Loaded with a long list of positive nutrients, beans add a good measure of taste and satisfaction to heart healthy eating. When we hear heart disease, we hear fat, fat, fat. But the bean is naturally low in fat. It has soluble fiber and folate, two other critical components in the reduction and control of heart disease.
Beans are one of the best sources of dietary fiber.
They play a role in helping lower blood cholesterol levels, one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Galeaz explains that soluble fiber binds cholesterol and ultimately lowers cholesterol levels. And lower blood cholesterol levels help prevent clogged arteries. Beans are also considered the best vegetable source for folate, an important B vitamin that protects against heart disease by breaking down an amino acid called homocysteine. According to medical studies, high levels of homocysteine in the blood and inadequate amounts of folate in the diet can triple the risk of heart attack.