Regularly nuts protects against deadly cardiovascular disease

Daily nuts makes us older
If nuts were misunderstood as healthy food a few years ago, the various nut varieties are experiencing a veritable renaissance. Science is finding more and more positive attributes, including a study by scientists, which was undertaken for the 13th Nutrition Report of the German Nutrition Society.

A handful of nuts protect us from serious cardiovascular disease. (Image: karepa / fotolia.com)

Consuming nuts and almonds is likely to reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease. This was found by scientists for the 13th DGE Nutrition Report.

They suggest that the polyphenols, fiber, and beneficial fatty acid composition contained in nuts and almonds produce the beneficial effect. These ingredients seem to be more important than their absolute, high fat content.

Every day a handful of nuts
In addition to many monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, they are a good source of vegetable protein, B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, calcium and iron. Nuts and almonds are high in calories and among the foods with high energy density.

In the sense of a preventive diet, the DGE recommends daily a handful, about 25 g, of it to eat. In this quantity, and ideally unsalted, both nuts and almonds are an important part of a balanced diet. They do not just taste during the Advent season.

Also effective for the prevention of colon cancer
"We've known for some time that nuts are packed with ingredients that are good for the cardiovascular system, which protects against obesity or diabetes," Dr. Wiebke Schlörmann. Their protective effect against colorectal cancer is also hinted at in numerous studies, the nutritionist continued. "What we did not know in detail yet is what the protective effect of nuts is based on."

To this question Dr. Schlörmann and her colleagues from the Department of Nutritional Toxicology at the University of Jena now give specific answers. In a recent study published in the journal "Molecular Carcinogenesis", they present results that shed light on the molecular mechanisms of this protective effect (DOI: 10.1002 / mc.22606).

Among other things, the health-promoting effect of nuts is based on the fact that the body's own defense is activated to detoxify reactive oxygen species. (Sb)