Vicia faba L. (Latin name: Vicia faba L., alias: Phaseolus vulgaris) is an annual or perennial herb in pea family. It was born in a warm wetland with a latitude of 63 north latitude, and can withstand the low temperature of-4 C. Its main roots are short and thick, with many fibrous roots, stout stems, erect, and even pinnate compound leaves. The tendrils at the top of leaf axis are shortened to short tips, and the stipules are head-shaped or nearly triangular-oval, with leaflets usually 1~3 pairs, elliptic leaflets and wedge-shaped bases. Racemes axillary, pedicels nearly absent, calyx bell-shaped, corolla white, ovary linear sessile, pod thick, seeds 2~4, seed leathery, hilum linear, black, flowering in April-May, fruit in May-June. It is native to the Mediterranean coast of Europe, and also distributed from southwest Asia to North Africa. It is cultivated all over China, mainly south of the Yangtze River.

What is broad bean? How many kinds of broad beans are there?

According to the grain size, it can be divided into small grain type (100-grain weight is below 70g), medium grain type (100-grain weight is 70 ~120g) and large grain type (100-grain weight is above120g). According to the color of seed coat, it can be divided into four types: green bean, white bean, red bean and black bean.

According to the use, it is divided into edible type (fresh vegetable type, dry grain processing type), feeding type (green feed and dry feed) and green manure type. According to the length of pod, it can be divided into long pod type (pod length 10 cm or more) and short pod type (pod length 10 cm or less); According to the low temperature tolerance at seedling stage, it can be divided into autumn sowing broad beans (winter broad beans) and spring sowing broad beans (spring broad beans); According to the length of maturity, it can be divided into early maturity, middle maturity and late maturity.

The efficacy of broad beans:

1, Yiqi Jianpi.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "broad beans are sweet and flat, and enter the spleen and stomach meridians". Eating broad beans in spring can protect the spleen and stomach and improve the disharmony between them. And broad beans are also rich in nutrients for children, such as dietary fiber, vitamin B, carotene, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and many other healthy nutrients.

2. Enhance memory.

Broad beans are rich in nutrients such as phospholipids, choline and trace elements, which are very beneficial to human memory. Acetylcholine formed by the combination of acetyl and choline in phospholipids can promote the transmission of information, enhance people's memory to a certain extent, and prevent senile dementia when eaten properly by the elderly.

The efficacy and function of broad beans Who should not eat broad beans?

3. Prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Broad bean is rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C, which can reduce harmful cholesterol in the body. Broad bean is a low-calorie food without cholesterol. Is it suitable for patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases? It is a high-quality green food. Eating broad beans in spring can prevent cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis.

4. Enhance immunity.

Broad beans contain high-quality protein, the content of which is second only to that of soybeans, and the types of amino acids are relatively complete, especially lysine, which can promote growth and immunity. Eating broad beans often improves immunity.