The essential elements to improve the health of your heart are diet, exercise, smoking and stress.
Eating Nuts Reduces Your Risk of Heart Attack
Eating nuts several times a week reduces your risk of heart attack by up to 60%. In addition to this amazing statistic, research shows that people who eat more nuts are usually thinner. They also have lower levels of LDL cholesterol and stronger bones. A new study even links eating nuts to a lower risk of cancer and inflammation.
The more frequently nuts are eaten the better, as benefits appear to increase with increased consumption. The risk of fatal coronary disease and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes both appear to reduce as nut consumption increases.
Nuts contain fat, so are often shunned. But research does not support this conclusion. In the Nurses’ Health Study, frequent nut consumers were actually a little thinner on average than those who almost never consumed nuts, and daily supplements of almonds or peanuts for six months resulted in little or no increase in body weight. Nuts apparently satisfy hunger and provide a wealth of nutrients, creating a feeling of being satisfied resulting in overall reduction in food consumption.
A recent study shows that nuts have fatty acids that favourably affects blood lipids and lipoproteins. They are low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated fatty acids in the form of the monounsaturates oleic and palmitoleic acids.
Nuts also contain polyphenols, a type of antioxidant containing a polyphenolic substructure. These are thought to be important in oxidative stress, a causative factor for degenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
Nuts also provide amounts of magnesium, boron and zinc, essential for bone health. They are an excellent source of the antioxidant mineral manganese. All nuts are a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E, folic acid, copper, and the amino acid arginine. Some nuts contain tryptophan, a stimulator of serotonin in the brain that alleviates depression and boosts relaxation. Nuts are high in fiber and phytochemicals that protect against cancer and other chronic diseases.