Almonds Help Lower Risk of Heart Diseases Study Finds

First Posted: Jun 25, 2014 11:51 AM EDT
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Adding almonds in your diet helps lower the risk of heart disease, a new study reveals.

Almonds, the mono saturated fats, are known for their extensive health benefits. Almonds are packed with antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and proteins. Almonds also contain  Vitamin E and healthy fats and fibre that boost a sense of fullness. They also have flavonoids with antioxidant properties.

A study, led by researchers at Aston University in Birmingham, U.K., claims eating almonds cuts the risk of heart disease by maintaining healthy blood vessels. This study further supports the theory that Mediterranean diets are a healthier option.

In this study, the researchers tested the benefit of a short duration almond enriched diet on a group of healthy young and middle aged men as well as young men with cardiovascular risk factors, having hypertension and overweight. The control group ate normal food and the other group ate 50 gms of almonds a day for one month.

The researchers noticed that those who added almonds in their diet had elevated levels of antioxidants (alpha-tocopheraol) in their blood and also their blood flow had improved had lower blood pressure that drastically lowered their risk of heart diseases.

"Our study confirms that almonds are a superfood. Previous studies have shown that they keep your heart healthy, but our research proves that it isn't too late to introduce them into your diet - adding even a handful (around 50g) every day for a short period can help. You could replace a daytime snack with a bag of almonds or add them to your regular meals like porridge or muesli to help reduce your risk of heart problems," Professor Helen Griffiths, Executive Dean of the School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University in Birmingham, U.K.

The study was published in peer-reviewed journal Free Radical Research.

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