Other relevant components of nuts: phytosterols; folate and minerals.
Nuts contain significant amounts of essential micronutrients that are associated with an improved health status when consumed at doses beyond those necessary to prevent deficiency states. Nuts do not contain cholesterol; but they are rich in chemically related phytosterols; a class of compounds that interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption and thus help lower blood cholesterol. […]
Nuts: nutrition and health outcomes.
Does regular walnut consumption lead to weight gain?
Studies consistently show the beneficial effects of eating nuts; but as high-energy foods; their regular consumption may lead to weight gain. We tested if daily consumption of walnuts (approximately 12 % energy intake) for 6 months would modify body weight and body composition in free-living subjects. Ninety participants in a 12-month randomized cross-over trial were […]
Dietary fibre; nuts and cardiovascular diseases.
Dietary fibre has a range of metabolic health benefits. Through a variety of mechanisms; dietary fibre; and the viscous variety in particular; slows down gastric emptying and intestinal transit; decreases the rate of intestinal carbohydrate absorption; and increases faecal bile acid excretion. Therefore; consumption of some types of soluble fibre can enhance satiety; which is […]
Substitution of saturated with monounsaturated fat in a 4-week diet affects body weight and composition of overweight and obese men.
A randomised crossover study of eight overweight or obese men (aged 24-49 years; BMI 25.5-31.3 kg/m(2)); who followed two diets for 4 weeks each; was performed to determine whether substitution of saturated fat with monounsaturated fat affects body weight and composition. Subjects were provided with all food and beverages as modules (selected ad libitum) of […]
Nuts; body weight and insulin resistance.
Traditionally; nuts have been considered a staple food; but because of their high energy and fat content are not considered good for body weight control or insulin sensitivity. Frequent consumption of nuts reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and type-2 diabetes and nut-enriched diets favourably alter blood lipids in normal and hypercholesterolemic individuals under […]
Fatty acid composition of nuts – implications for cardiovascular health.
It is well established that; due to their high content of saturated fatty acids (SFA); the intake of meat and meat products is strongly associated with elevated blood cholesterol concentrations and an increased risk of hypertension; diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Conversely; the intake of foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids; such as those contained in […]
Walnut extract (Juglans regia L.) and its component ellagic acid exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in human aorta endothelial cells and osteoblastic activity in the cell line KS483.
Epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of CVD and postmenopausal osteoporosis is low in the Mediterranean area; where herbs and nuts; among others; play an important role in nutrition. In the present study; we sought a role of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) in endothelial and bone-cell function. As the endothelial cell expression of adhesion molecules […]
Are the advantages of the Mediterranean diet transferable to other populations? A cohort study in Melbourne; Australia
A prospective cohort study; involving 141 Anglo-Celts and 189 Greek-Australians of both sexes aged 70 years or more; was undertaken in Melbourne; Australia. The objective was to evaluate whether adherence to the principles of the Mediterranean diet affects survival of elderly people in developed non-Mediterranean countries. Diet was assessed using an extensive validated questionnaire on […]
Nuts and coronary heart disease: an epidemiological perspective.
The epidemiological evidence for the cardio-protective effect of nut consumption is presented and reviewed. Four large prospective epidemiological studies of primary prevention of coronary heart disease are reviewed and discussed (Adventist Health Study; Iowa Women's Health Study; Nurses' Health Study and the Physicians' Health Study). Other studies of nuts and coronary heart disease risk are […]