1. Nuts Help Prevent and Treat Heart Disease
Medical studies suggest that eating nuts regularly may exert a strong and specific protective effect on the heart, helping to prevent heart attacks and clogged arteries. Some health authorities have advised people to be wary of nuts because of their high fat and caloric content. Now, research shows that nuts are an integral part of a healthy, diverse diet.
2. It Doesn't Take Much To Get the Benefits.
It only takes 2 ounces of nuts per week to begin seeing a benefit. However, the nuts contain calories that should be deleted elsewhere to prevent overeating. Ideally, you'll be getting rid of trans fats, junk food and other low-quality foods in order to make room for the nuts.
As you replace poor quality foods with powerful healing foods like nuts, you'll likely see increases in energy and mood.
3. The Benefits Come Mostly From the Good Fats
Nuts contain large quantities of unsaturated fats. These good fats help lower cholesterol and LDL, while raising HDL. Nuts also contain vitamin E and other fat-soluble antioxidants that keep the blood vessels flexible and strong. Omega 3 fatty acids, like those found in walnuts and flaxseeds, have been shown to help treat heart arrhythmias. Researchers also believe that the fiber in nuts can facilitate bowel movements and cholesterol metabolism via enhanced bile excretion.
4. Some Nuts Seem to Be Better Than Others
The fat content of nuts varies along with their other nutritional elements, so different nuts have different effects. Walnuts have a high Omega 3 fat content. Pistachios may help to lower cholesterol. Brazil nuts contain more saturated fat than other nuts, but also contain rich mineral nutrients, such as zinc, potassium and selenium. Selenium is a vital mineral required by the liver, and since cholesterol and other fats are processed in the liver, keeping this organ healthy will affect the heart as well.
5. Nuts Also Contain Arginine, Which Dilates Blood Vessels
Heart disease is characterized in part by poor blood circulation. The restricted blood flow creates resistance for the heart to pump against, and since the heart itself has less blood flow, it's less able to deal with increasing demands. This double jeopardy can be treated by dilating the blood vessels. Some physicians treat coronary diseases by prescribing arginine, an amino acid that produces nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is the chemical that the body itself uses to dilate blood vessels. Viagra and other drugs used to treat impotence work by making nitric oxide more available. So, by increasing arginine and nitric oxide, nuts can help improve sexual performance, which also is heart healthy.
You can get arginine from nuts, making supplementation and pharmacological therapy unnecessary, provided your diet is healthy overall.
