Nuts To Your Health! A Good Thing

A simple route to better health and weight loss!

No, I'm not wishing bad things on you, quite the contrary the following will help you become that svelte slender person you always knew resided in your body. Not only that but will decrease your chances of having heart disease while lowering your blood pressure and many other great healthy attributes.

A known fact for more than ten years that hasn't been widely
published but definitely needs your attention!

Several studies have found that nuts in your diet daily can keep you slim and trim as well as keep it off. Contrary to the past popular belief that nuts make you fat, studies have shown that almond eaters, (3.5 ounces daily) did not gain weight but lost it.

From the bastion of vegetarians come this report…1992 study at Loma Linda Medical University found that eating 2 ounces of nuts four or five times a week reduced heart attack risk by 50%.

"Nuts in your diet can also reduce cancer risk, lower blood pressure, provide antioxidants, fiber, essential vitamins and minerals. Including calcium, folate, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, Quercetin and kaempferol, and the very rich amino acid arginine, which may help to lower your blood pressure, fight off osteoporosis and a multitude of other potential illnesses."

Health and Research Studies Center of Los Altos, Calif. Director Gene Spiller, PhD says "Replace some of that bacon and eggs with nuts if you are following a high-protein diet. Nuts are excellent substitutes for meat, cheese and other fatty foods and satisfies the craving for fat." The outcome from those studies in a book he calls "Healthy Nuts." (Avery $9.95):

A study at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston compared a low-fat diet (20% of calories from fat) with a high-fat (35% fat intake, mostly from nuts, peanuts and olive oil) found that after 18 months the high-fat nut eaters lost 9 pounds while the low-fat dieters gained more than 6 pounds. The high-fat nut eaters curbed their hunger for fat by satisfying the desire for more fats. i.e. chocolate, chips, pie, cakes, cookies, etc.

Then another recent Iowa Women's Health study involving 38,000 women found that those who ate nuts two to four times a week had less than half the rates of heart disease as the women who ate nuts only once a month.

Another Cholesterol buster; walnuts or macadamia nuts
(2 - 3 ounces a day), enhance the cholesterol lowering power of
a Mediterranean diet. Eating 8 - 11 walnuts a day consistently
lowered the bad cholesterol about 6% thereby reducing heart
disease risk 11%.

A higher-fat diet, mainly from peanuts and peanut butter, is more heart protective than a low-fat regimen according to a study done at Penn State. Low-fat diets lower the good HDL cholesterol which boost triglycerides and raising fibrinogen, a blood clot factor that promotes clogged arteries, heart attacks and strokes. Eating nuts lower triglycerides.

Bandaru Reddy of the American Health Foundation says that in India reduced colon cancer has been linked to eating nuts and legumes.

Another study from Canada found that nut eaters reduce prostate cancer risks by 30%.

The moral, eat nuts! And lose weight or at least not gain while eating 2 to 3 ounces daily. What better and simpler weight loss program than that? Of course if you continue with the bad high fat foods along with the nuts, it won't work too well!!!

Now having all this information are you ready to go nuts over nuts? This has to be the most pleasant way I can think of to lose weight and reduce illnesses, so get on with your life and health.

To start with here is a recipe for a Nutty dressing I found at www.usaweekend.com makes a great Cole Slaw or add to a green salad or on fish or vegetables.

DRESSING
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar or pure lemon juice
¼ cup orange juice
½ tsp salt or to taste

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor; process to desired smoothness. Makes 1 ¼ cups.

Two tablespoons is 138 calories, 2g carbohydrates, 15g fat (2g saturated), 1g protein, 117 mg sodium.

Have a bowl of nuts on the table with each meal or make your own peanut butter from any nut you choose for a healthy snack with wheat crackers or as a sandwich. When you make your own peanut butter add a dribble of virgin olive oil to give it easier spreading consistency.

Having 2 - 3 ounces of nuts in your diet daily will insure that you are doing all you can to be as healthy as you can be.

A snack hint here

A snack at midnight, when the writing bug hits, is peanut butter on wheat crackers or on a slice of cinnamon raisin toast. Also makes a great breakfast with herb tea, juice and fruit. Never forget to take your vitamin and mineral supplements daily to round out your health regimen.

If you are looking for a great inexpensive, absorbable mineral try http://www.envirodocs.com/life_transfusion_minerals.htm

***Lena Sanchez a Retired Medical Office Nurse/Administrator, Medical Office Consultant turned Alternative Health Consultant took charge of her life in 1992 substituted healthy drug-free alternatives getting actual pain relief after 30 years with fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and never ending illnesses all kinds never solved with conventional medicine . Now committed to helping others do the same by educating on truly treating illness and disease rather than masking symptoms. See http://www.antibiotic-alternatives.com Other informative health articles regarding prevention and steps to take to be the healthiest you can be found at http://www.antibiotic-alternatives.com/free_health_articles_by_Lena_Sanchez.htm