Posted on 11/02/2011 7:16:12 AM PDT by decimon
For the first time, scientists report a link between eating nuts and higher levels of serotonin in the bodies of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), who are at high risk for heart disease. Serotonin is a substance that helps transmit nerve signals and decreases feelings of hunger, makes people feel happier and improves heart health. It took only one ounce of mixed nuts (raw unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) a day to produce the good effects. The report appears in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research.
Cristina Andrés-Lacueva and colleagues from the Biomarkers & NutriMetabolomics Research Group of the University of Barcelona in collaboration with the Human Nutrition Unit of the Rovira i Virgili University explain that the rise in obesity around the world means more and more patients have MetS. Symptoms include excess abdominal fat, high blood sugar and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Dietary changes may help patients shed the excess weight and become healthier, among the changes, the regular consumption of nuts which are jam-packed with healthful nutrients, such as healthy fats (unsaturated fatty acids) and antioxidants (polyphenols) have been recommended to fight the metabolic abnormalities associated with MetS. To check the biochemical effects of nut consumption, the researchers put 22 MetS patients on a nut-enriched diet for 12 weeks and compared them to another group of 20 patients who were told to avoid nuts.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Ping
Are the benefits as good if the nuts are covered in caramel and chocolate? :-)
Mmmm, think I’ll throw some on my oatmeal. You know, what with the health benefits of a glass of wine, dark chocolate and nuts, it looks like God really wants us to be healthy and happy!
>> a glass of wine, dark chocolate and nuts
A healthy breakfast if ever I saw one! :-)
>> raw unpeeled walnuts
I’ve never actually known anyone who could eat an unpeeled walnut. Have you?
Thanks for the info!
Very few people enjoy unroasted nuts. Does roasting destroy the important chemicals, or do they just want people to eat nuts that taste bad?
After chewing through the husk and shattering my teeth on the shell I've lost lots of weight eating only foods I can gum to eat.
>> Very few people enjoy unroasted nuts.
I’m one of those strange ones, though.
I like ‘em roasted too. With or without salt. I just plain love nuts, and have since I was a tyke.
I hope it’s not literally true that “you are what you eat”. :-)
>> I’ve lost lots of weight eating only foods I can gum to eat.
LOL! Taught you persistence, too, didn’t it?
should be termed unblanched the skin not the shell
chemically alters the make up of the nut. same as heat expelling oil from plants and nuts changes the quality of the oil. Cold pressed is the best.
Knit on, sister.
If we just change our diets, we will live forever.
I love those Emerald Cocoa-coated almonds. I hope those are good for me!
>
not if you are hyperglycemic.
Raw almonds, cashews and walnuts are my primary snack food now. Every once in a while I splurge and get roasted/salted versions. Since I gave up chips/salsa, popcorn and crackers I’ve dropped a bunch of weight and feel much better.
Raw is the best for you.
Though, I don’t adhere completely - if you really want to get healthy and stay that way - Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution book is a good guide. This is NOT a diet, it’s a lifestyle. Dr. Gundry explains it so well. I picked up his book after seeing him on Fox & Friends one morning a while back...
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