A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests that eating beans, lentils, peas and other legumes may help you lower your “bad” cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is linked to heart disease. Your LDL cholesterol collects in the walls of blood vessels, causing blockage due to plaque growth and atherosclerosis.
This study showed a potential five percent decrease in risk of heart disease with the addition of one daily serving of 3/4 cup of legumes. Dana Angelo White, a sports dietitian and assistant clinical professor at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut called legumes “one of the most under-appreciated sources of protein out there.”
If you turn your nose up to a steaming pile of peas, there are many ways to add legumes to your diet, including hummus, lentil soup and adding beans to pasta, salads and quesadillas. Maybe now is the time to add a serving per day to help reduce your risk for heart disease.