounts of carbs - lima bean has 20.2g of total carbs per 100 grams and lentil has 20.1g of carbohydrates.

dietary fiber

Both lima beans and lentils are high in dietary fiber. Lentil has 61% more dietary fiber than lima bean - lima bean has 4.9g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and lentil has 7.9g of dietary fiber.

sugar

Lima beans and lentils contain similar amounts of sugar - lima bean has 1.5g of sugar per 100 grams and lentil has 1.8g of sugar.

Protein

protein

Lentil is a great source of protein and it has 32% more protein than lima bean - lima bean has 6.8g of protein per 100 grams and lentil has 9g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Both lima beans and lentils are low in saturated fat - lima bean has 0.2g of saturated fat per 100 grams and lentil has 0.05g of saturated fat.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Lima bean is an excellent source of Vitamin C and it has 14 times more Vitamin C than lentil - lima bean has 23.4mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and lentil has 1.5mg of Vitamin C.

Vitamin A

Lima bean has more Vitamin A than lentil - lima bean has 10ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and lentil does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin E

Lima beans and lentils contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - lima bean has 0.32mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and lentil has 0.11mg of Vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Lima beans and lentils contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - lima bean has 5.6ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and lentil has 1.7ug of Vitamin K.

The B Vitamins

Lentil has more pantothenic acid and folate. Both lentils and lima beans contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and Vitamin B6.

Lentils Lima Beans
Thiamin 0.169 MG 0.217 MG
Riboflavin 0.073 MG 0.103 MG
Niacin 1.06 MG 1.474 MG
Pantothenic acid 0.638 MG 0.247 MG
Vitamin B6 0.178 MG 0.204 MG
Folate 181 UG 34 UG

Minerals

calcium

Lima bean has 79% more calcium than lentil - lima bean has 34mg of calcium per 100 grams and lentil has 19mg of calcium.

iron

Both lima beans and lentils are high in iron. Lima bean is very similar to lima bean for iron - lima bean has 3.1mg of iron per 100 grams and lentil has 3.3mg of iron.

potassium

Both lima beans and lentils are high in potassium. Lima bean has 27% more potassium than lentil - lima bean has 467mg of potassium per 100 grams and lentil has 369mg of potassium.

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients

carotenoids

Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]

For specific types of carotenoids,

Lentils Lima Beans
beta-carotene 5 UG 126 UG

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 3s

For omega-3 fatty acids, lima bean has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than lentil per 100 grams.

Lentils Lima Beans
alpha linoleic acid 0.037 G 0.136 G
Total 0.037 G 0.136 G

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, lima bean has more linoleic acid than lentil per 100 grams.

Lentils Lima Beans
linoleic acid 0.137 G 0.283 G
Total 0.137 G 0.283 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.

Note: The specific food items compared are: Lentils (Lentils, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt) and Lima Beans (Lima beans, immature seeds, raw) .

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FAQ

Does lima beans or lentils contain more calories in 100 grams?
Both lima beans and lentils are high in calories. Lima bean is quite similar to lima bean for calories - lima bean has 113 calories in 100g and lentil has 116 calories.

Does lima beans or lentils have more carbohydrates?
By weight, lima beans and lentils contain similar amounts of carbs - lima bean has 20.2g of carbs for 100g and lentil has 20.1g of carbohydrates.

Does lima beans or lentils contain more iron?
Both lima beans and lentils are high in iron. Lima bean is very similar to lima bean for iron - lima bean has 3.1mg of iron in 100 grams and lentil has 3.3mg of iron.

Does lima beans or lentils contain more potassium?
Both lima beans and lentils are high in potassium. Lima bean has 30% more potassium than lentil - lima bean has 467mg of potassium in 100 grams and lentil has 369mg of potassium.