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An Almond A Day Could Lower Cholesterol
Studies Find Health Benefits Of Almonds
POSTED: 11:44 a.m. EDT April 22, 2002
Are you a nut about almonds? If so, feel free to eat them as often as you like, researchers say.
Six studies presented this week at the 2002 Experimental Biology conference in New Orleans add more support for eating almonds.
Studies have shown that almonds protect against cell damage, and they lower "bad" cholesterol, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that people who ate about 1 ounce or a handful of almonds each day lowered their LDL cholesterol by nearly 3 percent.
The study showed an even greater decrease in LDL cholesterol in men and women who ate about two handfuls a day, meaning that the effect of almonds at lowering cholesterol does not end at a handful.
At the same time, all of the people in the study, those who ate 1 ounce and those who ate more, maintained their weight the entire time.
But what about the fat content that's always prevalent in nuts?
We may be getting less fat from almonds than we thought. A study from King's College in London showed that the cell walls of almonds may play a role in the body's absorption of the fat in almonds. When eating almonds, chewing only disrupted some of the cell walls, leaving some of the almond intact.
"This is exciting new research," said Dr. Karen Lapsley. "Because some of the almond remained intact, not all of the fat was released for digestion. This suggests that almonds may be a lower-calorie food than suspected because not all of the calories from fat are absorbed."
Don't throw away the almond skin, though: A study from Tufts University suggested that the nutrients found in almonds and in their skin, together, may offer a significantly higher amount of protection than when those nutrients are isolated from each other.
Another study, from the University of California at Davis, suggested there are antioxidant compounds in almond skin -- in addition to its naturally occurring form of vitamin E -- that may provide positive health effects when eaten with the meat of the almond.
Some of the studies received funding from the Almond Board of California.
Six studies presented this week at the 2002 Experimental Biology conference in New Orleans add more support for eating almonds.
Studies have shown that almonds protect against cell damage, and they lower "bad" cholesterol, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that people who ate about 1 ounce or a handful of almonds each day lowered their LDL cholesterol by nearly 3 percent.
The study showed an even greater decrease in LDL cholesterol in men and women who ate about two handfuls a day, meaning that the effect of almonds at lowering cholesterol does not end at a handful.
At the same time, all of the people in the study, those who ate 1 ounce and those who ate more, maintained their weight the entire time.
But what about the fat content that's always prevalent in nuts?
We may be getting less fat from almonds than we thought. A study from King's College in London showed that the cell walls of almonds may play a role in the body's absorption of the fat in almonds. When eating almonds, chewing only disrupted some of the cell walls, leaving some of the almond intact.
"This is exciting new research," said Dr. Karen Lapsley. "Because some of the almond remained intact, not all of the fat was released for digestion. This suggests that almonds may be a lower-calorie food than suspected because not all of the calories from fat are absorbed."
Don't throw away the almond skin, though: A study from Tufts University suggested that the nutrients found in almonds and in their skin, together, may offer a significantly higher amount of protection than when those nutrients are isolated from each other.
Another study, from the University of California at Davis, suggested there are antioxidant compounds in almond skin -- in addition to its naturally occurring form of vitamin E -- that may provide positive health effects when eaten with the meat of the almond.
Some of the studies received funding from the Almond Board of California.Copyright 2002 by ThePittsburghChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
