Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food. In addition to protein, carbohydrate, and fat, nuts contain many other important nutrients: fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, potassium, and magnesium. Although on some food charts you may see nuts listed in the same food category as diary products, eggs, and red meat because of the fat content, new information calls into question this designation.
While nuts do contain a high proportion of fat, tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazel nuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia are actually low in saturated fat. Most of the fat comes in the form of monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered to be acceptable forms of fat that actually "reduce" the incidence of heart and vascular disease.
Several large studies have examined the relationship between the risk of heart disease and intake of omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources. In the Seventh Day Adventist Health Study researchers found that those who reported eating nuts more than four times per week had a 50% lower risk of heart disease than those who rarely ate nuts. The Nurses' Health Study found that heart disease risk was reduced by 35% in those who ate nuts compared with those who rarely ate nuts. An addition study found that the risk of type 2 diabetes went down by nearly 1/3 in women who consumed 1/4 cup of nuts five times per week compared to those that did not eat nuts at all.
One recent study looked at almonds in particular. They examined the effects on LDL ["bad"] cholesterol values. Each person served as his own control and they were each on three different "diets": almonds representing about 1/4 their entire daily calorie intake, OR a "handful" of almonds per day, OR a muffin [containing about the same number of calories as a "full dose" of almonds]. The LDL cholesterol went down about 10% when the subjects took a "full dose" of almonds, went down about 5% with intake of a "handful" of almonds, and did not go down at all with eating a muffin. In those with the higher "dose" of almonds, the "ratio" of bad to good cholesterol [LDL/HDL ratio] went down by 12%.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recognizes nuts [including almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, macadamia, and pistachios] may help to lower your blood cholesterol and may be a very healthy "snack". However, they also warn that they are a source of calories and should not be used to great excess in those with calorie restricted diets and that you should avoid nuts with added oils or added salt. The AHA recommends eating an overall balanced diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and includes low-fat [or non-fat] diary products, fish and lean meats. If you add nuts to your diet, just be sure that you don't inadvertently add considerable total calories - despite the benefits of nuts, maintaining an ideal body weight is more important. Weight is often a simple lesson in physics - what comes in either stays [as increased pounds] or is used up for energy and metabolism [which is increased by a regular exercise program].
Dr. John Rumberger's experince in the field is extensive, and includes achieving his doctorate in 1976 (Bio-Engineering/ Fluid Dynamics/ Applied Mathematics) from Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, with a dissertation on, A Non-Linear Model of Coronary Artery Blood Flow.
He then continued his education into medicine, in 1978 he became a M.D. graduating from the School of Medicine at the University of Miami, Florida. Since then, he has pioneered how the medical field views the process of blood flow through the heart. From my appointment as professor at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, to Medical Director at the HealthWISE Wellness Diagnostic Center in Ohio. He has just completed his book The WAY Diet available on amazon.com or direct through the publisher at http://www.emptycanoe.com
efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in... Read More
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing my 6-month old... Read More
Fats have been unfairly lumped together as being all bad... Read More
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation.... Read More
Please feel free to comment, so that the article may... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for... Read More
Much controversy and argument surrounds the idea that food may... Read More
Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
When it comes to food, we can't ignore the facts... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
You really are what you eat. You are also very... Read More
I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More
cleaning lady near Wilmette ..Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
I'm sure by now you've heard all about the amazing... Read More
What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
Hormonal changes during pregnancy, and quite normal fat gain often... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
The topic of nutrition is one that is always present... Read More
Fats (triacylglycerols) ...Some basic terminology ...fat or fatty acid ...In... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Is the thrill gone? Has the thrill gone out of... Read More
Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts... Read More
Water is the single most important element for human existence,... Read More
Did you know that much of our dry skin comes... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
Every person on earth has experienced pain at one time... Read More
THE RISKWhen you consume food that's high in acid or... Read More
It is always amazing to me when I find a... Read More
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
It is shocking how many people are not taking advantage... Read More
If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
Nutrition |