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# Beans Benefit Heart Health
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/beans_benefit_heart_health_0408141026/
- Published: 2014-04-08T23:25:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T14:06:52.000Z
- Description: A meta-analysis of 26 randomized trials with 1,037 participants, published by the Canadian Medical Association, found LDL cholesterol dropped about 5 percent when people ate half a cup of beans a day for an average of six weeks. Typical U.S. intake is a fifth of a serving.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Adding just half a cup of beans a day to the diet can significantly reduce LDL (or "bad") cholesterol levels, according to a new meta-analysis published by the Canadian Medical Association.

Researchers analyzed data from 26 randomized control trials, which included 1,037 participants, and found that LDL cholesterol dropped an average of 5 percent after consuming half a cup of beans per day over an average of six weeks. According to the authors, the typical intake of beans in the United States is one-fifth of a serving per day. They go on to suggest that adding half a cup of beans to the diet can be a simple way to benefit heart health.

Ha V, Sievenpiper JL, de Souza RJ, et al. Effect of dietary pulse intake on established therapeutic lipid targets for cardiovascular risk reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. *CMAJ*. Published ahead of print April 7, 2014