San Diego Nutrition and Health

Growing up I only associated pecans with pecan pie.  Little did I know I was eating something healthy…that is if you don’t count the corn syrup, butter, and crust!      Yes, traditional pecan pie doesn’t exactly fit into the “healthy criteria.”  But, all is not lost.  Check tomorrow’s blog for a healthy version of pecan pie.

Let’s talk about the healthy part of pecan pie for a minute, the pecans.  Research shows that pecans, like olive oil, are a great source of oleic acid which is important for a healthy heart.   Other studies show that pecans have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol.  Additionally, the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry reported in their June 2004 issue that pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts have the highest amount of anti-oxidants of all the nuts tested. 

If you are a vegetarian, pecans are a great source of protein.  A serving of pecans can replace the amount of protein in an ounce of meat.  A serving of nuts is generally an ounce which is about 15 pecan halves. 

Dr. Mehmet Oz recommends eating a handful of nuts about 30 minutes before a meal as a way to subside hunger so you don’t go to the meal ravenous and then overeat.  This is a great strategy for the holiday season and parties with endless dessert tables. 

Unless it’s a time-honored family tradition, you could save yourself some work this holiday season and skip the pecan pie and just enjoy the pecans.  All the health benefits without any work.  That’s what I like to hear!