Cholesterol-lowering power of the pulses

By now it’s safe to assume that most of us know that beans are good for your heart. After all, the song says so.

And it’s true because beans and legumes are complex superfoods that are high in fiber and antioxidants that fight diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Their complex carbohydrate structure allows for slow breakdown in the body and thus does not spike blood sugar. The fiber helps move waste out of the body. What’s more, a recent Canadian study also shows that diets rich in pulses (beans, legumes, lentils, peas) are effective at lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Cholesterol prevention

High cholesterol is not something to ignore. When the LDL or bad numbers are high, you are at serious health risk. Yet, taking statin drugs is not the best bet. There are natural ways to lower the bad stuff. This includes consuming diets rich in fiber, low in processed and inflammatory foods, and eating at least one serving of pulses daily. In other words, lowering LDL cholesterol is best done through dietary prevention.

According to the University of Toronto’s John Sievenpiper, one of the lead authors of the new study, “Although most guidelines on the prevention of major chronic diseases encourage the consumption of dietary pulses as part of a healthy strategy, none has included recommendations based on the direct benefits of lowering lipid concentrations or reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.” Until now.

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Meta-analysis

To strengthen the evidence upon which healthcare providers can recommend specific dietary components in the treatment and prevention of LDL cholesterol, Sievenpiper and his research group conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the effect of dietary pulse intake on established therapeutic lipid targets for cardiovascular risk reduction.

More than 3,000 reports published through Feb. 5, 2014, were identified as relevant for the study. Twenty-six of them were random control trials and were selected for meta-analysis of the effects of dietary pulses on lowering cholesterol and thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The analysis consisted of 1,037 middle-aged participants who were at moderate risk of coronary artery disease.

Important findings

The researchers found that those who consumed at least one serving daily of dietary pulse “significantly lowered LDL cholesterol levels compared with the control diets.” According to Sievenpiper, the results were “equivalent to a reduction of about 5% from baseline” and consistent with the results of two previous meta-analyses.

New ways to get your pulses

Some older cultures, like those in Central and South America, Morocco, India and Portugal, eat plenty of beans and legumes, lentils and chickpeas. They’ve got tons of good recipes. But Americans seem to think beans only go in three-bean pasta salads and as refried sides to tacos and burritos. Yet, we Americans eat way too much pasta which itself is not all that nutrient dense. Well, I have found two companies that have combined the best of both worlds.

Explore Asia bean spaghetti

The first is the Explore Asia brand, which was created after its founder came across some strange soybean noodles. This set off a spark of creativity and the company now manufactures a line of organic, gluten-free, vegan, kosher pasta products. Did you get all that! My kids and I eat them in place of the Italian semolina pasta and spaghetti when we get tired of bean side dishes and lentil soup.

Their organic black bean pasta – Spaghetti Style – is a gluten-free spaghetti made from 92 percent black beans and 8 percent water. Just beans and water, yet it contains 25g protein, 12g fiber (48 percent) and 20 percent iron. Their edamame spaghetti is amazing, containing 11g fiber (45 percent), 30 percent iron, and 24g (48 percent) protein. Their organic edamame and mung bean fettuccini contain 24g protein (48 percent), 11g fiber (45 percent), and 30 percent iron. They also have soybean pasta and adzuki bean pasta.

The second is Tolerant Foods bran organic pasta. They are a single-ingredient product line that has up to 400 percent more protein per equal serving than any other competing product and is sure to satisfy all people suffering from celiac, diabetes, and the top eight food allergens. And, of course, high LDL cholesterol.

The pasta-shaped legumes taste great and come in black bean and red lentil rotini shapes. Their black bean rotini contains 15g fiber (62 percent), 45 percent iron, 25 percent thiamine, and 25 percent zinc. Their red lentil rotini contains 13g fiber (54 percent), 30 percent folate, 25 percent zinc and 20 percent calcium.

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Beans for breakfast

Another new way to get your daily doses of beans is now found in breakfast cereal. I used to love Cheerios, but they went GMO; and now that they no longer are GMO, I lost my taste for them. However, Love Grown brand has introduced Power O’s. That’s right, a Cheerio look-a-like that is organic and made from beans and brown rice. They contain a mix of navy beans, lentils and garbanzo beans adding up to 4g protein and 3g fiber. I like the honey-flavored variety with almond milk.

Food is the best medicine

The best medicine in the world is food. Not supplements based on food sources or medicines based on chemistry, but organic foods in as close to their natural state as possible. As the Canadian meta-analysis showed, eating at least one serving a day of pulses made significant drops in bad cholesterol, thus helping to prevent heart disease. And if you run out of ways to eat beans… think again. In addition to Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisines, now there is bean and lentil pasta and cereal waiting to be topped with your favorite sauce.

Editor’s note: There are numerous safe and natural ways to decrease your risk of blood clots including the 25-cent vitamin, the nutrient that acts as a natural blood thinner and the powerful herb that helps clear plaque. To discover these and more, click here for Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments!

Sources:

Research: Effect of dietary pulse intake on established therapeutic lipid targets for cardiovascular risk reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — Canadian Medical Association Journal

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Dr. Mark Wiley

By Dr. Mark Wiley

Dr. Mark Wiley is an internationally renowned mind-body health practitioner, author, motivational speaker and teacher. He holds doctorates in both Oriental and alternative medicine, has done research in eight countries and has developed a model of health and wellness grounded in a self-directed, self-cure approach. Dr. Wiley has written 14 books and more than 500 articles. He serves on the Health Advisory Boards of several wellness centers and associations while focusing his attention on helping people achieve healthy and balanced lives through his work with Easy Health Options® and his company, Tambuli Media.

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