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Healthy nuts Walnuts can lower LDL cholesterol levels
The consumption of walnuts has a positive effect on many age-related health problems, concludes the first results of the study "Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA)", which was presented at the Experimental Biology 2016 in San Diego. For example, daily walnut consumption in the elderly has a positive influence on blood cholesterol without unfavorable effects on body weight, reports Emilio Ros from the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona. According to the researcher, the values of "bad" LDL cholesterol can be significantly reduced by the daily consumption of walnuts.
From previous studies it was already known that walnuts can have a positive effect on the metabolism. But the prevailing concern was that long-term consumption leads to weight gain, Dr. Emilio Ros. The research team led by the Spanish expert has therefore analyzed the effect of daily walnut consumption on body weight and cholesterol levels in older adults. According to their findings, older people are well advised to use walnuts.
A daily serving of walnuts significantly lowers LDL cholesterol levels. (Image: karepa / fotolia.com) No negative effects on body weight
As part of the WAHA study, scientists at 707 healthy, mature adults investigated the effects of supplementing the usual diet with a daily dose of walnuts (approximately 15 percent of the daily calorie intake). After one year of study, the scientists evaluated the serum lipids and the development of the body weight of the subjects. "The preliminary results of the WAHA study show that daily walnut intake for one year (...) has no negative impact on body weight," Dr. Ros. It also becomes clear that the well-known cholesterol-lowering effect of walnut diets works just as well in older people as it does in young people, emphasizes the study leader.
Significant reduction in LDL cholesterol
After one year of study, the researchers found that the walnut diet had minimal effects on body weight, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. "However, the walnut diet resulted in significant LDL-cholesterol reductions compared to the Nuss-free diet control group," the researchers report. LDL cholesterol is known as "bad" cholesterol because it is associated with numerous health conditions such as the development of arteriosclerosis. The daily consumption of walnuts could possibly avoid such complaints. (Fp)