subject: Pecan Nuts...a real heart booster! [print this page] Pecan Nuts...a real heart booster! Pecan Nuts...a real heart booster!
Nuts have long been known to be a rich source of many essential vitamins and nutritional compounds necessary to help maintain a healthy body and mind. Now, a new study by researchers at California's Loma Linda University, is claiming that eating Pecan Nuts can significantly help lower the risk of developing heart disease or cancer.
The naturally occurring antioxidants in the nuts help to reduce inflammation in the artery walls, one of the major contributing factors in the development of heart disease. Pecans are particularly rich in a form of the antioxidant vitamin E called gamma-tocopherol, and the study showed body levels of this substance had doubled eight hours after eating the nuts.
Researchers studied a small group of 16 male and female subjects who were required to eat a sequence of three different diets: whole pecans, pecans blended in water and a neutral "control" meal. After only three hours, unhealthy oxidisation of cholesterol in the blood had fallen by up to 33%.
Previous research has shown the antioxidant properties of pecan nuts and this new study confirms the body's absorption of these antioxidants provides a protective effect against disease.
This latest study serves to, once again, confirm the health boosting effects of eating nuts. Walnuts help to lower cholesterol, whilst almonds are a great source of calcium. Brazil nuts have been shown to be high in the antioxidant Selenium, which has been linked to the prevention of some forms of cancer.
Visit our website www.eat-yourself-thin.co.uk to read more about the "hidden" health benefits of nuts and other foods.
