Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Healthy Food of the Day: 3 Reasons to Eat Almonds
My husband and I have been trying to eat a lot healthier lately, and so I've had an opportunity to do some research on healthy foods. Here's a delicous, healthy treat to snack on any time: ALMONDS. And, three reasons why snacking on almonds is such a good idea for your health:
- Almonds promote colon health - A study in 2001 at the University of California at Davis showed that almonds can improve colon health. People who eat almonds are less likely to develop colon cancer than people who don't. This is particularly interesting, since before this study, it was sometimes believed that nuts weren't good for colon health.
- Almonds can reduce bad cholesterol levels - An interesting Canadian study in 2002 shows that almonds can help people who have low good cholesterol, high bad cholesterol - or both! Researchers measured cholesterol levels, blood pressure and weight in the subjects. They found that patients reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL – bad cholesterol) an average 4.4 percent with the half portion of almonds and 9.4 percent with the full portion. (The full portion was 74 grams of almonds a day.)
- Almonds also help heart health in general - The folic acid in almonds is believed to help lower levels of homocystein, the amino acid that is thought to contribute to the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. So, eating your almonds keeps your heart healthier!
So, if you've always thought that nuts were a no-no, because they're high in fat - rest assured. :) Almonds are a fantastic snack...they taste great, and your body loves them just as much as your taste buds do.
Posted by HappySlob ::
9:45 AM ::
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