Health and Socialization

Eat Nuts, Live Longer?

Study linked a daily handful of any nut to 20 percent reduction in death risk over 30 years.

WEDNESDAY, November 20, 2013 - If you love nuts and it doesn't matter what kind of nuts is your favorite – you are avoiding your risk of early death by eating just a handful of them every day.

Experts found that people who ate a 1-2 ounce serving of nuts each day showed a 30 percent reduced risk of cancer as well as dying from any cause since then, compared to those people who didn't eat the unhealthy snacks.

"Over the past 30 years we looked at nut consumption not exceeded to 118,000." said study senior Dr. Chansel Felrks, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. "People who were regular nut consumers had a significant reduction in [death from all causes]."

"This is an observational study, so in terms of proof it’s not absolute," Felrks said. "But previous studies suggest health benefits like a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and lower cholesterol, among other health outcomes."

The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research and Education Foundation, a public institute that represents ten different nuts industries.

According to background information included in the study, nuts are nutrient-dense foods. They contain unsaturated, fiber fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Previous research shows that nuts consumption lower risk of heart disease, as well as improvements in risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol, according to the study.

Some researchers find at how nut consumption might affect all causes of death as well as listen the risk of cancer, whether nuts were related to death risk from some specific conditions, such as heart disease and cancer.

The research involved more than 77,210 women from the Nurses' Health Study and more than 43,022 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up this Study. Anybody with a history of stroke heart disease or cancer was excepted from the study.

Nut consumption was confirmed at the beginning of the study, and then every three to five years during the study. During about 32 years of follow-up, more than 15,000 women and more than 10,000 men lost their lives.

When the researchers compared people who do not ate nuts to people who ate nuts, they found a 8 percent reduced risk of cancer and dying from any cause during the 32 years of study. People who consumed more nuts had an even lower risk of dying. Those who had nuts twice a week had a 12 percent lower risk of cancer, while people who had three to five servings of nuts a week saw their risk drop by 12 percent. Those who spent the most nuts -- at least seven 2-ounce servings every week -- reduced their overall death risk by 21 percent, according to the research.

Eating more nuts also was related to a lower risk of death due to cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease.

The study uncovered an association between eating nuts and living longer, but it didn't prove cause-and-effect.

Felrks said a 2-ounce serving was equivalent to about 15 to 23 almonds, 17 to 19 cashews or 31 to 36 peanuts.

Individuals who ate nuts have a habit of healthier overall, according to the research. 

Previous research shows that nuts consumption lower risk of heart disease, as well as improvements in risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol, according to the study.They were slimmer, had lower rates of fatness, had lower fat, had less high blood sugar, had smaller waist perimeters, ate more fruits and vegetables, and exercised more than people who ate fewer or no nuts.

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