Regular nut intake linked to lower risk of heart rhythm irregularity (atrial fibrillation)

BMJ: Eating several servings of nuts every week may help lower the risk of developing the heart rhythm irregularity, atrial fibrillation, also known as heart flutter, finds research published online in the journal Heart. This level of consumption may also lessen the risk of developing heart failure, although the findings are less consistent, the research indicates.

Coud half a handful of nuts a day reduces early death risk?

NHS: "A handful of nuts can save your life, says new study," The Daily Telegraph reports after a Dutch study found a link between daily nut consumption and a reduced chance of dying from a number of chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease. The study assessed the dietary and lifestyle habits of middle-aged to elderly adults from the Netherlands and followed them up over the next 10 years. Overall, researchers found people who ate nuts had a decreased risk of death from any cause as well as various specific causes, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, compared with those who didn't eat any nuts. The most reduced risk was found with the consumption of 5-10g of nuts a day.

Daily consumption of nuts and peanuts linked to lower mortality rates

Maastricht: Nuts and peanuts, but not peanut butter, may protect against death from cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and other major causes, new study finds. A paper published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology confirms a link between peanut and nut intake and lower mortality rates, but finds no protective effect for peanut butter. Men and women who eat at least 10 grams of nuts or peanuts per day have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death than people who don't consume nuts or peanuts. The reduction in mortality was strongest for respiratory disease, neurodegenerative disease and diabetes, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The effects are equal in men and women. Peanuts show at least as strong reductions in mortality as tree nuts, but peanut butter is not associated with mortality, researchers from Maastricht University found.

Adding nuts, olive oil to Mediterranean diet may boost brains

Scimex: A new study by Spanish researchers suggests that supplementing the plant-based Mediterranean diet with antioxidant-rich extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts improves cognitive function and may even lower the risk of developing dementia for older adults. The authors warn however that more investigation is needed, since the study was limited by the small number of participants.

Improving heart health worldwide, one nut at a time

Scimex: Eating nuts is associated with reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study by US and Chinese scientists which looked at the health of 71,764 low-income black and white men and women in the US and 134,265 Chinese men and women. The researchers report that eating nuts and peanuts reduced the risk of death by cardiovascular disease across different ethnicities, and suggest that peanuts may be a cost-effective measure to improve cardiovascular health worldwide.

Eating Nuts & Peanuts Associated with Reduced Overall, Cardiovascular Death

JAMA: Eating nuts and peanuts was associated with a reduced risk of overall death and death from cardiovascular disease across different ethnic groups and among individuals with low socioeconomic status, which suggests that peanuts, because of their affordability, may be a cost-effective measure to improve cardiovascular health, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Researchers say eating nuts could cut deaths from CVD

British Heart Foundation: Eating nuts and peanuts could help reduce your risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new study.

Nuts

• Nuts ( nuts, almonds, cashew, peanut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio nut, macadamia nut, hazelnut, walnut) are a good source of macronutrients and micronutrients. 
• Nuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, high-quality vegetable protein, and minerals (eg, magnesium and potassium). 
• Nuts also have high contents of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, phytosterols, and phenolics. 
• Walnuts are especially rich in polyunsaturated acids, including α-linolenic acid (omega 3). 
• Previous clinical trials and epidemiologic studies have shown that nuts have beneficial effects on various mediators of chronic diseases, including lipid concentrations (eg cholesterol), inflammation, insulin resistance (diabetes), and blood pressure (BP). 
• A review concluded that the consumption of nuts more than 5 times per week was associated with a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease (IHD). 
• In the past several years, additional studies have been published on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and all-cause mortality.
• A recent  meta-analysis indicates that nut intake is inversely associated with IHD, overall cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality but not significantly associated with diabetes and stroke.
• Source: Cheng Luo,Yan Zhang and coll. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition