Lima Beans vs Fava Beans: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Lima beans have 7.8 g of protein, while Fava beans have 7.6 g. Lima beans contain 115 calories, compared to 110 calories in Fava beans.

Lima beans and Fava beans are both popular legumes that offer various nutritional benefits. This comparison highlights their calorie content, protein levels, and other key nutrients.

What Is the Difference Between Lima Beans and Fava Beans?

Lima beans are a type of legume known for their creamy texture and are often used in soups and stews. They are rich in fiber and provide a good source of protein. Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are a nutritious legume with a slightly nutty flavor. They are commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine and are high in protein and fiber.

Lima Beans vs Fava Beans: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table presents a side-by-side comparison of Lima beans and Fava beans.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Lima beans (cooked)	Fava beans (cooked)
Calories	115 kcal	110 kcal
Protein	7.8 g	7.6 g
Carbs	20.9 g	19.6 g
Sugar	2.9 g	1.8 g
Fat	0.4 g	0.4 g
Fiber	7 g	5.4 g
Sodium	2 mg	5 mg

Which Is Better, Lima Beans or Fava Beans?

For weight loss: Lima beans have 115 calories per 100 g, while Fava beans have 110 calories. The difference is minimal, making both suitable for a weight loss diet.

For muscle and protein: Lima beans provide 7.8 g of protein per 100 g, slightly higher than the 7.6 g found in Fava beans. Both are good sources of protein.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Lima beans contain 20.9 g of carbs and 2.9 g of sugar, while Fava beans have 19.6 g of carbs and 1.8 g of sugar. Fava beans are slightly lower in both categories.

How to Track Lima beans and Fava beans Accurately

It can be easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when evaluating legumes like Lima and Fava beans. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. This comparison focuses on the nutritional content per 100 g of each legume. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein, Lima beans or Fava beans?

Lima beans have 7.8 g of protein per 100 g, while Fava beans have 7.6 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories, Lima beans or Fava beans?

Fava beans have 110 calories per 100 g, whereas Lima beans have 115 calories.

How much fiber do Lima beans have?

Lima beans contain 7 g of fiber per 100 g.

How much sugar is in Fava beans?

Fava beans have 1.8 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the carbohydrate content of Lima beans?

Lima beans contain 20.9 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in Fava beans?

Fava beans have 5 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Lima beans: 115 calories per 100 g.
• Fava beans: 110 calories per 100 g.
• Lima beans: 7.8 g protein per 100 g.
• Fava beans: 7.6 g protein per 100 g.
• Lima beans: 20.9 g carbs per 100 g.
• Fava beans: 19.6 g carbs per 100 g.