Nuts and Seeds Protect the Heart
Regular consumption of nuts and seeds has well documented cardiovascular benefits, including cholesterol lowering, increased antioxidant activity and reduced risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death. The evidence suggests that eating one serving of nuts daily can reduce heart disease risk by over 30%.
Nuts are a high-nutrient source of fiber, antioxidants, phytosterols, and minerals. Despite their high calorie content, eating nuts and seeds regularly is actually associated with lower body weight, possibly due to appetite-suppression from healthy fats. Since nuts and seeds also have minimal glycemic effects, they are useful as a calorie source in an eating style designed to prevent or reverse diabetes. The Nurses' Health Study found a 27% reduced risk of diabetes in nurses who ate five or more servings of nuts per week. Among nurses who already had diabetes, this same quantity reduced their risk of heart disease by 47%.
Nuts are a high-nutrient source of fiber, antioxidants, phytosterols, and minerals. Despite their high calorie content, eating nuts and seeds regularly is actually associated with lower body weight, possibly due to appetite-suppression from healthy fats. Since nuts and seeds also have minimal glycemic effects, they are useful as a calorie source in an eating style designed to prevent or reverse diabetes. The Nurses' Health Study found a 27% reduced risk of diabetes in nurses who ate five or more servings of nuts per week. Among nurses who already had diabetes, this same quantity reduced their risk of heart disease by 47%.
