USDA Study: Black Beans Help Fix Insulin Resistance

According to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, adding cooked black beans to a high-fat diet improved sensitivity to insulin and other measures often related to diabetes. According to the new study, as little as the mouse-sized equivalent of a single serving a day of black beans—about a half cup for a human—lowered insulin resistance 87%.

A USDA researcher says, “This research suggests that eating even a small amount of black beans can have multiple health benefits.”

Mice on the high-fat plus black beans diet also decreased LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol, 28% and triglyceride levels 37% compared to mice eating a high-fat diet without black beans. Other diabetes-related biomarkers were all significantly better in the mice on the high-fat plus black beans diet.

Black beans are generally low in fat and high in fiber and protein.

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