Go Ahead, Be a Health Nut

Its okay to go a little nutty every once in a while. In fact, adding nuts to your everyday diet may increase your overall health and decrease the risk of various diseases. Nuts contain ingredient such as unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients that can greatly improve your overall health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

In addition, nuts are an easy go with you anywhere snack and all types of nuts can provide benefits you may have previously been unaware of.

Heart Healthy Ingredients

Of course there are some ingredients in nuts that are thought to be especially good for the heart. These ingredients include: unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamin e, plant sterols and L-arginine.

Unsaturated fats- Scientists are unsure why, but it appears that good fats in nuts help to lower bad cholesterol levels.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids – According to research. Omega-3 Fatty Acids may help to prevent dangerous heart rythms that may eventually lead to heart attack.

Fiber All nuts have a certain amount of fiber. Fiber helps lower your cholesterol and helps you to feel more full.

Vitamin E- Vitamin E has been found to be helpful in lowering the amount of plaque buildup in your arteries. Plaque buildup along you artery walls can create a number of future problems.

Plant Sterols- In addition to once again lowering cholesterol, plant sterols can add a number of health benefits and they are found naturally in all types of nuts.

L-Arginine L-Arginine can help the flexibility of blood vessels and arteries, making them less vulnerable to clotting and plaque build up.

Which Nuts are the Most Heart Healthy?

The FDA has approved 7 different nuts for related heart health benefits. These nuts include almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.

However, these aren’t the only nuts that can offer amazing health benefits. Just be sure that you don’t overdo any one specific product and nuts should provide a great source of health and nutrition when eaten a few times a week.