A longer lifespan can be attributed to a healthy lifestyle. Paying attention to your body, eating healthily and exercising are big factors for longevity. When it comes to a healthy diet, one food you could include in your regime is this longevity-boosting snack.
The health benefits of nuts are well documented. The little snacks can stave off heart attacks and strokes and even help with weight loss.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine focused specifically on their link to longevity.
The study found that those who eat a handful of nuts daily are more likely to live longer than those who rarely have the snack.
The research team combined data from two long-term studies that looked at around 76,000 women and 42,000 men.
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The reason why is not entirely clear but the researchers think that because nuts lead to a sense of fullness, people might eat less and have a lower risk of life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes.
However, this study doesn’t prove a cause and effect between nuts and longevity, only a link.
Pecans and cholesterol
A study from the University of Georgia has found that pecans can “dramatically” improve cholesterol levels.
The study saw an average drop of five percent in total cholesterol, while LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, decreased by between six and nine percent.
Jamie Cooper, one of the study’s authors, said: “We had some people who actually went from having high cholesterol at the start of the study to no longer being in that category after the intervention.
“Some research shows that even a one percent reduction in LDL is associated with a small reduction of coronary artery disease risk, so these reductions are definitely clinically meaningful.”
Pecans are packed with healthy fatty acids and fibre, which can help block some of the cholesterol absorption from your gut and consequently lower levels.
Similarly to the longevity study, a handful of pecans daily should do the trick, according to Heart UK.