The beneficial effects of nut consumption
Published on July 21, 2008 4:51 AM
Nuts can improve the people’s health, because it is a high-energy food, rich in oil, vitamins and minerals.Researchers reported that people who eat more nuts are thinner. They also have lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and better bones. Another study showed that nuts can lower risk for cancer and inflammation.
Health scientists found that those eating nuts daily had up to 60% fewer heart attacks than those who ate nuts less than once per month. The beneficial effect of nut consumption was found for men, women, vegetarians, meat-eaters, fatter people, thinner people, the old, the young, those who did much exercise and those who did little exercise.
Cashew nuts contain anacardic acid. Researchers concluded that anacardic acid has a role in preventing and treating cancer. Nuts also contain polyphenols, a type of antioxidant containing a polyphenolic substructure. These compounds are thought to be instrumental in oxidative stress, a causative factor for neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
Nuts provide a good amount of magnesium, boron and zinc, so 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 which is a precursor of human growth hormone. 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.
Other new studies have since confirmed that eating nuts confers cardiac benefits and reduces risks of developing diabetes, dementia, advanced macular degeneration, gallstones and stroke.
People think that alimentary fat products make them fat, that’s why they often shunned nuts because nuts contain lots of fat. But research does not support this conclusion, because they found that nut consumers are 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.
Another nuts benefit is that they can satisfy hunger and provide a wealth of nutrients, creating a feeling of satiety and comfort. Nuts help people to lessening of food consumption.
Researchers suggest that daily nut eaters gain an extra five to six years of life free of coronary disease and that regular nut eating appears to increase longevity by about 2 years. Health scientists suggest that 30 to 60 grams of nuts should be consumed daily for to gain the maximum health benefits.
The more frequently nuts are eaten the better, as benefits appear to increase with increased consumption.