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White beans vs. Pinto beans — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Article author photo Sveta Badalyan by Sveta Badalyan | Last updated on July 31, 2023
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel Article author photo Igor Bussel
White beans
vs
Pinto beans

Summary

In summary, pinto beans and white beans are good sources of carbs and protein. Pinto beans are high in phosphorus, selenium, folate, and vitamin C. White beans, on the other hand, provide more potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Moreover, white beans are slightly high in protein content. They also contain more net carbs and less saturated fats, whereas pinto beans are high in fiber, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. Pinto beans provide more calories and lower sodium content.

Introduction

Pinto beans and white beans are legumes. Both are part of the Phaseolus vulgaris species and belong to the family Fabaceae.

The inside of white beans is often ivory or pale yellow, while the outside skin is off-white. Pinto beans have reddish-brown backgrounds with dark-brown flecks.

Appearance

Pinto beans are medium-sized, whereas white beans can range in size from small to large.

Pinto beans are native to Mexico. Depending on the type and the area, white beans might have different origins and methods of growing.

Taste and Use

White beans have a milder flavor and a creamy, buttery texture, whereas pinto beans have a slightly earthy and nutty flavor. You can use white beans in salads, soups, stews, and side dishes. Pinto beans, on the other hand, may use for burritos.

Varieties

Navy beans, Great Northern beans, Cannellini beans, and Lima beans are common varieties of white beans. They are different in size, shape, and taste. 

The most common varieties of pinto beans are Álava, Burke, Grand Mesa, Kodiak, and Othello.

Nutrition

In this part of the article, we will compare the nutritional values of pinto beans and white beans.

Macronutrients and Calories

Pinto beans are high in calories, fats, and fiber. White beans, on the other hand, are slightly high in net carbs and protein content.

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
10% 25% 63% 2%
Protein: 9.73 g
Fats: 0.35 g
Carbs: 25.09 g
Water: 63.08 g
Other: 1.75 g
9% 26% 63%
Protein: 9.01 g
Fats: 0.65 g
Carbs: 26.22 g
Water: 62.95 g
Other: 1.17 g
Contains more OtherOther +49.6%
Contains more FatsFats +85.7%
~equal in Protein ~9.01g
~equal in Carbs ~26.22g
~equal in Water ~62.95g

Calories

Pinto beans provide more calories per 100 g compared to white beans. Pinto beans provide 143 calories, whereas white beans contain 139 calories. 

Protein

Pinto beans contain 9.01g of protein per hundred grams, whereas the same amount of white beans provides 9.73g. Both contain all essential amino acids in small amounts.

Fats

Pinto beans and white beans contain less than 1g of fat. A hundred grams of pinto beans contain 0.65g of fat, whereas white beans provide only 0.35g. Pinto beans contain more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, whereas white beans provide less saturated fats.

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
33% 11% 55%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.091 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.031 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.152 g
27% 26% 47%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.136 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.133 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.235 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -33.1%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +329%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +54.6%

Carbohydrates

A hundred grams of pinto beans contain 26.22g of carbs, of which 9g are dietary fiber and 17.22g are net carbs. 

A hundred grams of white beans contain 25.09g of carbohydrates, of which 6.3g are dietary fiber and 18.79g are net carbs.

Pinto beans are high in fiber content, whereas white beans are high in net carbs.

Pinto beans and white beans are cholesterol-free

Vitamins

Pinto and white beans are not good sources of vitamins. Pinto beans provide more vitamins C, B2, B3, B6, and folate. Both have equal amounts of vitamins E, and K. Pinto beans and white beans do not contain vitamins A, D, and B12.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 0% 19% 0% 30% 11% 2.6% 14% 21% 0% 8.8% 61% 19%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 2.7% 0% 19% 0% 48% 14% 6% 13% 53% 0% 8.8% 129% 19%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +63.6%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +34.8%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +127.1%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +146.2%
Contains more FolateFolate +112.3%
~equal in Vitamin A ~0IU
~equal in Vitamin E ~0.94mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin B5 ~0.21mg
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin K ~3.5µg
~equal in Choline ~35.3mg

Minerals 

Pinto beans are high in phosphorus and selenium. White beans, on the other hand, contain more potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Moreover, compared to white beans, pinto beans contain six times less sodium.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 45% 27% 50% 139% 96% 38% 48% 0.78% 83% 7.1%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 36% 14% 38% 78% 73% 27% 63% 0.13% 59% 34%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +26%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +95.7%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +28.7%
Contains more IronIron +77%
Contains more CopperCopper +31.1%
Contains more ZincZinc +40.8%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +40.4%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +30.1%
Contains less SodiumSodium -83.3%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +376.9%

Acidity

The potential renal acid load, or PRAL, determines how much acid or base a food produces inside the body. 

Pinto beans have a PRAL rating of -1.2, whereas white beans have a PRAL value of -5.6. Pinto beans and white beans are alkaline.

Weight Loss & Diets

Pinto beans and white beans are good choices for DASH diets due to their low fat and high protein content.

Pinto beans and white beans are not good options for paleo and keto diets because of their high carb content. 

Moreover, pinto beans and white beans are excellent choices for the Mediterranean diet.

Health Benefits

Obesity

White kidney bean extract may inhibit the enzyme α-amylase, limiting carbohydrate absorption and digestion(1). So it has metabolic effects. Regular intake of white beans may induce weight loss(2). The high dietary fiber content in pinto beans may lower the risk of obesity(3).

Diabetes

White kidney bean extract may also decrease complications of diabetes(4). According to the research, pinto beans and rice consumption reduces the glycemic response(5). 

Cardiovascular Health

Pinto beans are a good source of dietary fiber, which has some advantageous health impacts. A high dietary fiber intake decreases the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and stroke(3).

Furthermore, white and pinto beans are also known to decrease LDL cholesterol(6)(7).

Digestive Health

Pinto beans and white beans have a protective impact on gut microbiota and gut inflammatory indicators(7)(8). Pinto beans also have prebiotic effects(7).

Cancer

People who use a lot of beans have a lower risk of cancer and chronic degenerative disorders. Bean intake is related to a lower risk of cancer in human populations. In animal models, bean consumption reduces carcinogenesis and induces apoptosis(9).

Article author photo Sveta Badalyan
Education: General Medicine at YSMU
Last updated: July 31, 2023
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel

Infographic

White beans vs Pinto beans infographic
Infographic link

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
White beans Pinto beans
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Rich in minerals ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Rich in vitamins ok
Lower in Cholesterol Equal
Lower in Sugar Equal
Lower in price Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient White beans Pinto beans Opinion
Calories 139kcal 143kcal Pinto beans
Protein 9.73g 9.01g White beans
Fats 0.35g 0.65g Pinto beans
Vitamin C 0mg 0.8mg Pinto beans
Net carbs 18.79g 17.22g White beans
Carbs 25.09g 26.22g Pinto beans
Magnesium 63mg 50mg White beans
Calcium 90mg 46mg White beans
Potassium 561mg 436mg White beans
Iron 3.7mg 2.09mg White beans
Sugar 0.34g 0.34g
Fiber 6.3g 9g Pinto beans
Copper 0.287mg 0.219mg White beans
Zinc 1.38mg 0.98mg White beans
Starch 15.15g Pinto beans
Phosphorus 113mg 147mg Pinto beans
Sodium 6mg 1mg Pinto beans
Vitamin E 0.94mg 0.94mg
Manganese 0.636mg 0.453mg White beans
Selenium 1.3µg 6.2µg Pinto beans
Vitamin B1 0.118mg 0.193mg Pinto beans
Vitamin B2 0.046mg 0.062mg Pinto beans
Vitamin B3 0.14mg 0.318mg Pinto beans
Vitamin B5 0.229mg 0.21mg White beans
Vitamin B6 0.093mg 0.229mg Pinto beans
Vitamin K 3.5µg 3.5µg
Folate 81µg 172µg Pinto beans
Choline 35.1mg 35.3mg Pinto beans
Saturated Fat 0.091g 0.136g White beans
Monounsaturated Fat 0.031g 0.133g Pinto beans
Polyunsaturated fat 0.152g 0.235g Pinto beans
Tryptophan 0.115mg 0.108mg White beans
Threonine 0.409mg 0.331mg White beans
Isoleucine 0.429mg 0.426mg White beans
Leucine 0.776mg 0.765mg White beans
Lysine 0.668mg 0.63mg White beans
Methionine 0.146mg 0.117mg White beans
Phenylalanine 0.526mg 0.531mg Pinto beans
Valine 0.509mg 0.519mg Pinto beans
Histidine 0.271mg 0.247mg White beans

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
White beans Pinto beans
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

People also compare

Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
14%
White beans
24%
Pinto beans
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
53%
White beans
42%
Pinto beans

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
White beans
White beans is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.045g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
White beans
White beans is lower in glycemic index (difference - 39)
Which food is richer in minerals?
White beans
White beans is relatively richer in minerals
Which food contains less Sodium?
Pinto beans
Pinto beans contains less Sodium (difference - 5mg)
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Pinto beans
Pinto beans is relatively richer in vitamins
Which food contains less Cholesterol?
?
The foods are relatively equal in Cholesterol (0 mg)
Which food contains less Sugar?
?
The foods are relatively equal in Sugar (0.34 g)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. White beans - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175203/nutrients
  2. Pinto beans - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175200/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.