Science

The daily use of nuts prolongs life

A new study into whether nuts can promote longevity has indicated that people who ate nuts every day were 20 percent less likely to die from heart disease, cancer or any other cause over 30 years than people who did not.

According to team leader Dr Charles Fuchs of Dana-Farber: “The most obvious benefit was a reduction of 29 percent in deaths from heart disease — the major killer of people in America. But we also saw a significant reduction — 11 percent — in the risk of dying from cancer."

Biological benefits derived from the consumption of nuts are said to include less inflammation, which is linked to heart disease and cancer; less fat packed around the internal organs; better blood sugar levels; lower blood pressure, and even fewer gallstones.

Researchers additionally reported that people already eating a healthy diet who added nuts or olive oil to their menus were less likely to suffer memory loss, also stating that they cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 30 percent.

Just eating nuts occasionally lowered the death rate by seven percent over 30 years, while eating nuts once a week lowered the death rate 11 percent, and those consuming nuts five to six times a week had a 15 percent lower death rate.

Scientists are still trying to find out exactly why.