Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health have examined the effect of eating nuts on cardiovascular health and they found that " nuts really are healthy, especially for men at risk for heart disease," says Dr. Simon, editor.
Studies show that healthy men, and those who have already suffered a heart attack, can reduce cardiovascular risk by eating nuts regularly. Doctors theorize that:
| • | Nuts may help lower cholesterol, partly by replacing less healthy foods not eaten | |
| • | Nuts contain mono- and polyunsaturated fats known to benefit the Heart | |
| • | The Omega-3 fats found in walnuts may protect against irregular heart rhythms | |
| • | Nuts are rich in arginine, a substance that may improve blood vessel functions | |
| • | Other nutrients (such as fiber and vitamin E) may also help lower cardiovascular risk |
Nuts are very nutritional but high in calories. Substituting nuts for chips or cookies, and avoiding nuts that are fried in oil or loaded with salt, they found that as little as two ounces of nuts a week appeared to help lower heart disease risk.
By themselves, nuts seem to produce modest declines in cholesterol, but when they are combined with other healthful foods, the results can be spectacular. Nuts may not be the key to cardiovascular health, but adding more nuts to a balanced, healthful diet can take you one step away from heart disease. Also, using a balanced natural supplement like Healthy Heart Essentials™ from seniorlifehealth.com can support long-term cardiovascular heath. Healthful nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, peanuts, pistachios, and walnuts.
Evidence continues to support the idea that eating nuts is associated with good heart health. A recent study found that men who consumed nuts regularly (two or more times per week) had a 47% lower risk of sudden cardiac death compared with men who rarely or never consumed nuts. The results are published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.