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Green beans belong to the Fabaceae family, they are grown in temperate, tropical or subtropical climates. They are the pods of beans and dried beans, which are their developed seeds. These can have different shapes: flat, round, cord-shaped and eight-shaped.

The green bean season is spring and summer and their varieties are classified according to their cultivation, whether early, mid-cycle or late:

• Green or red perona beans: flattened, wide and long, tender and without fibers, cook well.
• Bobini green beans: pod shaped like a tube, smaller than perona beans, thick and fleshy.
• Fine beans: slightly granular variety.
• Lima bean: variety with thick, flat grain.

They contain a lot of water, carbohydrates, starch, fiber, proteins and few fats, lipids and calories; which is why they are recommended in weight loss diets. They are rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3 and B6; in minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, chromium and iodine; in folic acid, beta-carotene, amino acids and antioxidants. They are beneficial for combating diseases such as gout, arthritis and kidney stones. They also help prevent anemia and cholesterol, strengthen the immune system, regulate intestinal transit, are diuretic and purifying, and prevent hypertension.

They are a very healthy food due to their high content of vitamins and minerals.