Category Archives: Nuts

Refined Carbohydrates: Bad Choice

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Refine carbohydrates are the staple starch source in the Western diet. While traditional diets contain carbohydrates sources as whole grains, Westerners have developed a taste for refined carbohydrates. This is problematic because refined carbohydrates are strongly implicated in the aetiology … Continue reading →

Posted in Carbohydrate, Diabetes, Fibre, Glycaemia, Micronutrients, Nuts, Pulses / Legumes, Western Diet, Whole Grains | Comments Off on Refined Carbohydrates: Bad Choice

Food Pyramid: Junk Science, Junk Diet

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The food pyramid is still pushed as an effective eating plan, and often appears in medical and nutritional textbooks. There are variations on the food pyramid, but generally the design is consistent throughout the world (figure 1). At the bottom … Continue reading →

Posted in Dairy, Fat, Fish, Fruit, Nuts, Pulses / Legumes, Traditional Diets, Vegetables | Comments Off on Food Pyramid: Junk Science, Junk Diet

Energy of Nuts: Less than is Labelled

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The available energy content of foods are determined by a calculation first proposed by Atwater. The metabolisable energy content of foods are still calculated in this way and the Atwater method is still widely accepted as the gold standard for … Continue reading →

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A Calorie is not a Calorie: More Evidence, This Time Nuts

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The ‘eat-too-much, do-too-little’ hypothesis of obesity states that weight gain is a result of too much food or too little exercise. These conditions, it is claimed, cause a positive energy balance that results in fat accumulation. In support of this … Continue reading →

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Pistachio Nuts Aid Weight Loss

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The evidence that tree nut consumption is associated with weight loss runs counter to the theory that increased consumption of fatty foods is associated with weight gain. However, it is difficult to ignore the accumulating research that shows that tree … Continue reading →

Posted in Nuts, Obesity, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Pistachio Nuts Aid Weight Loss

More on the Benefits of Almonds

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Dietary modification has been shown to benefit individuals with metabolic syndrome, a known risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. High quality diets are protective of metabolic syndrome because they provide nutrients required by the body for the maintenance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Almonds, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Nuts | Comments Off on More on the Benefits of Almonds

Tree Nuts Lower Serum Lipid Levels

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Robert Barrington

There is a general misconception that high levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides are the cause of cardiovascular disease. Evidence from nutritional research does show that high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol and triglycerides in some sub-groups … Continue reading →

Posted in Almonds, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, Heart Disease, LDL, Nuts, Walnuts | Comments Off on Tree Nuts Lower Serum Lipid Levels

The DASH Diet to Lower Blood Pressure

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and its cause is not fully understood, but both environmental and genetic factors are thought to contribute to its development. While it might be considered that genetic factors are beyond the control … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Disease, Nitric Oxide, Nuts | Comments Off on The DASH Diet to Lower Blood Pressure

The Benefits of Nuts

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Many foods have been identified as having potentially benefits to cardiovascular health. Of particular interest to nutritionists are the metabolic changes induced by nut consumption. Epidemiological studies suggest that frequent nut consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Consumption of … Continue reading →

Posted in Almonds, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, Heart Disease, LDL, Nuts, Peanut, Walnuts | Comments Off on The Benefits of Nuts

Nuts and Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Tree nuts are a nutrient dense food that contain high amounts of fat, minerals and protein. The fat content of nuts is generally considered to be beneficial to the health, because is composed mainly of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Essential Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated Fatty Acids, Nuts | Comments Off on Nuts and Cardiovascular Disease