Gaby
A new study from the Illinois Institute of Technology found that eating a cup—or a can—of chickpeas every day can significantly lower cholesterol. That could offer a cheap, simple way to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
How Did the Researchers Find This Out?
During a 12-week study, the team examined the effects of daily consumption of one can of chickpeas or black beans on 72 adult participants with prediabetes.
In addition to their regular diets, participants were randomly assigned to add chickpeas, black beans, or rice (the control) to their meals. The results showed that after regularly eating chickpeas, participants’ total cholesterol dropped—from an average of 200.4 to 185.8 milligrams per deciliter. Meanwhile, eating black beans reduced inflammation but did not significantly affect cholesterol.
The team also found that chickpeas seemed to lower inflammation in the short term. “We observed a significant decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) after six weeks of chickpea consumption,” said Morgann Smith, the lead author of the study.
Researchers concluded that both chickpeas and black beans are good for health, as reported by BBC Science Focus. These legumes are “rich in dietary fiber, plant protein, and bioactive compounds,” and they are easy to incorporate into meals, Smith said.
“Participants were living their normal lives, and they were simply asked to add canned black beans or chickpeas to their usual diet,” she added.
Although the study didn’t show changes in blood sugar, the team is still analyzing glucose-regulation test data and plans to investigate how these legumes affect the gut microbiome.
“Ultimately, our goal is to better understand the connections between diet, the microbiome, and the prevention of chronic diseases,” Smith emphasized.
