Can you eat lupini beans when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer: can you eat lupini beans when pregnant, what are lupini beans, are lupini beans healthy to eat when pregnant, is there a risk of eating lupini beans when pregnant and how can you add lupini beans to your diet when pregnant.

Can you eat lupini beans when pregnant?

Yes, lupini beans can be added to your diet when pregnant. They are a super healthy legume to eat. It is better if you choose sweet lupini beans instead of bitter lupini beans.

Bitter lupini beans can be toxic in high quantities if not prepared correctly. Also, choose frozen or canned lupini beans instead of canned because canned lupini beans have a high amount of sodium. 

What are lupini beans?

Lupini beans or lupin are yellow legumes that are traditionally eaten as a pickled snack. There are two varieties of lupini beans, bitter and sweet. Bitter lupini beans are high in alkaloids and are extremely bitter unless they are rinsed correctly. 

Sweet lupini beans are low in alkaloid content. These lupini beans, sweets, have been bred and planted in higher quantities. The seeds of lupini beans are used for different food such as

  • Lupin flake
  • Vegan sausages
  • Lupin-tofu
  • Lupin-flour

Lupini beans are high in a full range of essential amino acids and they can grow in more temperate to cool climates. They can be sold in brine in jars. They can be eaten with or without skin.

Are lupini beans healthy to eat when pregnant?

Lupini beans are a super healthy legume to add to your diet when pregnant. They are high in manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and vitamin a. 

Lupini beans are 10% water, 40% carbohydrates, 36% protein, and 10% fat. One cup of lupini beans contains about 198 calories, 26 grams of protein, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of fiber. 

Naturally, they contain a small amount of sodium. When bought canned they can have up to 960 mg of sodium per ½ cup, which is about 42% of the upper limit intake recommended by the CDC for pregnant women. 

How to store lupini beans?

Lupini beans should be stored depending on how you buy them at your local store

  • Canned: they should be eaten before the expiration date.
  • Dried beans: store them in a cool, dark place. Once open, soaked, and prepared. Keep them in the fridge for no more than 4 to 5 days. 

Is there a risk of eating lupini beans when pregnant?

The risk of eating lupini beans is that they can be toxic. Bitter lupini beans contain toxic levels of alkaloids called lupines. However, bitter lupini beans are not that popular in the market, so you can more easily find sweet lupini beans. 

Also, canned lupini beans have a high amount of sodium. High sodium intake in pregnant women is very dangerous. High sodium diets can lead to high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and eventually heart disease. Also, too much sodium can damage a baby’s kidneys, increase the baby’s blood pressure, and raise the risk of heart disease later in life.

Pregnant women should not eat more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day while pregnant women with high blood pressure should not eat more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day. 

How can you add lupini beans to your diet when pregnant?

Lupini beans can be added to your diet in a variety of presentations. They can be brinded, you can also buy them ground into flour or buy them dry. They can be added to salad, combined with roasted veggies, added to pasta, or pureed into a dip or spread. 

Follow this recipe on how to cook lupini beans.

Other FAQs about Beans that you may be interested in.

Why are beans bad for you?

How to store dried beans

Can you eat lupini bean skin?

 

Conclusion

This article answered can you eat lupini beans when pregnant, what are lupini beans, are lupini beans healthy to eat when pregnant, is there a risk of eating lupini beans when pregnant and how can you add lupini beans to your diet when pregnant.

Citation 

https://www.theawesomegreen.com/lupini-beans/#:~:text=Is%20it%20OK%20to%20eat,and%20prevent%20neural%20tube%20defects.

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1570/lupin

https://www.pregnantplate.com/food/why-should-pregnant-women-snack-on-lupins/

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