Four of the largest cohort studies in nutritional epidemiology have reported that eating nuts frequently is associated with a 30-50% decreased risk of coronary heart disease. Possible mechanisms include reduction in LDL cholesterol, the antioxidant actions of vitamin E, and the effects on the endothelium and platelet function of higher levels of nitric oxide. According… [Continue Reading]
Pumpkin Seeds for Prostate Health
September 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment
It’s common for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages, this condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As a man matures, the prostate goes through two main periods of growth. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. At around age 25, the prostate begins to grow… [Continue Reading]
Sunflower Seeds Lower Cholesterol and Promote Cardiovascular Health
July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The kernel of the sunflower seed is one of the richest and most popular “functional foods”, one that has very high nutritional value and can provide our body with a great variety of useful elements. For centuries, sunflower seeds have been a favorite snack and an addition to a healthy nutrition plan of people in… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Walnuts
September 1, 2008 By 1 Comment
Walnuts are believed to have originated in Persia or France where petrified shells of roasted walnuts have been discovered dating back 8,000 years from the Neolithic period. Walnuts (Juglans) were considered food for the gods in ancient Rome and named Juglans regia (Jupiter’s royal acorn ) in honor of Jupiter. Juglans is derived from Jovis… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Pine Nuts
April 1, 2008 By 9 Comments
Brief History of Pine Nuts Pine nuts are a high protein nut that come from pine cones that grow on pine trees. The pine family of trees produce both male and female pine cones, although nuts are only found in fertilized female cones. Harvesting of the nuts can be a fairly labor-intensive task since the… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Flaxseed
April 1, 2008 By 1 Comment
Flaxseeds originated in Mesopotamia and there are historical documents showing that flax was cultivated in Babylon about 3000 BCE. Hippocrates promoted the use of flax for the relief of abdominal pains. Charlemagne, King of the Franks and ruler of Western Europe, declared the consumption of flax compulsory for his subjects The early colonists introduced flax… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Almonds
April 1, 2008 By 3 Comments
Brief History of Almonds The almond is believed to have originally been cultivated in Asia and North Africa, and it was Spanish missionaries who first brought almonds to California. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States is the largest producer of almonds in the world. The almond featured significantly in different… [Continue Reading]