Walnuts found to boost heart health

Walnuts found to boost heart health

(NaturalNews) Eating a handful of walnuts or taking a few ounces of
walnut oil during or following meals can help regulate healthy
cholesterol metabolism and protect against cardiovascular disease. These
are the findings of a new study conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University
(PSU) in State College, who found that the oil component of walnuts is
particularly effective at promoting good vascular health.

In a
small, randomized-controlled trial that included 15 participants with
elevated blood cholesterol levels, Professor Penny Kris-Etherton and her
colleagues administered one of four walnut-based treatments to compare
outcomes. These treatments included either 85 grams (about three ounces)
of whole walnuts, six grams of walnut skins, 34 grams of defatted
walnut nutmeat, or 51 grams of walnut oil.

Researchers evaluated
the biochemical and physiological responses of each participant taking
one of the four treatments both before administering them, and again at
30 minutes, one hour, two hours, four hours, and six hours after
administering them. The findings, which were published online in the Journal of Nutrition
prior to the publishing of the journal's June print issue, illustrate
that not only do walnuts and walnut oil help promote the healthy
transport and metabolism of cholesterol in the body, but they also boost
levels of high-density lipoprotein, or the so-called "good"
cholesterol.

"Our study showed that the oil found in walnuts
could maintain blood vessel function after a meal, which is very
important given that blood vessel integrity is often compromised in
individuals with cardiovascular disease," says Claire Berryman, a
graduate student of nutritional sciences at PSU. "The walnut oil was
particularly good at preserving the function of endothelial cells, which
play an important role in cardiovascular health."

Walnuts also help ease high blood pressure and quell inflammation

One
of the primary ways by which walnuts appear to help regulate the
synthesis and metabolism of cholesterol is their ability to ease the
inflammation responsible for cholesterol buildup in the arteries. A 2004
study also published in the Journal of Nutrition found that the alpha-linolenic acid content in walnuts helps quell not only inflammation but also a number of other lipid cardiovascular risk factors linked to heart disease.

Various
other studies have also found that eating walnuts helps to lower high
blood pressure and reduce the overall risk of coronary heart
disease for both men and women. And since walnuts have been shown to
contain one of the most diverse arrays of antioxidant nutrients of any
known nut, they can also be an effective preventive remedy for avoiding
cancer.

"Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios
and other nuts," claims Dr. Joe Vinson, Ph.D., who conducted an analysis
back in 2011 that was presented at the 241st National Meeting and
Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). "A handful of
walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent
amount of any other commonly consumed nut."

Walnuts, as well as
many other nuts, are a great source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids as
well. Nuts also generally contain high levels of l-arginine, an amino
acid substance that has been shown to improve blood vessel function and
promote vasodilation, according to the Harvard Medical School.

source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/040488_walnuts_heart_health_healthy_fats.html