Are Lima Beans Interesting? Actually, Yes.
Everything has a story, but is it worth reading about? It surprised me to find the answer.
I chose to write about lima beans because I was hitting a mental wall. For two weeks, I couldn’t bring myself to sit in front of the page. Nothing interested me. So, I decided to pick something at random to see if I could force the creative issue. I then remembered one of my favorite B-52 songs titled Butter Beans. So, I decided I’d write about them. It was an exciting journey for me. Especially when I discovered lima beans and butter beans were the same things. Also, during my research, I ran across this excellent little children’s book.
In the book, A Bad Case of Stripes, Camilla refuses to eat lima beans even though she loves them. Her friends hate lima beans, but Camilla wants her friends to like her. So, she chooses not to eat them. Yet, not eating the lima beans causes rainbow stripes to appear across her body. Finally, she discovers the only way to cure herself is to eat lima beans.
Lima beans can’t get rid of rainbow stripes in real life (I don’t think). But, they have real health benefits and are worth trying no matter what your friends say.
The Benefits of the Bean
Phaseolus Lunatus (lima bean) is a superfood. Indeed, its macronutrients consist of high levels of protein, fiber, and iron. Thus, containing the building blocks for muscle growth, muscle oxygenation, and blood-sugar regulation. It also has impressive micronutrients. Thiamine, manganese, molybdenum, folate, copper, and phosphorus are essential to the body’s functions. These include processing carbohydrates and activating enzymes. Also, creating RNA and DNA, preventing cardiovascular disease, and forming bones and teeth. Yet, the lima bean’s contribution to human health doesn’t stop there.
John G. Navarra and Lillian Katz outline the process to type blood using lima bean extract. It can identify blood type A with accuracy and efficiency. It does this by agglutination, or clumping of the blood when a sample and the bean extract combine. Although this isn’t standard for blood typing, it shows the lima bean’s versatility in human health. But, its positive impact affects more than humans.
During growth, lima bean plants extract nitrogen from air pockets in the soil. They do this through the nodules on their roots. Next, the nitrogen gets in the ground, enriching it and aiding other plants’ growth nearby. Thus, adding lima beans to crops or putting them in a crop rotation is of great benefit. For example, the indigenous people of Mesoamerica discovered the “Three sisters.” This planting included corn, squash, and beans. First, the bean plant uses corn to climb and grow, giving it direct sunlight. Second, squash leaves cover the ground preventing weeds from taking the crops nutrients. Last, the bean plant provides nitrogen enrichment of the soil. Hence, creating a beautiful and harmonious trinity. These benefits are not the only beauty of the lima bean plant. It also has an impressive line of defense.
A Bean Has to Defend Itself
The lima bean plant contains several defense mechanisms to protect it from predators. It produces VOCs or volatile organic compounds. When wounded by insects, these compounds attract wasps like the ichneumon wasp. These wasps need living hosts to lay their eggs; therefore, insects hurting the plant can become hosts for the wasp’s young. Moreover, this process kills the host and thus protects the plant from further damage.
Also, the lima bean plant can secrete EFN or extrafloral nectar from small pods when damaged. In turn, the nectar attracts the attention of ants who march upon its leaves and stems. As a result of their presence, they deter or prey on arthropod herbivores who are there to eat the leaves. While this call to arms is impressive, not all the lima bean’s enemies are herbivore insects. Thus, it possesses a contingency for them as well.
No More Mr. Nice Bean
Linamarin is a compound found in the roots and leaves of the lima bean plant. And when ingested, linamarin breaks down into hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide is well known for its effect on humans and animals. It takes 150–200mg of cyanide to kill a person. Raw, uncooked lima beans can contain anywhere from 3000–4000mg of linamarin per kilogram. So, two pounds of these raw uncooked beans can kill up to 20 people. Thus, it takes a few beans to kill one person. But If prepared, there is no danger. Therefore, lima beans must cook for 10 minutes or longer to reduce the linamarin content to safe levels. Canned lima beans are pre-cooked, so they are already safe. But, warming them up for at least 10 minutes is prudent. Also, dry lima beans soak and cook for hours, making them safe to eat when prepared. Also, it’s worth noting that beans grown in the U.S. contain 100–170mg of linamarin per kilogram, ensuring the states’ safe consumption of lima beans. Over time, lima beans became popular in the U.S., making their way north from their country of origin.
A Bean’s Beginning
The lima bean originated in the warm, fertile land of Peru. Scientists date remains of lima bean plants as far back as 6000–5000 BCE. Thus, making it one of the Americas’ oldest beans. Lima beans grow best in loose soil. They are a warm-weather plant, and Peru’s average annual temp of 72.5°F is perfect. Also, its dry air prevents fungal and bacterial growth in the bean pods. This climate results in a healthy crop capable of storage for long periods after harvest. With the benefit of the lima bean becoming apparent to the locals, they knew they needed to domesticate it. The first domestication of the lima bean occurred in 2000 BCE along the Andes mountains. It was a broad bean type (lima). The second domestication occurred in Mesoamerica or modern-day Guatemala in 800 BCE. But, this created a smaller bean (sieva). As time passed, the bean spread and grew in popularity. It even found its way into Peruvian art, such as Moche pottery. The Moche culture understood the lima bean’s importance. And so did the Spanish, who would come later to invade Peru.
A Bean of the World
During the 16th century, the Spanish Empire invaded Peru. They saw the lima bean’s value, and it became an export to North America and Europe. The Spanish shipped the beans in boxes labeled with their point of origin. They stamped “Lima, Peru” on every container. Thus, the bean took the name lima bean. Pronounced (Ly-mah), it differs from the Peruvian capital pronunciation of Lima (Lee-mah). The exact reason for this is unknown. But, other variants of the bean would come to have different names altogether. The Madagascar bean is excellent for growing in hot, humid climates. It has a white base color with purple speckles. Additionally, double beans are a favorite in Indian cuisine and are white to pinkish. Finally, we have the butter bean. Named for its buttery taste, it became popular in the United States’ Carolinas. Butter beans were a summer favorite of Thomas Jefferson.
Conclusion
The lima bean is a powerhouse in both its nutritional value and its contribution to medicine. Furthermore, it made its way into Peruvian culture and art. Due to Spanish export, it is now grown all over the world. Also, the bean comes in several varieties with different tastes, sizes, and colors. Adding lima beans to your diet is a winning choice. With the number of recipes that exist, they should never become a bore.
It surprised me to find so many interesting facts while researching lima beans. First, the fact that lima bean extract can type blood is astounding. Second, the art coming out of the Moche culture is beautiful. I assumed reading about lima beans would be boring. After all, It’s a bean. But I was wrong. Third, I love that lima has a different pronunciation than Lima.
This experience has taught me not to underestimate the subject about which I write. The world is full of wonders, and through writing, I get to explore them as deep as I wish. Finally, learning and growing while doing something I love is a beautiful gift, and so is the lima bean. Enjoy them.
