BeanDiet

The Journal of Nutrition recently posted some articles from the Nuts and Health Symposium. Would you believe nuts were found to prevent heart disease, lower glucose levels in diabetics and now we have proof that regular nut consumption doesn't cause weight gain?

Yep. All that was covered in the Symposium.

Here's a few quotes from the Journal of Nutrition's (Sept. 2008) article, titled The Role of Tree Nuts and Peanuts in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Multiple Potential Mechanisms:

"A pooled analysis of 4 U.S. epidemiologic studies showed that subjects in the highest intake group for nut consumption had an 35% reduced risk of CHD incidence."

In other words, looking at four different studies showed that those who ate the most nuts had 35% less likelihood of developing heart disease. That's a lot, 35%. Can you imagine if all Americans had 35% less risk of heart disease? According to these studies, all it would take is consuming more nuts (including peanuts). This is believed to be due to a combination of the healthy fats in nuts (monounsaturated and Omega-3), phytochemicals and of course, fiber - among other things.

Here's another quote from a paper called Possible Benefit of Nuts in Type 2 Diabetes:

"Data from the Nurses Health Study indicates that frequent nut consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes..."

And another, from Impact of Peanuts and Tree Nuts on Body Weight and Healthy Weight Loss in Adults:

"Epidemiological studies document an inverse association between the frequency of nut consumption and BMI".

That means that people who eat the most nuts are the least likely to be overweight, and vice versa.

Hurray! Something most people like (or even love) is proven to be good for us!