Reducing High Cholesterol with Peanuts, Almonds and Sunflower Seeds

Peanuts contain monosaturated fats that lower cholesterol

Three studies related to eating peanuts were conducted at Purdue University in 2003. According to Purdue News, research at the university by Richard Mattes, professor of foods and nutrition and his student Corinna Alper, showed that eating peanuts reduces the chance of developing cardiovascular disease without gaining weight. Cholesterol levels were reduced in three different research groups that ate peanut butter.

Many people avoid peanuts because of their high fat content

In general, many people avoid peanuts because they are very high in fat, thinking that they will cause weight gain. The research at Purdue University showed that those who ate this food did not gain weight. Those who have had a peanut allergy diagnosis cannot have this benefit from peanut butter, but they may be able to eat other nuts if they are not allergic to them.

Eating peanuts regularly lowered triglyceride levels

Triglycerides are chemical fats in the body. When you eat more calories than you use, the extra calories convert to triglycerides and are stored in the body's fat cells. According to the Mayo Clinic, high triglyceride levels can be related to the development of type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, or liver or kidney disease. The Purdue Study showed that triglycerides were lowered in test subjects who ate peanuts daily. LDL levels were also lowered in those who took part in the studies.

Eating 500 calories of peanuts daily did not cause weight gain

Surprisingly, test subjects who ate 500 calories of peanuts each day for eight weeks did not gain weight. Those in the studies lowered their triglyceride levels up to 24 percent. Since peanuts make a person feel full after eating them, they may not have eaten as much other food as they would have eaten without consuming peanuts. Another explanation is that peanuts trigger the metabolic rate while resting. Also, some of the calories from the peanuts may not have been absorbed if they were not chewed well.

People allergic to peanuts cannot take advantage of peanut's triglyceride-lowering properties

Peanut allergy statistics show that most people who have allergies to this legume do not outgrow it. Although the number of people with peanut allergies is a small percentage of the population, it is far too risky for a person with an allergy to consume peanuts for cholesterol-lowering purposes.

Anyone not allergic to almonds can lower their triglycerides by eating these nuts

According to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2002, raw almonds or almond oil reduced triglycerides by 14 percent. The study also showed that LDL and HDL cholesterol were also reduced. Sunflower seeds were also shown to lower triglycerides in a number of studies, and even those with a peanut allergy can usually safely eat sunflower seed spread. The taste and texture of this spread are very similar to peanut butter.