Promoting Bone and Teeth Health, Preventing Muscle Soreness, and More

Promoting Bone and Teeth Health, Preventing Muscle Soreness, and More – After calcium phosphorus is the most abundant minerals in the body, with 85% of it being found in bones and teeth. The other 15% can be found in both cells and tissues. In addition to helping the body to cleanse waste, the mineral partners up with calcium to promote the health of your bones and teeth. Additionally, the mineral is essential for the growth and repair of cells and tissues along with the production of DNA and RNA. Lastly, phosphorus helps prevent muscle pain following exercise.

Almonds, walnuts and pecans have 14 to 21 grams of total fat in a 1-ounce serving, but 84 percent of their fat consists of healthy unsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol. Almonds and pecans contain mostly monounsaturated fats. Walnuts are different because they have a large percentage of polyunsaturated fats, which includes omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation. Just 1 ounce of walnuts has 2.6 grams, or more than 100 percent of the daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Replace less healthy snacks, such as chips, with a handful of nuts. Sprinkle them on breakfast cereal and salads. Nuts make a great addition to many of your favorite side dishes and entrees. Mix brown rice, pecans and sun-dried tomatoes or top pasta with walnuts, a drizzle of olive oil and some Parmesan cheese. Make a big batch of trail mix with almonds, pecans, walnuts, dried fruits and a high-fiber cereal and keep it on hand for snacks.

Anti-Inflammatory – Pecans are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. One study found that ”inflammatory indicators in the body such as CRP (C-reactive protein), TNF (tumor necrosis factor alpha), and IL6 (interleukin 6) were all reduced when magnesium intake was increased.” Further, inflammation in the arterial walls was also reduced with magnesium intake. Based the findings of this study, magnesium can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other inflammation-related health ailments.

Pecans also contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats like oleic acid along with phenolic antioxidants

Offering unique and amazing benefits to the human diet, pecans are in the top 15 foods known for their antioxidant activity, according to the USDA. One of those antioxidants is vitamin E, which scientists say may convey neurological and cell protection. The vitamin E in pecans may also play a role in coronary heart disease prevention because it keeps blood lipids from oxidizing in your body, which can be equated with rusting.

Pecans are also chock-full of minerals. Manganese, of which pecans offer a whopping 245% of the daily value per serving, is very good for your heart. Pecans contain 65% of the daily value for copper, critical for energy production in  your cells, and 33% each in magnesium (helping to maintain a healthy immune system, nerve function, heart rhythm, and muscle and bone strength) and zinc (for optimal immune function, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, cell division, and wound healing). The phosphorus, iron, calcium, and selenium content in pecans hold their own as nutritional assets.

Known as one of the most popular tree nuts around, pecans come from a large deciduous tree native to North America and Mexico. The nut can be found in hundreds of different varieties, and can be enjoyed fresh, roasted, or added in various recipes . Best of all, the health benefits of pecans can be experienced all year round. Promoting Digestive Health, Relieving Constipation – Fiber is essential for promoting colon health and paving way for regular bowel movements.

Boosting Heart Health – Fiber is also known to boost heart health. Pecans also contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats like oleic acid along with phenolic antioxidants. Both of these substances help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes. Additionally, one study (of many studies coming to similar conclusions) published in the August 2006 issue of Nutrition Research found that pecans may help prevent coronary heart disease by inhibiting unwanted oxidation of blood lipids.

Pecan is a very large sized deciduous tree belonging to the member of hickory family, Juglandaceae

Delicious, buttery yet rich-flavored pecans are one of the popular edible tree-nuts known to American aborigines since centuries ago. They are enriched with many health-benefiting nutrients, minerals, vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Pecan is a very large sized deciduous tree belonging to the member of hickory family, Juglandaceae. The tree is native to central and southern parts of the United States of America. Today, however, it is being cultivated in many regions of the world as an important commercial tree-nuts crop. Scientific name: Carya illinoinensis.

The nuts are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid and an excellent source of phenolic antioxidants. Regular addition of pecan nuts in the diet helps to decrease total as well as LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increases HDL or “good cholesterol” levels in the blood. Research studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in dietary-fiber, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants would help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.

Pecan nuts are rich source of many phyto-chemical substances that may contribute to their overall antioxidant activity, including polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein and zea-xanthin. Research studies have been suggestive of that these compounds help the body remove toxic oxygen-free radicals and thus, protect the body from diseases, cancers, as well as infections.

San Saba County in central Texas hold the reputation of "pecans capital of the world". Pecans can be available in the markets year around. In the store, however, you might come across shelled, unshelled, salted, sweetened, etc. Try to buy whole “un-shelled” or “with shell” nuts instead of processed ones. They are generally available in airtight packs as well as in bulk bins.