About Eating Beans and lowering Cholesterol Levels

Try eating one-half cup of cooked dry beans every day to help lower total cholesterol levels. An Agricultural Research Service study in North Dakota added to the already growing body of evidence that beans are healthy for the heart. The Agriculture Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s main scientific research agency. Lead authors for the study in North Dakota were chemist Philip Reeves and nutritionist John Finley. The study was conducted at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

A lipid profile provides a complete cholesterol count based on blood tests and is the biomarker for the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is considered to be a lifestyle-related disease. Positives changes in exercise and diet that improves the cholesterol profiles is considered to benefit the cardiovascular system.

There were 80 volunteers in this study. Ages were 18 to 55 years. Half of the volunteers were healthy and half had at least two symptoms that signaled a risk for cardiovascular disease. The study lasted for 12 weeks. Half of the group was randomly selected to eat one-half cup of cooked dry pinto beans daily along with a regular daily diet. The other half ate a replacement serving of chicken soup instead of the pinto beans. Results were:

• The healthy ones as well as those with symptoms, who ate pinto beans, saw a reduction in their cholesterol levels
• Findings confirm earlier studies that showed eating beans lowers cholesterol levels
• Why this is true requires further study

A new line of germplasm named “ABC-Weihing” is available for breeding high-yielding kinds of great northern beans that resist common bacterial blight. Bacterial blight is an endemic disease affecting bean crops east of the U.S. Continental Divide.
The ABC-Weihing was developed by Miklas and Carlos Urrea, University of Nebraska bean breeders, using marker-assisted selection. Detailed information on ABC-Weihing will be in an upcoming issue of “Crop Science.”

The United States is sixth in leading production of edible dry beans. Farm sales generated approximately $451 million in 2001-03.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care professional. I do not sell or promote the products mentioned in this article. The article content is offered as a resource for healthier lifestyles. I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this article.

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