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Beans count
Study finds beans reduce risk of heart disease
SAN DIEGO (CNN) -- Pass the pintos and pile on the peas. A new study suggests eating beans and other legumes at least four times a week can lower the risk of heart disease.
Researchers from Tulane University presented their findings Wednesday at the American Heart Association's 40th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention.
"Over the course of the study, we discovered that the people eating legumes at least four times each week had a 19 percent lower incidence of heart disease compared to those who ate legumes less than once a week," said Lydia A. Bazzano, one of the study's authors in a statement. Frequent bean-eaters also reduced their risk of other cardiovascular disease such as stroke by 9 percent.
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The researchers examined data collected from 11,924 people over 19 years in a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The participants were between 25 and 74 years old, and had no known cardiovascular disease.
The study found that eating beans improved heart health regardless of age, race or gender, or other risk factors for heart disease like cholesterol levels, smoking habits and blood pressure.Researchers aren't sure exactly why beans are so beneficial. "It may be the protein content," Bazzano said.
She says the fiber in beans also helps improve cholesterol levels.
Researchers aren't ready to make a major public health recommendation, but they say adding beans to your shopping list isn't a bad idea.
"Beans come in a lot of different forms," says Bazzano, "so it's possible to work beans into almost any diet."
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RELATED SITES:
United States Department of Agriculture
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40th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention
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