Guard Your Heart...Go Nuts!!!

Proverbs 4:23 states: Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. (NASB) Why is this so important? Because our hearts guide and direct all that we do. All of our choices and actions are driven by the desires of our heart. If we do not guard the heart it can lead to spiritual ruin.  Basically, who we are in Christ is being formed in our hearts. If we allow our heart to be filled with perverse things, we live at odds with God.

 Even though this Old Testament scripture focuses on a spiritual message regarding the heart, we can also look at it from the natural man’s perspective. Let us take a closer look at the heart.  According to www.worldvisible.com, the heart is one of the most important organs in the entire human body.  It is really nothing more than a pump, composed of muscle which pumps blood throughout the body, beating approximately 72 times per minute of our lives.  The heart pumps the blood, which carries all of the vital materials which help our bodies function and removes the waste products that we do not need. For example, the brain requires oxygen and glucose, which, if not received continuously, will cause it to lose consciousness. Muscles need oxygen, glucose and amino acids, as well as the proper ratio of sodium, calcium and potassium salts in order to contract normally.  The glands need sufficient supplies of raw materials from which to manufacture the specific secretions.  If the heart ever ceases to pump blood the body begins to shut down and after a very short period of time will die. One way to keep the blood pumping properly is to eat nuts.

How can eating nuts help your heart? According to the Mayo Clinic staff, people who eat nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet can lower the LDL, low density lipoprotein which is the “bad” cholesterol level in the blood. A high LDL is one of the main antecedents of heart disease. Eating nuts reduces blood clot and heart attack risks. Nuts can improve the lining of the arteries. Although there is no scientific proof but the evidence suggests that eating nuts reduces heart disease according to the Food and Drug Administration. What are the ingredients in nuts that are thought to create a healthy heart?  Most nuts contain the following substances:

·        Unsaturated fats-It is not clear why but the “good” fats in nuts- both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats-lower “bad” cholesterol levels (LDL).

·       Omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s prevent dangerous heart rhythms that can lead to heart attacks. They are also found in fish like salmon.

·       Fiber. All nuts contain fiber which helps lower the cholesterol. Fiber helps a person feel full therefore you eat less. It plays a significant role in preventing diabetes.

·        Vitamin E. It may help stop the development of placques in the arteries which cause them to narrow. Placque can produce chest pain, coronary artery disease or heart attack.

·       Plant Sterols. Another substance that lowers cholesterol. Plant sterols are often added to margarine and orange juice but are naturally found in nuts.

·         L-arginine. A substance that helps improve the artery walls by making them more flexible, less prone to blood clots, and block blood flow.

A word of caution on eating a lot of nuts. Nuts contain a lot of fat. Almost 80 percent of the nut is fat. Nuts should be eaten in moderation. The best way to eat them as a substitute for saturated fats, such as those found in meats, eggs, and dairy products. Try eating a handful. The Food and Drug Administration suggests about 1.5 ounces or 42.5 grams per day. Nuts such as almonds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, and some pine nuts may reduce a person’s risk of heart disease.

I love eating nuts! I eat about 10 pistachios, 20 almonds, and about 20 walnuts everyday. I sprinkle the walnuts in my Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal for breakfast therefore I am getting extra fiber in my diet. 

Come on…Guard Your Heart. Go Nuts!!!

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nuts/HB00085

http://www.worldinvisible.com/apologet/humbody/heart.htm

What is your favorite nut(s) you like to eat? How do you eat them?