Pinto Beans is Excellent for Lowering Blood Cholesterol

Judging by their rustic, simplistic appearance and their affordability, you wouldn’t expect to discover that pinto beans have an outstanding number of health benefits. Uncooked pintos are beige with reddish-brown spots. When cooked, the spots disappear and the exterior of the bean turns into a pinkish color. Pintos are the most frequently eaten dried bean in the United States.

Pinto Beans and Cholesterol

Pintos are a great source of fiber. Fiber plays many roles in maintaining your overall health. The type of fiber in pinto beans is soluble fiber. Soluble fiber binds to cholesterol and removes it from your body before it has a chance to harm your heart. LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol. Having high levels of LDL can lead to heart disease. Adding foods, such as pintos, that contain soluble fiber can lower LDL levels. A half-cup of cooked pintos is considered a serving. Preparing them without salt and making them a part of your daily diet can have a beneficial effect on your cholesterol levels and your heart.

Additional Benefits

Inflammation can lead to multiple chronic health problems. Including pinto in your diet can help reduce inflammation. These beans are a good source of antioxidants. They have a low glycemic index making them a beneficial source of protein for diabetics. The fiber and protein content in pintos promote a feeling of fullness. This makes them a good item to include in a weight loss diet plan. Pintos can support digestive health, heart health, skin health and possibly prevent cancer. Regular consumption of pintos can help regulate your blood pressure. It can also provide support for brain health and possibly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

How to Cook Pintos

Once you realize the amazing health benefits you can gain simply by adding pintos to your diet, you’ll want to prepare and eat them often. The beans are easy to prepare. They can be cooked on the stovetop, in a slow cooker or a multi-functional pressure cooker. Do not add salt but use whatever herbs you like to season the beans. Leftover beans can easily be turned into refried beans. There are numerous recipes using pintos online so you can diversify the way you prepare and eat them.