Walnuts Help Lower Cholesterol
Scientists say that eating nuts helps reduce cholesterol levels.
“Nuts”
The consumption of nuts may help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, scientists say.
Research at the University of Loma Linda, California, United States, reviewed 25 studies involving about 600 people in seven countries.
The scientists found that those who ate a small bag of nuts a day reduced by 7.4% their cholesterol levels.
So believe that nuts help prevent the absorption of cholesterol, so these foods should be part of a healthy diet.
The lipoprotein-cholesterol or a substance produced by the liver from fatty foods we eat.
Although it is very important for the normal functioning of the organism, the excessively high levels of this element in the blood can have serious effects on health.
Scientific evidence shows that high levels of cholesterol can cause narrowing of the arteries and increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Has also been demonstrated in the past that regular consumption of nuts or dried fruits have health benefits because these products are rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, minerals, vitamins and other compounds as antioxidants and phytosterols.
But new research published in Archives of Internal Medicine (Archives of Internal Medicine) – tried to establish what their precise impact on cardiovascular fitness.
The people involved in the study consumed an average of 67 grams of nuts a day for a period of between three and eight weeks.
In addition to improving cholesterol levels, nuts reduced the amount of triglycerides, another type of blood fat that has also been linked to heart disease.
However, scientists say, the impact was less pronounced among overweight participants.
Sterols
Scientists do not know why the nuts have this effect, but believe it could be because they contain phytosterols, compounds that are thought to block the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.
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As stated by Professor Joan Sabaté, who led the study, “the effects of nut consumption are related to the dose ingested, and the different types of nuts have similar effects.”
But the scientist adds that these effects were “significantly modified by LDL cholesterol (the so-called” bad cholesterol “) and present, body mass index and type of diet.”
That is, “explains researcher,” the effect of nut consumption on cholesterol levels was greater among individuals with high levels of “bad” cholesterol, with a low body mass index and among those consuming Western-type diets .
“Walnuts are a whole food has been consumed by humans throughout history,” said the scientist.
“And it can be expected that the increased consumption of walnuts as part of a prudent diet favorably affects lipid levels in the blood and has the potential to reduce heart disease risk,” he adds.
Other experts caution, however, caution should be used with the consumption of nuts covered in sugar or salt.