Q: I’ve heard a lot on the news lately about a new study that showed low-fat diets don’t provide any health benefits. Does that mean I can eat more pecans?
A: Health experts have been recommending for a while that everyone eat more nuts, including Georgia pecans, for the heart-healthy fats they contain, as well as the vitamins, minerals and cholesterol-lowering phytonutrients. The study, which followed almost 50,000 women for 8 years, found was that a low-fat diet alone is not enough to make a difference in the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer or heart disease. A truly healthful diet means also eating more of the right kinds of fat, like the monounsaturated fats found in pecans, more whole grains, more fruits and vegetables (the women in the study ate more, but not much more of whole grains, fruits and vegetables) and more beans and legumes. Because the women were instructed to eat a very low-fat diet (20% of calories), they actually ate fewer nuts than the control group (the women eating a regular diet). Several studies have shown that eating more nuts translates into better health—lower risk of heart disease and, if total calories are controlled, lower weight. The low intake of nuts in the current study could explain, in part, why the low-fat diet didn’t show a positive effect for the heart. Bottom Line? The new healthy eating mantra isn’t “low-fat,” it’s “good fat,” so as long as you’re watching your total calorie intake to avoid weight gain, feel free to include Georgia pecans and other nuts often for your overall good health.
