September/October 2004
HEALTH BYTES

Walnuts help protect the heart

      Previous studies have found a link between eating walnuts and a reduced risk of heart disease. A new study has found that walnuts and other plant foods high in alpha-linolenic acid ( ALA )—a type of omega-3 fatty acid—help open the arteries and may reduce cholesterol levels. In the study, participants who ate a diet rich in ALA , primarily from walnuts and walnut oil, showed a 33 percent improvement in blood flow, compared to those who ate a typical American diet high in saturated fat. Other studies have noted that ALA may be as heart-protective as salmon and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed is another good source of ALA.

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