Nut Consumption and Mortality

In the July 2014 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, author Jacob Schor looks at a study analyzing nut consumption and mortality.  The data analyzed in the study was gathered from 2 long term studies (starting in 1976 for one and in 1986 for the other) involving over 170,000 participants (approximately 121,000 women and 51,000 men).  Nut consumption (including both peanuts and tree nuts, which includes cashews, almonds, walnuts) was monitored through food questionnaires every 2-4 years.   There was an inverse association between eating nuts and total mortality levels - the participants who ate a higher amount of nuts had a lower rate of mortality.  The participants who ate nuts daily were 20% less likely to have died during the course of the study than the participants who never ate nuts.  There was also an inverse association between nut consumption and death from cancer, heart disease, and lung disease (the participants who ate nuts had a lower rate of death from these causes).  This study provides great guidance on another simple step we can take to support our overall health.  Nuts are a great protein source that help to stabilize our blood sugar and make for a great daily snack.  I prefer to purchase refrigerated nuts, when possible, and I store them in the fridge at home.