Nuts help strengthen the heart
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Peanuts and tree nuts - almonds, cashews, pecans, cedar and walnuts - are ideal for preventing heart and vascular diseases in the elderly.
The fact that nuts are useful is a well-known fact. It is proved that a handful of nuts a day reduces the risk of premature death, reduces the risk of diabetes and respiratory illness. Systematic eating of nuts improves memory and optimizes mental processes.
The researchers, led by Professor Marta Guasz-Ferre, a Harvard nutritional scientist, tried to find a correlation between eating nuts and developing heart and vascular diseases. To do this, scientists had to analyze many factors of cardiovascular health.
Experts managed to attract more than two hundred thousand people to the experiment. On average, they were monitored for about 32 years, with periodic updates every two years. Scientists considered the incidence of such cardiac pathologies as heart muscle infarction, stroke, sudden death syndrome, ischemic heart disease.
During the study, more than 14,000 different diseases of the cardiovascular system were recorded. In particular, physicians recorded more than 8 thousand heart attacks and nearly 6 thousand strokes.
The researchers compared these indicators to the nutritional characteristics of the subjects. The following was found: cardiovascular pathologies and inclusion of nuts into food are backward interconnected. So, the more nuts are present in the diet, the less danger of the development of diseases.
If we consider the results in more detail, we can conclude: the nut diet protects more from heart diseases than from vascular disorders. Coronary arterial vessels with a nutty diet last longer stay healthy and clean.
Scientists described the results of this scheme:
- when taking nuts for food 2-3 times a week, the risk of cardiovascular disease decreased by about 20%;
- when taking nuts for food 1-2 times a week, the risk of cardiovascular disease decreased by 13%.
"Together, the results of the work show that nuts are really able to protect against heart and vascular diseases, and especially from pathologies associated with coronary arteries," experts say.
Professor Guas-Ferre and his team recommend that all people eat nuts, especially those that belong to woody varieties. This will help reduce the overall danger of developing chronic pathologies. Many doctors agree with this opinion - for example, a positive response was received from Dr. Emilio Ros, representing the Clinical Hospital in Barcelona. Dr. Ros evaluates the nuts as an important component of the nutrition of cardiac patients.
"Nuts that have not been processed - unpeeled, unroasted, without additives - it's just a well of health. They should be included in any diet - of course, if there are no contraindications. Nuts are not only delicious, but also available, "- explained the Spanish dietician.
Details of the study can be read on the pages of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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