igh plasma concentrations of cholesterol do not cause cardiovascular disease. Instead, both high levels of the small dense low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle and low concentrations of the high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle are associated with cardiovascular disease. This is an important distinction to make because it highlights the absurdity of forcing plasma cholesterol down using drugs. The likely cause of cardiovascular disease is the metabolic syndrome, a group of metabolic abnormalities that is caused by fructose induced insulin resistance. Treating the symptoms of this metabolic disease with pharmaceutical drugs has proven to be completely ineffective to date. This is not surprising because this strategy does not address the insulin resistance that is the catalyst of the metabolic changes. The best way to reverse insulin resistance is through implementation of a high quality diet high in fibre, whole grains and micronutrients.
Beans and oats are particularly beneficial with regard cardiovascular health. Beans and oats contain high concentrations of soluble fibre which is thought to play an important role in blood sugar regulation. Beans and oats have been shown in numerous studies to be effective cholesterol lowering agents. For example, in one study1, researchers fed hypercholesterolaemic individuals a controlled diet which contained either beans or oats. The diets contained a total of 19 g plant fibre and 6g soluble fibre per day. The subjects began the study with a mean total serum cholesterol concentration above 6.72 mmol/L and triglyceride levels above 5.65 mmol/L. Oat bran and bean diets decrease serum cholesterol by 23 and 24 %, respectively, when compared to control values. In addition, the subjects HDL to LDL ratio increased 22 % on the oat and 17 % on the bean diet.
Weight loss did occur in the subjects, but did not correlate with serum cholesterol levels suggesting that this was not the cause of the change. However, both beans and oats cause other metabolic changes that could explain the beneficial effects on cholesterol levels. In particular, the soluble fibre content of beans and oats is thought to reduce the rate of glucose absorption to the blood, which in turn produces improved control over insulin levels. Lowering insulin levels through modulation of plasma glucose levels may improve insulin sensitivity. Because insulin resistance is the likely cause of metabolic syndrome, both beans and oats therefore address the direct cause of the metabolic syndrome. This is turn corrects the metabolic dysfunction that leads to a disrupted lipoprotein metabolism. However, it is the underlying metabolic improvements that protect from cardiovascular disease, not the changes to the lipoprotein levels.
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