Chick Pea Health Benefit by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Chick peas are also known as garbanzo bean or ceci beans. Chick peas are often used as an alternative protein source by vegetarians since chickpeas have a high amount of protein. The addition of chick peas to one's diet may reduce cholesterol levels.

Chick pea and cholesterol research
Dietary supplementation with chickpeas for at least 5 weeks results in small but significant reductions in serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols in adult women and men.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(6):512-8. School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tas., Australia.
To compare the effects of a chickpea-supplemented diet and those of a wheat-supplemented diet on human serum lipids and lipoproteins. Forty-seven free-living adults participated in a randomized crossover weight maintenance dietary intervention involving two dietary periods, chickpea -supplemented and wheat -supplemented diets, each of at least 5 weeks duration. The serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower by 3.9 and 4.6%, respectively, after the chickpea -supplemented diet as compared with the wheat -supplemented diet. Inclusion of chickpeas in an intervention diet results in lower serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as compared with a wheat-supplemented diet.