Want to lower your cholesterol? New research shows that it may be as simple as consuming more nuts. Nuts are a whole food that have been consumed by humans throughout history and increasing the consumption of nuts as a part an otherwise prudent diet can favorably affect blood lipid levels. This can also have the potential to lower coronary heart disease risk. About 2.4 ounces of nuts a day can reduce the total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. In most cases the HDL (good) cholesterol shows increases. The good property of nuts is the omega-3's. They thin the blood, helping it to flow more freely and prevent clots from forming and adhering to the vessel walls. Omega 3's also act as an anti-inflammatory preventing blood vessels from becoming inflamed and reducing blood flow. Walnuts are one of the many beneficial nuts that can be consumed that are high in arginine, an essential amino acid. Arginine helps to keep the inside of the blood vessels smooth while it also promotes the flexibility of the vessels increasing blood flow. The top nut and seed sources of arginine in descending order include: watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios. Want better heart health...go nuts!
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