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HealthDay Reporter

People suffering from type 2 diabetescan see an improvement in both theirblood sugar levels and blood pressure ifthey add beans and other legumes totheir diet, Canadian researchers report.

Chickpeas, lentils and beans are richin protein and fiber, and these may im-prove heart health. Because they arelow on the glycemic index, a measure ofsugar in foods, they may also help con-trol diabetes, the researchers explained.

"Legumes, which we always thoughtwere good for the heart, actually aregood for the heart in ways we didn't ex-pect," said lead researcher Dr. DavidJenkins, the Canada Research Chair inNutrition and Metabolism at the Uni-ersity of Toronto.Among diabetics, "not only did their

glucose control become better, but and this surprised us it had a sig-nificant effect on blood pressure," hesaid.

Exactly why legumes have this effect

on blood sugar and blood pressure isn'tknown, Jenkins said. The effect is mostlikely due to the protein, fiber and min-erals they include, he noted.

Jenkins recommends adding morelegumes to the diet. "They will do wellfor you," he said. "They will help youkeep your blood pressure down andyour blood glucose under control, and

help you keep your cholesterol down."The report was published online Oct.

22 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.For the study, Jenkins's team ran-

domly assigned 121 patients with type2 diabetes to eat one cup of legumes aday or whole-wheat products.

Over three months, the researchersfound that those eating legumes saw animprovement in their blood sugar of 0.5compared with 0.3 for those eatingwhole-wheat products. In addition,those eating legumes saw a reduction inblood pressure of 4.5 mm Hg, comparedwith a reduction of 2.1 mm Hg amongthose eating whole-wheat products,they found.

These improvements in blood pres-

sure and blood sugar add up to betterdiabetes control and a reduced risk ofcardiovascular disease, the researcherssaid.

The study was funded in part by theSaskatchewan Pulse Growers, a non-profit organization representing pulse-crop farmers in Saskatchewan. Pulsecrops include chickpeas, lentils, favabeans and soybeans.

Marion Franz, from Nutrition Con-cepts by Franz Inc., in Minneapolis, andauthor of an accompanying journal edi-

torial, said "the study clearly shows thatlegumes are part of a healthy eatingpattern."

Franz noted that patients were ableto control blood sugar as well withwhole wheat as they did with beans,and it may be easier for people to eatthree servings of whole wheat a dayrather than a cup of beans a day.

"What's really important for peoplewith type 2 diabetes is not really whatthey eat, but how much they eat," Franzsaid. "You can overeat on healthy foods,too."

Samantha Heller, an exercise physi-ologist and clinical nutrition coordina-tor at the Center for Cancer Care at

Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn.,agreed.

"For people with type 2 diabetes,beans as part of an overall healthy dietare a great addition," Heller said. "Notonly do legumes have a relatively lowglycemic index, they are loaded withfiber, antioxidants, protein, vitaminsand minerals."

Beans provide a heart-healthy, nu-tritious, and affordable alternative to

less healthy red and processed meats,Heller said. Several studies suggest alink between eating legumes and lowerincidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovas-

cular disease, and cancers, along withbetter weight management, she said.

"While people may not eat a full cupof beans daily, as they did in this smallstudy, including beans in a healthy dietwill still provide many health benefits,"Heller said. "Beans are great to use indips, pasta sauce, salads, burritos,soups, stews, and even brownies."

Another expert, who does believe in alow glycemic diet, said patients stillneed individualized eating plans.

"There is no standard recommenda-

tion with a low glycemic diet," said Dr.Minisha Sood, an endocrinologist atLenox Hill Hospital in New York City."It is more beneficial to my patients totailor diet recommendations."

Sood said she looks for specific prob-lem areas, such as portion control orsnacking. No single diet or food fits allpatients.

"Dietary recommendations should bebased on a patient's lifestyle, food likesand dislikes," she noted. "It really re-quires in-depth nutritional counseling."

Although the study found an associ-ation between eating legumes and de-creased blood sugar and blood pressure,it did not prove a cause-and-effect rela-

tionship.More information:For more information on a healthy

diabetic diet, visit the U.S. National Li-brary of Medicine.

SOURCES: David Jenkins, M.D.,Canada Research Chair in Nutritionand Metabolism, University of Toronto;Marion Franz, M.S., R.D., C.D.E, Nutri-tion Concepts by Franz Inc., Minneapo-lis; Samantha Heller, M.S., R.D.,exercise physiologist, clinical nutritioncoordinator, Center for Cancer Care,Griffin Hospital, Derby, Conn.; MinishaSood, M.D., endocrinologist, Lenox HillHospital, New York City; Oct. 22, 2012,

Archives of Internal Medicine

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