The popularity of nuts is well established. They are popular mainly because they are convenient, tasty and can be used in many diets. Even being high in fat, nuts have many benefits. What are the health benefits of nuts?
Antioxidant virtues
The nut benefit that should not be overlooked is the antioxidant virtue. Indeed, antioxidants are known for their participation in the control of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules which, although beneficial, can be a source of problems if there are too many of them. The production of free radicals increases following exposure to pollution, stress or the sun.
If the level of free radicals is too high, the risk of disease can increase. This excess causes the body to enter a state of oxidative stress. Therefore, we need the antioxidants found in foods from plant sources. We have the polyphenols found in nuts to fight against oxidative stress. Antioxidants have the role of neutralizing free radicals.
Walnuts: good for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes affects many people, as does the metabolic syndrome, which is highly correlated with this disease. According to various studies, nuts are beneficial for people who suffer from it.
This is because nuts are low in carbohydrates, which is unlikely to raise blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is possible to replace carbohydrate-rich foods with nuts. This results in lower blood sugar levels.
It is also recommended to eat nuts to lower blood pressure, oxidative stress and several other health markers for people suffering from metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Nuts to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Another nut benefit, and not the least, is their effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In diabetic or obese individuals, the consumption of pistachios can considerably lower the percentage of triglycerides. Studies have shown that if an obese person eats pistachios for a period of time, it can lower their triglyceride levels by up to 33%.
The ability of nuts to lower cholesterol levels is due to their high content of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. In the case of hazelnuts and almonds, they reduce LDL cholesterol and overall cholesterol. At the same time, they increase the level of good cholesterol. Moreover, hazelnuts, whether whole, cut or crushed, always have the same virtues in terms of their action on cholesterol.