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ScienceDaily_2014 04874.txt

#Eating tree nuts results in modest decreases in blood fats and sugars, survey findseating tree nuts appears to help reduce two of the five markers for metabolic syndrome a group of factors that raise the risk for heart disease and other health problems such as diabetes and strokes a new research paper says. The paper found a modest decrease in blood fats known as triglycerides and blood sugars among people who added tree nuts to their diets compared to those who ate a control diet. The paper by Dr. John Sievenpiper a physician and researcher in the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre of St michael's Hospital was published today in the journal BMJ Open.**Dr. Sievenpiper said he believes this is the first systematic review and meta-analysis examining all of the collective evidence of randomized clinical trials on the effect of tree nuts on metabolic syndrome. After screening 2000 articles published in peer-reviewed journals he found 49 randomized control trials with 2000 participants. A person is considered to have metabolic syndrome if he or she has three of the following risk factors: low levels of good cholesterol; high triglycerides; high blood pressure; high blood sugar; extra weight around the waist. Dr. Sievenpiper said the biggest reductions in triglycerides and blood glucose were seen when tree nuts replaced refined carbohydrates rather than saturated fats. He said there was no adverse impact on the other risk factors for metabolic syndrome or weight gain even though nuts are high in calories. Nuts also have a high fat content but it's good or unsaturated fat. Tree nuts are such things as almonds Brazil nuts cashews chestnuts coconuts hazelnuts pecans macadamia nuts walnuts pine nuts and pistachios. They do not include peanuts which are legumes. In the randomized control studies patients ate about 50 grams of nuts a day or about 1-1/2 servings. One serving of tree nuts is about Â cup or 30 grams. He said that people in North america consume on average less than one serving a day so this is one way they can adapt their diets to take advantage of the metabolic benefits. Fifty grams of nuts can be integrated easily into a diet as a snack or as a substitute for animal fats or refined carbohydrates Dr. Sievenpiper said. The U s. Food and Drug Administration has granted tree nuts a qualified health claim for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. Tree nuts are recommended also as part of the Mediterranean Portfolio and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets for cardiovascular disease prevention and management based on their ability to reduce bad cholesterol.**This study received funding from the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research and Education Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by St michael's Hospital. The original article was written by Leslie Shepherd. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal References c

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