Walnuts have long been recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but most of their useful properties researchers only have to learn, as the Internet publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years Pannochka. net Recently, BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care reported that the daily use of walnuts improves the function of the arteries and lowers cholesterol, and in another edition scientists have already told that nuts reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Past studies have shown that nuts slow the development of prostate cancer, reduce cholesterol and insulin resistance, protect the DNA of cells from free radical damage and help control inflammatory processes in the body.
The fruit of the walnut, which is technically not a nut, but a drupe, from the point of view of dietology is a real storehouse of valuable phytonutrients.
Walnuts contain approximately 15% of proteins and 65% of fats, with predominantly useful polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, these fruits contain a lot of magnesium (60 grams of nuts cover the daily requirement of an adult), as well as B vitamins and tocopherol (vitamin E).
"Since some statements by scientists do not look as believable as others, our last research was aimed at clarifying the truth, finding reliable evidence of the health benefits of nuts," says Dr. David Katz, a lecturer at Yale University in USA.
Dr. Katz's study included 31 men and 81 women, age of participants was 25-75 years, all had a risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants were divided into two groups: one group received a low-calorie diet, and the second adhered to their usual diet.
Then each group of participants was divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup received 56 g walnuts a day, and the second during all 6 months of the first phase of the study was to refrain from nuts. After a 3-month break, scientists changed the participants in places.
At the time of the beginning of the study, as well as after the 3, 6, 12 and 15 months of the diet, the participants underwent a comprehensive examination. The scientists determined the body mass index, waist circumference, glucose tolerance, HbA1c level, cholesterol and other markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health of each volunteer.
Are walnuts doing wonders?.
After the introduction of other factors in the analysis, such as the age and sex of participants, the regularity of exercise, the fat content of food, the presence of chronic diseases, the scientists made interesting conclusions.
It turned out that those who used 56 grams of nuts daily, within six months, significantly improved the functions of the vascular epithelium, and also reduced the content of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. These positive effects of the nut diet did not even depend on the caloric content of the diet and the amount of other fats in the menu.
On the other hand, participants who consumed a high-calorie diet plus nuts, during the observation period added extra pounds to their waists and increased their body mass index. But with a healthy low-calorie diet, 56 grams of nuts did not damage the figure of the participants. In addition, the researchers noted the positive effect of the nut diet on blood pressure, fasting glucose, the level of glycated hemoglobin.
"Our results suggest that the introduction of a small amount of walnuts in the diet of adults with an increased risk of diabetes normalizes the state of the vascular endothelium, the lipid profile and sensitivity to insulin," the authors of the study.
The only point that a skeptical reader can raise questions is the source of funding for Dr. Katz's scientific research, which was presented by the California Walnut Commission (CWC).
medbe. en.