24/10/2017
Health Benefits of Nuts
Cancer
Gamma-tocopherol is Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant found in nuts that has proven effective in cancer prevention.
Vitamin E protects men from prostate cancer and a new study conducted by the Texas Woman’s University suggests that it may combat lung cancer as well, the leading cancerous killer.
Nuts also contain selenium, another antioxidant that may prevent breast cancer.
Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Several studies have found that nuts help lower LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 11% and raise HDL levels.
Other studies have found that they lower the risk of heart disease. A diet that includes nuts helps people to keep their weight down, reduces the risk of developing blood clots and improves the lining of arteries.
Nuts are also packed with magnesium, which most Americans don’t get enough of. Magnesium helps balance the calcium/potassium ratio, crucial to heart health and blood pressure.
Brain Food
All kinds of nuts are proving to be brain food. They add mental clarity and support the nervous system in a variety of ways. They may even prevent Parkinson’s disease and boost your mood.
The high fatty-acid and protein levels in nuts nourish the nervous system.
Nuts contain boron, a trace mineral that regulates the electrical activity in the brain and contributes to alertness.
Thiamin is known as the “nerve vitamin” and nuts contain concentrated levels of this.
The high Vitamin E content in nuts is linked to lower incidences of Parkinson’s disease and Vitamin E may also help slow the progression of Parkinson’s.
Omega-3 fatty acids help to combat depression. Walnuts, in particular, have been found to increase serotonin levels in the way that antidepressant drugs do.
High magnesium content in nuts dilates blood vessels, including those of the brain.
Methionine is found in nuts and our bodies use it to produce choline, a major structural and functional part of brain-cell membranes. Choline is used to make acetylcholine, a brain chemical that is vital to memory function and brain development.
Phenylalanine in nuts stimulates the brain to produce neurotransmitters adrenaline, dopamine and noradrenaline, which boost mental clarity and mood. These chemicals are also involved in the pain-pleasure response. Phenylalanine also combats Parkinson’s disease.
Nuts contain riboflavin, another memory-booster.
We’re at the tail end of a low-fat diet craze and avoiding nuts as a high-fat snack. Low-fat diets are one of the worst things you could do for your health!
