Your Favorite Snacks May Improve Health

If it has seemed to you that the most delicious edibles are the least healthy, it’s time to put  that thought aside. The health benefits of nuts, chocolate, and blueberries  have been known for awhile, but new studies add further evidence that these ever-popular snack foods can improve the circulatory system and  lengthen life. 

Nuts and Chocolate:

They appear on the dinner table of almost every fancy party, and you can nibble (lightly) on them guilt-free. The latest research says that eating nuts decreases the likelihood of developing heart disease or diabetes.  Nuts may accomplish this because they lower cholesterol, especially among people who are not overweight.  How many nuts?  Eating only 2.5 ounces a day can lead to significant improvement.

And now there’s even more evidence that chocolate is, when eaten moderately, a health food.  A long-term  study (published in April, 2010)  of 20,000 residents of Potsdam, Germany found that “those who ate the most chocolate (7.5 grams or about 2 oz. a week) had a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke than those who ate little chocolate.”  This was the largest study of chocolate to date, and it supports earlier findings that chocolate can help control blood pressure.   

Why would nuts and chocolate help people live longer, healthier lives?  It may be because they contain substances  the body needs such as omega-3 fatty acids, flavonols, vitamin E, and other nutrients.  

But here’s the caveat:  An ounce or two of each every day can do the job.  Consume more than that and the extra calories and resulting extra pounds outweigh any health benefits from these delightful snacks.  So, the question is this:  Can you stop nibbling on those nuts and candies after enjoying just a little?  Or  are they easier to resist if they’re not in your house at all?

Blueberries:

Don’t forget this:  blueberry juice (and, presumably, blueberries), if consumed regularly, may improve your memory.  A recent study (small but nevertheless noteworthy) found that a glass of blueberry juice with each meal for 3 months improved the memory of 9 people with mild memory loss.  Why? Blueberries and  strawberries contain substances that may decrease blood vessel inflammation in the brain.  Studies of blueberries have also suggested that they may be protective against  some types of cancer and heart attacks.

For more information about the health benefits of chocolate, click here:

http://shelflifeadvice.com/content/chocolate-good-you

For shelf life and other information on these three foods, click here:

http://shelflifeadvice.com/munchies/nuts

http://shelflifeadvice.com/fruit/fresh-fruit/berries-strawberries-blueberries-raspberries

http://shelflifeadvice.com/content/how-long-will-my-gift-box-chocolates-last

Source(s):

Consumer Reports on Health, volume 22 Number 8,  “Berry good for you”
August, 2010, p.6.

Harvard Health Letter    “A sweet, nutty plan for better cholesterol, blood pressure”
August 2010, p.7