Pick a bean, any bean

Beans can help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, says a study partly funded by Canadian bean growers.

Researchers told 64 people with high LDL to eat a daily serving of ½ cup of beans, 1 cup of beans, or 1 cup of white rice for four weeks each. Participants were given rice plus cans of black, navy, pinto, dark red kidney, and white kidney beans.

After four weeks, LDL levels averaged 159 mg/dL (rice), 155 mg/dL (½ cup of beans), and 150 mg/dL (1 cup of beans). (Only the difference between the 1 cup of beans and the rice was statistically significant.)

What to do

Lentil soup, black bean tacos, three-bean chili, red beans & rice, anyone?