A handful of nuts a day can keep heart healthy
November 15th, 2009 - 11:17 am ICT by ANI
- Washington, Nov 15 (ANI): A daily dose of nuts-walnuts, almonds, pistachios- can make up for a heart-healthy diet, according to Mayo Clinic researchers.
Most nuts contain some nutrients that can benefit heart health and help with cholesterol control.
They include unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, 1-arginine and plant sterols. Nuts have been shown to reduce low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol) levels in the blood.
Eating nuts also can reduce the risk of developing blood clots and improve the health of the lining of the arteries.
The above benefits suggest that eating nuts, in limited amounts, may reduce the risk of heart disease, though studies haven’t yet proved this conclusively.
Almost any type of nut is nutritious — and high in calories. It is best to eat nuts in moderation, no more than a handful a day.
Also, choose unsalted or low-salt versions and use nuts as a substitute for saturated fats, such as those found in meats, eggs and dairy products.
The study has been published in the latest issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. (ANI)
Related Stories
- Eat those nuts to stay healthy - Oct 06, 2009
- Macadamia nuts may cut cardiovascular risk - Apr 12, 2008
- Junk food cholesterol may pose the greatest heart disease risk - Aug 21, 2009
- Low cholesterol can increase risk to cancer: Study - Aug 06, 2009
- 10 ways to cut risk of cancer - Nov 15, 2009
- A handful of pistachios a day keep heart disease at bay - Sep 23, 2008
- Mediterranean diet can help beat the blues - Oct 06, 2009
- Mediterranean diet can help beat the blues - Oct 10, 2009
- Pistachio nuts may keep your heart healthy - Sep 27, 2008
- Pistachio nut, green way to keep your heart healthy - Sep 27, 2008
- 3 fatty acids- - almonds
- - arginine
- - bad cholesterol
- - blood clots
- - cholesterol control
- - cholesterol levels
- - dairy products
- - healthsource
- - heart health
- - heart healthy diet
- - low density lipoproteins
- - mayo clinic researchers
- - mayo clinic women
- - omega 3 fatty acids
- - plant sterols
- - risk of heart disease
- - saturated fats
- - unsaturated fats
- - walnuts
Posted in Health Science, |
November 17th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Great article! Some people shy away from nuts because of their high fat content. But the fat in nuts is heart-healthy. Also, like you said, a handful a day is all you need.