Health Benefits of Nuts: Nuts Regulate Blood Sugar. Studies Show

Studies published in the May 10TH issue of Archives of Internal medicine show that eating a regular amount of nuts per day as a snack, preferably replacing other shows has a significant effect on regulating blood sugar levels. In an effort to explain this phenomena, further studies using a carefully controlled and selected group of people have been made.

It was shown that eating just 67g (2.4 ounces) of nuts per day lowers total cholesterol levels by 5.9% and low density lipoprotein (LPD) cholesterol by 7.9%. Also triglyceride levels, which represent another type of fat in the blood stream dropped by 10.2%, this in people with levels initially higher by 150mg/dl. The concentration of high density lipoprotein(HDL) remained the same.

The interesting fact is that consumption of nuts had the greatest effects in reducing cholesterol levels in people which have high baseline (LDL) cholesterol and a low body mass index (BMI), especially those which are on a typical western diet. Also, regardless of the nuts used, they ale showed similar effects on lipids.

The FDA has stated that daily consumption of nuts, whether peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachio can show an overall improvement and reduced risk of coronary heart disease. The interesting thing is that the health improvement shown in studies was only possible with double the amount recommended by the FDA. Also in the controlled studies, the results were close depended on the amount consumed by test subjects. Basically you need a bigger load for a more powerful bang.

Opposition statements, out of which almost all are from dug and pharmaceutical company doctors, medics or other affiliated people, cling on to the fact that the improvements shown are low and that for real benefits you should use real medicine, most of which sold by their companies at high prices. Actually, the health benefits of nuts go beyond the simple fact that they regulate blood sugar. They are cheap and overly available, you don’t need a prescription nor a doctor, there are no adverse effects (people with allergies to nuts are not included nor should they risk using this cure). They can be a healthy snack so long as you don’t choose the overly salty ones, and if you eat them in place of other snacks you won’t even get fat. Actually since nuts are very satisfying, your hunger will decrees and you might even lose a few pounds.