Nuts have been related to a recent study with a lower risk of colon cancer and lower levels of inflammation. But that nuts are very healthy is something that has been suspected for centuries and Scientists in recent years have only confirmed it. The most famous benefit that is associated with these nuts is to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC), in fact, recommends that we take a ration of nuts three to seven times a week. A ration is equivalent to about seven nuts.
What makes them so good for the heart is its combination of omega-3 and fiber acids. The EMF argues that, according to a study by Harvard University, “a diet supplemented with nuts reduces total cholesterol (3.25 %) by a significant percentage, LDL cholesterol (3.75 %), triglycerides (5.52 %) and apolipoprotein B (4.19 %)”. However, studies have revealed that nuts are not only good for the heart.
A new study published in the scientific journal Cancer Prevention Research Explain that Nuts can also be key in inflammation prevention And even colon cancer. The key, according to the authors of the investigation, is found in polyphenols found in nuts, called Elagititaninos. These compounds are metabolized in the intestinal microbiota giving rise to the urolitins.
“Nuts elagitanines contain anti -inflammatory and anti -cancer properties important that we have seen in the patients of our clinical trial. In particular, in the conversion in the Microbiota of Elagititaninos in a powerful anti -inflammatory agent, the urolitin A, “explains Daniel Rosenberg, one of the authors of the study belonging to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Connecticut (Uconn) in the United States.
The Rosenberg team concludes in its study that high levels of urolitin form Blood, urine and feces samples. In addition, they can also positively affect the immune cells in the colon polyps. The study had 39 participants with high risk of colon cancer.
The participants, who had between 40 and 65, were recruited through the medical center associated with UCONN. During the study, The authors asked them to avoid foods and drinks rich in Elagititaninos to get their urolitin levels to be close to zero. After this week, they had to perform a controlled diet with nuts. Three weeks later, the participants received a colonoscopy.
Inside the polyps
And in this test the authors found high levels of urolitin A, in turn associated with the YY peptide, a protein associated with colon cancer inhibition. They also found several inflammation markers in reduced blood, especially in participants with obesity. In addition, they were able to see what happened within some polyps of the colon thanks to multidimensional spatial image tests.
What they observed was a reduction in protein levels that are often found in these polyps between those who saw an increase in urolitin formation to after nut consumption. One of them was the Vimentin protein, which is sometimes associated with advanced colon cancers. In this way, this study is the first in which it is directly observed how nuts improve the health of the colon.
“Urolitine A has a very positive influence on inflammation and perhaps also in cancer prevention. Our study shows that Diet supplementation with nuts can enhance urolitin levels of the general population“, explains Rosenberg.” Nut nutrients can contribute to reducing the risk of cancer. There are many benefits that we can get from eating nuts, with very few risks. “Rosenberg also explains that it could be enough with a single handful of nuts per day to obtain long -term benefits.
