Are lima beans and butter beans the same thing?

Yes. Lima beans and butter beans are the same species (Phaseolus lunatus). In the UK, they are almost exclusively called butter beans — you will not find 'lima beans' on Tesco shelves. In the US, smaller varieties tend to be called lima beans and larger ones butter beans, but nutritionally they are equivalent. Tesco sells canned butter beans in water and occasionally dried butter beans.

How many calories are in lima beans (butter beans)?

Canned butter beans (drained) contain approximately 103 kcal per 100g, or about 124 kcal per half-can serving (120g). This is moderate for a legume and comes with 7g of protein and 5.3g of fibre per 100g — making them very filling relative to their calorie content. Dried butter beans before cooking have higher calories per 100g (~320 kcal) but expand significantly when soaked and cooked.

Are lima beans good for blood sugar?

Lima/butter beans are excellent for blood sugar management. With a glycaemic index of approximately 31 (low), they cause a slow, gentle rise in blood glucose. The high fibre and protein content slows digestion further. Studies consistently show legumes like butter beans improve glycaemic control when substituted for higher-GI carbohydrate sources like white rice or potatoes. They are one of the best SpikeSaver carbohydrate choices available.

Glucose: LowNOVA 1

Nutritional Information for Lima Beans

Lima beans — known as butter beans in the UK — are a low-GI legume delivering around 100 kcal per 100g cooked, with 7g of protein and good fibre. From a SpikeSaver perspective, their GI of approximately 31 makes them one of the gentlest carbohydrate sources for blood sugar. No products were found under 'lima beans' in Tesco batches because Tesco sells them as 'butter beans' — the same species (Phaseolus lunatus). Dried butter beans are NOVA 1 (unprocessed); canned versions are NOVA 2 (processed culinary ingredient) due to cooking in salted water.

Nutrition per 100g

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Energy	103 kcal / 433 kJ	124 kcal
Protein	7g	8.4g
Carbohydrates	15.3g	18.4g
of which sugars	1.2g	—
Fat	0.5g	0.6g
of which saturated	0.1g	—
Fibre	5.3g	—
Salt	0.63g	—

Serving size: 1/2 can (~120g drained) · Source: USDA FoodData Central (canned butter beans, drained); nutritional values representative of standard canned butter beans available in the UK. No Tesco products were found under 'lima beans' — Tesco lists this product as 'butter beans'.

Glucose impact

Glycemic Index

Low

Glucose risk

Lima/butter beans have one of the lowest glycaemic indices of any carbohydrate-containing food at approximately 31. The combination of high fibre (5.3g/100g), high protein (7g/100g), and resistant starch means carbohydrates are absorbed slowly. Despite containing 15.3g of carbs per 100g, only 1.2g is sugar — the rest is complex starch that digests gradually. This makes them an excellent SpikeSaver food for sustained energy without glucose spikes.

Processing level

NOVA 1 (unprocessed) for dried; NOVA 2 for canned

Dried lima/butter beans are NOVA 1 — a whole unprocessed legume requiring only soaking and cooking. Canned butter beans are NOVA 2 (processed culinary ingredient) because they are cooked in water with added salt, but contain no other additives. They remain a minimally processed food with a short, clean ingredient list: butter beans, water, salt.

Lima Beans at Tesco

Source: USDA FoodData Central (canned butter beans, drained); nutritional values representative of standard canned butter beans available in the UK. No Tesco products were found under 'lima beans' — Tesco lists this product as 'butter beans'.

*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.

What to watch for when shopping

Plain dried or canned butter beans are always NOVA 1-2 and blood-sugar friendly. Watch for butter bean products in sauces (baked beans style) which may contain added sugar. Canned varieties have higher salt (0.63g/100g) — draining and rinsing reduces sodium by approximately 40%. For the lowest processing, buy dried butter beans and soak overnight. Key UK naming note: if you search 'lima beans' at Tesco you will find nothing — search 'butter beans' instead. They are the same species (Phaseolus lunatus).

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