|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Go nuts!
|
|
|
Sometimes you feel like a nut -- and so you should! These little nutritional powerhouses are key to good health.
|
|
|
By Rosie Schwartz
|
|
|
|
|
The word is out in nutrition circles -- going nutty is good for your health. Including an assortment of nuts and seeds in your diet can provide protection against heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. The ways in which nuts and seeds work to defend against disease are almost as varied as the assortment from which you can choose.
Peanuts, walnuts, almonds and sunflower and sesame seeds, for example, all provide a host of nutrients, but each supplies unique advantages in maintaining good health. Each contains a different amount and different form of vitamin E, an antioxidant that appears to be a more powerful defender against disease when it originates from food rather than supplements.
A peanut a day...
A study from Pennsylvania State University in 2004 showed that just one serving of peanuts and peanut butter a day helped to fill the shortfall of important nutrients such as folic acid. This B vitamin is linked to protection against neural tube birth defects, heart disease and breast and colon cancers.
Other research from the University of Buffalo found peanuts to be a good source of phytosterols, plant compounds that may act against cancer by inhibiting cell division, stimulating tumour cells' death and modifying some of the hormones that are necessary for tumour growth.
Variety = maximum benefits
Opt for some sesame seeds or tahini (sesame seed paste), which is common in Middle Eastern fare and has compounds that can lower blood pressure. Or munch on walnuts to reap an assortment of health perks: besides lowering blood cholesterol, the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts, especially alpha-linolenic acid, appear to decrease levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. CRP is linked to inflammation in the arteries, a process that may boost the buildup of plaque and increase your risk of heart disease.
Page 1 of 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
