Walnuts or Almonds for the heart

[Guest guest]

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@y...>

wrote:

> Also you say that CVD risk is improved by the substitution of

> walnuts/almonds for MUFA or carbohydrates. But walnuts are very

> different in fat content from almonds. Walnuts are about 14% MUFA

> (72% PUFA, much of it alpha-linolenic); almonds, in contrast, are

> about 64% MUFA. So if the effects of each are about the same, then

> should we figure that the benefit has nothing to do with the fat

> content?

Rod, there are some more micro/phytonutrients in nuts than the mere

fatty acids profile. It seems that the high ratio of arginine to

other AA in walnuts (promoving formation of NO2 in arteries, that is

improving post-meals blood flow)[1] or phytonutrients in unblanched

almonds[2] are some of those factors[3]... It's easy to guess there

should be a lot more. This is why I adventured to say to you Cretans

would be better eating the whole olives instead of 'drinking' three

ounces of olive oil a day.

[1] http://tinyurl.com/5qp5w (Quoting: " Other beneficial components

in walnuts include L-arginine, folic acid, fiber, gamma-tocopherol,

and other antioxidants, which also appear to help prevent

atherosclerosis. " )

[2] http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/106/11/1327

[3] " SUN-DRIED RAISINS RAISE PLASMA POSTPRANDIAL ANTIOXIDANT STATUS

IN HEALTHY ADULTS.

Spiller, GA AND , AF. Sphera Foundation, Los Altos, CA.

Two abstracts were presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the

American College of Nutrition on Saturday, October 6, 2001 from 3:15

pm to 3:40 pm, described the results of studies on the effect on

blood antioxidant status of two different types of plant foods, a

dried fruit, sun-dried raisins, and a seed, almonds, both high in

antioxidant phytochemicals such as quercetin and kaempferol. Blood

plasma ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), a key way to

measure antioxidant status, was measured at fasting and 15, 30 and 60

minutes after consumption of either sun-dried raisins in one study or

unblanched almonds in another study. Both foods were homogenized in

water to insure proper absorption. All subjects rested during the

test to avoid any effects of exercise.

Both foods caused an increase in the antioxidant power of the blood

after 15 and 30 minutes and in most cases declined to either the

fasting level or to a value slightly higher than the fasting level

after 60 minutes in most subjects, showing that the antioxidants had

moved from the blood into various tissues, the ultimate important

target for protection. ORAC values increased in the blood from 8% to

16%. "

Willie.