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Our recipes, diet, health, wellness and fitness blogazine, where we bring you weekly advice, ideas and inspiration for living a healthier lifestyle and your NutraMilk processor.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

October 21, 2019

Hazelnuts Nuts For Healthy Aging

By Florencia Tagliavini, The NutraMilk Nutritionist

Eating a healthy diet and staying fit is important for everyone no matter what age, but older adults are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition due to the process of aging. Many diseases suffered by older persons are the result of dietary factors, so it becomes especially important to pay attention to diet and make sure older adults receive adequate amounts of nutrients.

A study by The Journal of Nutrition was designed to determine if the consumption of hazelnuts in older adults would boost micronutrient levels. This was a 16-week intervention, where older adults (age 55 and older) consumed 2 cups of hazelnuts a day. Results confirmed the hypothesis that hazelnuts could improve nutritional status in older adults, specifically. Hazelnut consumption increased blood concentrations of magnesium and elevated urinary levels of vitamin E. Not only that, but researchers also noted a decrease in glucose and "bad" cholesterol. Vitamin E and magnesium are two of the most under-consumed micronutrients in the U.S. population.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which fights free radicals and naturally slows the aging of cells. It´s specifically known its ability to balance cholesterol, repair damaged skin, thicken hair, and balance hormones.
Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps to maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, keeps the heartbeat steady, and helps bones remain strong. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels and aid in the production of energy and protein.

The inclusion of hazelnuts as part of a healthy diet can help avoid a deficiency.

How can we include hazelnuts in our diet? In any form – you can make hazelnut milk, smoothies, hazelnut butter or eat hazelnuts on their own.

Here are some of our delicious recipes:

References:

Michels A, Leonard S, Uesugi S, et al. Daily Consumption of Oregon Hazelnuts Affects α-Tocopherol Status in Healthy Older Adults: A Pre-Post Intervention Study, The Journal of Nutrition. 2018;148 (12):1924–1930.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://www.eatright.org

World Health Organization. Nutrition for Older Persons. https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ageing/en/index1.html