Beans play a vital role in lowering cholesterol:
They really are good for your heart. Researchers at Arizona State University Polytechnic found that adding ½ cup of beans to soup lowers total cholesterol, including LDL, by up to 8%. The key to this heart-healthy food is its abundance of fiber, which has been shown to slow the rate and amount of absorption of cholesterol in certain foods and binding the excess cholesterol from diet and excreting it. All the whole lentils like Bengal gram, green gram, black, kidney, or pinto beans; each supplies about one-third of your daily fiber needs.