Nuts

Category: Nuts

Precautions that people suffering from Nut Allergies must take


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January 4, 2012


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People, who are allergic to nuts, must avoid eating nuts as reaction to nuts can put their life in danger. Peanut allergy is a lifelong problem and only a few people grow out of this problem.
Even thought manufacturers have improved product labeling, there are some products that may belong to nut family which may not be mentioned in the product labels. Nuts belong to LEGUME family and people who are allergic to nuts must avoid eating foods like lentils, peas, beans, cashews and other food items that are member of the legume family. If you want to eat products that belong to legume family, it is important that you consult your doctor before you introduce them in your diet.
Some people, who are allergic to nuts, may only react to one type of nut while other may react to several types of nuts. Therefore, it is best that you have a nut free diet unless you know what is causing the reaction. At times, foods may get contaminated when touched by other foods that contain nuts. It is in your interest to avoid eating loose foods as it increase the risk of reaction.
To reduce the risk of allergies, it is important that you read the label before you buying a product. If you are unable to identify products that are nut free, you can contact the local store or the manufacturer to check if the product is nut free. If you love eating confectionery products like biscuits and cakes, you can make them at home using corn or sunflower oil.
If you are planning to attend a party or go out with family and friends to a restaurant, it is in your interest to eat safe foods. Make sure the organizer is aware of the foods that you cannot eat. If you are unsure of the products used by the chef, it is best that you eat plain foods like salads and fruits.

Dietary Changes Can Reduce Bad Cholesterol (LDL)


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August 24, 2011


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There is hope for people who want to reduce their cholesterol level without taking any medication. According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients who had borderline or high bad cholesterol or LDL were able to reduce their LDL by changing their diet. People were able to reduce their cholesterol by 14 percent by eating foods that helped in lowering their cholesterol.

According to Dr. David Jenkins, the leader of the group that conducted the study, the foods that helped lowering the cholesterol level in people were:

  • Viscous Fibers including barley and oats
  • Nuts
  • Plant oils or sterols like margarine
  • Soy

According to Jenkins, people will not have to put in much effort to increase the consumption of cholesterol reducing food. People who want to adopt cholesterol reducing food can try drinking soy milk instead of normal milk and try eating oats or psyllium cereals instead of their regular breakfast.

The study conducted by Dr. Jenkins was the first study that looked at the impact of natural diet on cholesterol level. The researchers did not provide the participants of the study with the food they had to eat. Instead, they were counselled on the food that they should eat. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group was given two counseling sessions of about an hour each and other group was given seven intensive counseling sessions.

At the end of six months both groups showed an average drop of 25 mg/dL in their LDL levels. Also, the reduction in LDL was same in both groups which suggest that people were able to make changes in their diet by attending just two counseling sessions. According to Dr. Jenkins, people who paid little attention to their diet showed impressive drop in their LDL levels. He also noted that since more people who participated in the study were hired through advertisements, they had pre-existing desire to lower their LDL levels.

During counseling sessions, participants were advised to eat 20g of fiber, 2 g of plant sterol, 40 g of soy and 40 g of nut products. However, only 40 percent of the participants were able to reach the target. Most participants found it difficult to increase their soy intake as they were not accustomed to this diet.

Dr. Jenkins also plans to conduct a study that will study the effect of diet on the arteries of people.