Are hazelnuts good for you?

Written by Tena Moore (- if this post appears on any site other than Vitaminstuff.com it has been stolen)


Yes. The unsaturated fat, vitamins and minerals in hazelnuts make them a perfect, healthy snack. Unfortunately, nuts in general have received a bad rap over the years due to their high fat content. What most people don’t realize is that they must have fat in their diet, and the right type of fat is healthy, mono and polyunsaturated fat; the type of fat found in hazelnuts. The FDA reported in 2003 that eating 1.5 ounces of nuts, such as hazelnuts, per day may be able to reduce heart disease.

Hazelnuts offer so many vitamins and minerals; it’s challenging to list them all. You can find B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, zinc, copper, manganese, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, selenium, and plenty of fiber and protein in hazelnuts. They are high in antioxidants and low in sodium and cholesterol. They are also known to help boost the immune system, promote digestion, and are a heart healthy food. Many of the vitamins and minerals found in hazelnuts are known for their cardio-protective qualities.

A low-fat dieting culture contributes to the misconception about hazelnuts, and nuts in general. Fat is needed for energy. You can either get your fat from ‘bad’ sources like sugary pastries and high-fat meats, or ‘good’ sources like nuts.



Other Posts

Organic food really is healthier
Eating antioxidants through an Antioxidant rich Diet
Bioflavonoids - Their Benefits and How to Include them in your Diet
Just what exactly is High Cholesterol?
A Gene that contributes to being overweight
What are all the vegetable oils?

Too much vitamin E may increase chances of lung cancer

Written by Tena Moore


Vitamin E is a great antioxidant. You can find its great benefits lurking in nuts like almonds and hazelnuts, vegetable oils such as sunflower and wheat germ oil, broccoli, spinach and other green leafy veggies, as well as fortified cereals. Can you get too much vitamin E? It’s unlikely if you are getting it from food sources, but a new study suggests that taking too much vitamin E, via supplements, may be linked to lung cancer.

The study was lead by Dr Christopher Slatore of the University of Washington in Seattle and included people 77,000 aged 50 through 76. In each instance, they were taking 400 milligrams of Vitamin E supplements per day over a long period of time. During the study over 520 people developed lung cancer.

The study concluded that too much vitamin E can increase chances in lung cancer by 28%. For every additional 100 milligrams of vitamin E over 400, the risk is thought to increase by 7%.

The study did include smokers and non-smokers, but the researchers believe smoking only increases your chances, as do age and family history. The study suggests that when vitamin E is taken in large quantities it is no longer an antioxidant, but can cause oxidation and damage cells.

Eating a well balanced diet is thought to be the best choice for getting a healthy amount of vitamin E.



Other Posts

Whole Foods stay as close to the natural food source as possible
True Sex Foods and Aphrodesiacs
What are Lentils?
Eat Grapefruit for Healthy Gums
Fish Oil is a healthy source of good fat

Low Antioxidants and Blue Light Damage Retina

A recent study involving over 4,500 participants points to low levels of antioxidants and sunlight exposure as a combined cause in age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD. The study was lead by Estrid E. Fletcher, Ph.D., from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and was published in the October 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

AMD happens when the retina is damaged over time. The result is a blurry vision, distorted vision and a complete loss of vision. It has been theorized that high doses of antioxidants such as zinc, carotenoids, and vitamin E and vitamin C, can protect against the harmful effects of blue light from the sun. With this in mind, the researchers studied their subjects.

The study consisted of carefully scrutinizing the blood samples of participants to check their levels of antioxidant nutrients. Photographs were taken of their retinas to test for AMD and they also answered a questionnaire about sun exposure throughout their lifetime. The participants were an average age of 73.2 years.

Surprisingly, nearly 2,200 participants were found to have an early phase of AMD. A little over 100 participants were found to have an advanced form of AMD, Neovascular AMD, and the rest were free from the disease. While the researchers could not pinpoint whether blue light exposure was linked to these cases alone, when coupled with low antioxidant levels it seemed that the two – blue light exposure and low antioxidants in the blood – were associated with the disease.

In particular, it seemed that low levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, and zeaxanthin, when combined with blue light, increased the chances nearly four times for developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

The scientists noted that they wished they had cost efficient ways to do screening on the older population to determine whether they are at risk. In lieu of this testing, they are recommending that middle-aged and older people stay out of direct sunlight, and use large hats and sunglasses to protect their retinas. In addition, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can further help to protect them by supplying enough vitamin C, E and zinc to help combat the disease.

Pycnogenol: A Pine Bark Antioxidant

Pycnogenol is actually a trademarked name for the Maritime Pine bark and is oftentimes confused with grape seed extract, since they both contain proanthocyanidin. A powerful antioxidant, pycnogenol is used to help combat disorders and conditions that are related to aging, such as glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and senility.

A stronger antioxidant than both vitamins C and E, it begins working in the bloodstream within 20 minutes and can last up to 72 hours. Evidence shows that pycnogenol may improve circulation, protect cellular DNA from oxidative damage, and protect brain tissue. Pycnogenol works best when used as a combination with other vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, selenium, manganese and vitamin C and vitamin E.

Pycnogenol