Nuts in general have health benefits we tend to overlook. One example is Brazil nuts. They happen to be very high in selenium, a compound that has health benefits. There are even some hints that selenium may be a key to predicting and controlling high blood pressure.
I have personally tried a variety of nuts. I notice that within a week of going on them my health improves. My hair shines, I have more energy, I feel better, and I sleep better. Oh yes, my blood pressure goes down too. The effect is noticeable within a couple of days, and it usual tapers off after a week or so. I also tend to be able to fight off colds, and flu better. So, if you need a pick-up try some nuts ( peanuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, etc.) in your diet.
http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/selenium.php
http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/28/5/628.abstract
On the other hand, you must be careful with selenium. It increases cancer risk (take a look at PubMed).
Laaz, Which article are you looking at? Is this a new article? Some other (older?) ones indicate selenium is supposed to decrease cancer risk? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8971064
Also, more recently in 2005 here?: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16313696
Everything in moderation!
… yeah, whatever moderation is.
Selenium has been linked with a 67% DECREASE in pancreatic cancer risk.
Brazil nuts….High in selenium. My guess is that if your Brazil nuts were grown where the soil is relatively high in selenium the nuts will be too. If your nuts were grown in a region with little or no selenium in the soil your nuts will be poor in selenium. I wonder about these blanket statements about foods that are high in some mineral or other. I don’t believe the periodic table of elements is distributed evenly around the surface of the globe. Same goes for iron-rich , or potassium-rich, or lithium-rich, or you name it-rich.
Did whoever published these “rules” about certain foods take samples from around the world to make their proclamation? I wonder.
Nevertheless, I love nuts,and eat a variety regularly.
They are a good source of friendly fats….and some
maybe even selenium if they were grown in the “right” place;-).
that makes total/common/sense
Hi Jerry,
I agree with your statement. After all, Dr. Caroline Dean, “The Magnesium Miracle,” will concur that the reason why there is widespread magnesium deficiency in our diets, is that the soil is so depleted.
I think that this might be one of the best arguements for eating the most varied diet possible; obtaining our nutrients from as vast an array of types of foods and from as many diverse safe sources as possible.
My husband and I have four huge Brazil nuts daily for their selenium. We also get potassium from oranges, bananas, dried unsulfured apricots and peaches; as well as pom. juice. I would suspect the safest way to supplement nutrients whenever possible is through food sources rather than vitamin caps.
We love our fish oil too, taking 2400 mg of fish oil, 1000 mg of krill oil, and a 400+ mg capsule of cod liver oil each day. This along with eating various wild caught fish three to four times each week, I think, gives us a good amount of omega 3’s. I personally also supplement with flaxseed meal and/or whole chia seeds in my power shakes several times a week.
I maintain that varied, whole food sources of nutrients whenever possible, is the best way to go.
^ “I maintain that varied, whole food sources of nutrients whenever possible, is the best way to go.”
Yes, I totally agree!
eating nuts affects my digestive system, they don’t agree with me and also everyone dosen’t have the money or access to wild ,fresh fish….