The traditional and emerging role of nuts in healthful diets.

Throughout history; nuts have been a staple food providing energy; protein; essential fatty acids; vitamins; and minerals. Today; nuts are classified as part of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid's Meat/ Meat Alternate Group. Foods in this group contribute protein as well as important vitamins and minerals to the diet. Nuts are also being studied for […]

Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet in secondary prevention of heart disease.

In a prospective; randomised single-blinded secondary prevention trial we compared the effect of a Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet to the usual post-infarct prudent diet. After a first myocardial infarction; patients were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 302) or control group (n = 303). Patients were seen again 8 weeks after randomisation; and each […]

Mediterranean diet; traditional risk factors; and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction. Final report of the Lyon diet heart study;

BACKGROUND: The Lyon Diet Heart Study is a randomized secondary prevention trial aimed at testing whether a Mediterranean-type diet may reduce the rate of recurrence after a first myocardial infarction. An intermediate analysis showed a striking protective effect after 27 months of follow-up. This report presents results of an extended follow-up (with a mean of […]

Effect of pistachio nuts on serum lipid levels in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum cholesterol levels play an important role in the development of coronary artery disease. Previous studies have suggested that nut consumption benefits lipid profile. Pistachio nuts are widely available; inexpensive and frequently consumed by the general population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether substituting 20% of the daily caloric intake in the form of pistachio […]

Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors.

Researchers observed 772 asymptomatic individuals at high risk of CVD from the multicenter; randomized; primary prevention trial of cardiovascular disease (PREDIMED). Participants were assigned to a low-fat diet or to one of two Mediterranean diets. Those consuming the Mediterranean diets received either one liter of olive oil per week or 30 grams of nuts per […]