Common bean / kidney bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
Other names: common bean, kidney bean, French bean, green bean (immature pod), ლობიო (lobio), Phaseoli fructus sine semine (dried seedless pod)
Edible plantPhoto credit: Rasbak / Wikimedia Commons
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Cooked beans: none known. RAW or undercooked beans contain the lectin phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) — acute nausea, vomiting, diarrhea within 1–3 h; as few as 4–5 raw kidney beans can cause symptoms; red kidney beans have the highest PHA. PHA destroyed by ~10 min of boiling (NOT slow-cooker low heat). Also contain phytates and trypsin inhibitors (reduced by cooking).
Contraindications: Never eat raw/undercooked dry beans. Soak and boil vigorously (≥10 min at full boil); avoid slow-cooker-only methods. Pod preparation: adults only; if urinary symptoms persist >2 weeks or worsen, consult a clinician.
Interactions: Pod diuretic — theoretical additive effect with pharmaceutical diuretics; no significant interactions documented in the EMA monograph.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
cooked · seed
Part used: seed
Traditional use: legume staple(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
Dosage note (descriptive only): boil ≥10 min at full boil; no slow-cooker-only
infusion · pod
Part used: pod
Traditional use: minor urinary complaints / increase urine output
Proposed mechanism: diuretic (EMA traditional-use)
Dosage note (descriptive only): adults only; consult clinician if symptoms persist >2 weeks
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: dry seeds (cooked only) and immature green pods (cooked)
Toxic lookalike warning
Ornamental/wild legume seeds (Abrus, Ricinus, Laburnum, Robinia) are toxic-to-deadly and must never be confused with edible beans
Nutritional notes
Excellent plant protein, dietary fiber (incl. resistant starch), folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc; low glycemic index. Prebiotic resistant starch.
Healing traditions
Sources (4)
- EMA — Phaseoli fructus (sine semine) / green bean pod, herbal medicinal product overview (EMA, 2014; EMA/HMPC/317319/2012)
- Final Community herbal monograph on Phaseolus vulgaris L., fructus sine semine (EMA, 2014)
- Severe red kidney bean toxicity: hypovolemic shock and prerenal AKI (case report)
- Toward Standardized Measurement of Active Phytohemagglutinin in Common Bean