Nuts and Your Health

New Reasons to Go Nuts…

Walnuts:
A new US study found the high proportions of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants walnuts contain can help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Omega-3 fatty acids also seem to have the ability to regulate and lower cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as improving the ratio of good and bad cholesterol. It is this ratio between good and bad cholesterol that is thought to play a key role in heart attack risk, and this is one of the most important effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.

Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Add walnuts to mixed leaves with goat's cheese for a healthy lunch.

Macadamias:
The Journal of Nutrition recently reported macadamias have more monosaturated fats than other nuts. Monosaturated fats help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. This reduces the chances of development of coronary heart diseases. At the same time, they are also able to promote insulin resistance in the body.

Just because monosaturated fats are healthy for you doesn't mean that you can consume as much as you want. Like all other fats, monosaturated fats too should be consumed in moderation.

Pistachios:
Pistachios are not only slightly lower in fat than other types of nuts, but can also help protect the body against heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, according to studies by dieticians.