New Dietary Guidelines: Smart Fats Required

Polyunsaturated Fat in Walnuts a Wise Choice (SACRAMENTO, CALIF.) January 12, 2005 - The announcement today by the USDA stresses the need for consumers to be more aware of the benefits of polyunsaturated fat in order to achieve a healthy diet. When it comes to this subject, more people need to know fish are not the only source of essential fatty acids. The guidelines suggest that people consume the majority of their daily fat calories from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts are specifically noted. This recommendation by the USDA reaffirms the recommendations made by other authoritative bodies such as the American Heart Association, the FDA and the National Academies of Science.

Walnuts offer the correct types and balance of essential fats and are unique as one of the most nutrient-dense (and delicious and versatile) whole food sources of omega-3 fatty acids. "I am convinced that if people eat the proper diet they will have more reduction in their heart risk than just taking a medication," says Dr. Anderson Morris, cardiovascular surgeon at HealthSouth Medical Center. "Walnuts are a very good source of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. That's why I tell my patients that eating walnuts is like wearing a seat belt for your heart."

For more than a dozen years, research by highly-respected scientific and clinical experts has continued to reveal that just a handful of walnuts daily can play a significant role in reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation and improving arterial function. In addition, a recent study conducted in Australia shows that, for patients with type 2 diabetes, a diet including walnuts can reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol by as much as 10 percent while helping reduce insulin resistance.

(Source: www.walnuts.org)