Pistachios Improve Heart Health Even in Diabetics
We have written several times about the
Thirty people who were between the ages of 30 and 75 and who had type 2 diabetes that was being well controlled either by diet and exercise or by diabetes medications other than insulin participated in this 4 week study. Some of them were put on the low-fat Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet that is endorsed by the American Heart Association. Others were put on a diet that replaced low-fat or fat-free snacks in that diet with pistachios. The pistachios made up 20% of daily energy.
Stroke volume, cardiac output and peripheral resistance were all significantly improved in the pistachio group compared to the control group, meaning that the efficiency of the heart and blood flow were improved by eating pistachios. Some measures of heart rate variability—the time between heart beats—also improved in the pistachio group.
In a subgroup of 21 people who also had their blood pressure monitored, systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced (3.5mmHg) by the pistachio diet compared to the control diet, which could, according to the researchers, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease or dying of a stroke by 5%-8%.
The researchers say that “The study provides further evidence that daily nut consumption benefits multiple cardiovascular risk factors. . . .”
The results are especially impressive since the control group was already on a heart healthy diet.
For more on healthy eating for heart health, see Linda’s newest book, The All-New Vegetarian Passport: a comprehensive health book and cookbook all in one.
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