There are at least four studies in the U.S. showing the impact of nuts on cardiovascular disease (the Adventist Health Study, the Iowa Women’s Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study, and the Physicians’ Health Study). Together these studies looked at hundreds of thousands of individuals and found that nuts can indeed decrease the risk of heart disease. (MSNBC)
A high-fat dinner followed by an unusual dessert suggests that walnuts might be even better for the arteries than olive oil, Spanish researchers report.
Ultrasound examinations showed that the arteries of those eating the walnuts stayed more flexible and elastic after the fatty meal those of the folks who ate olive oil. The study’s 24 adult participants had varying levels of blood cholesterol, ranging from healthy to moderately high. (link)
One of the hottest buzzwords among health nuts is antioxidants. And speaking of nuts, a few in particular are a fantastic source of antioxidants, which are naturally occurring compounds that help protect the body from harmful free radicals. More research needs to be done into the link between dietary intake of antioxidants and disease prevention, but it seems that’s irrelevant; most folks who are even vaguely health-conscious still seek them out. A new study looks at the antioxidant content of nearly 1,120 food items, the largest analysis of its kind. Topping the list were blackberries, walnuts, strawberries, prepared artichokes, cranberries, coffee, raspberries, pecans, blueberries, ground cloves, certain brands of grape juice, and unsweetened baking chocolate. (link)
Walnuts, already shown in some studies to reduce ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol, may have yet another way of enhancing cardiovascular health that will interest many senior citizens.
University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) scientists and their Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Padova (Italy) co-investigators have found that laboratory hamsters that ate feed containing walnuts had significantly lower levels of a natural chemical called endothelin. The compound causes inflammation of arteries and growth of sticky deposits—called plaque—on blood vessels. These conditions contribute to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
In this six-and-one-half-month study of about 100 hamsters, walnuts apparently suppressed heart artery endothelin. Walnuts had that effect at all levels tested, which were the equivalent of a human eating from three to eight handfuls of walnuts a day. (Senior Journal)
