In this episode of The Healthy Handful, host Belinda Neville speaks with nutrition researcher Dr Stephanie Nishi about the latest evidence on nuts and cardiovascular health, including findings from a recent systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effects of nut consumption on blood lipids.
Together, they explore the role of nuts in improving cardiovascular disease risk factors, including LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Stephanie discusses the unique combination of nutrients and bioactive compounds found in nuts, the biological mechanisms underpinning their cardioprotective effects, and what the evidence tells us about the dose, duration and population groups most likely to benefit.
This episode provides a practical, evidence-based update for health professionals on one of the most robust and well-established areas of nut nutrition research, and reinforces the role of a daily handful of nuts as part of a heart-healthy eating pattern.
Key take-outs:
- Regular nut consumption is associated with significant improvements in blood lipids, including reductions in LDL ('bad') cholesterol and total cholesterol.
- Nuts contain a unique combination of unsaturated fats, plant protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds that work together to support cardiovascular health.
- The latest evidence reinforces the role of nuts as an important component of heart-healthy dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.
Access episode webpage:
https://www.nutsforlife.com.au/resource/episode-61-the-lipid-lowering-effects-of-nuts/
About today's guest
Stephanie Nishi is a Registered Dietitian, Researcher, and Educator. She is an Assistant Professor with the School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services, at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada. She was a CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow with the Unitat de Nutrició, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain, following completion of a PhD at the University of Toronto in Canada.
For over a decade, Stephanie has been involved in chronic disease prevention from a nutritional perspective (including cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive health), as well as advancing evidence-based practice and knowledge dissemination with the goal of informing public health policy and nutrition guidelines.
Supporting resources
Effect of nut consumption on blood lipids: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
https://www.nmcd-journal.com/article/S0939-4753(24)00390-9/fulltext
Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality: A systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1875213625004656
Effect of nut consumption on blood lipids and lipoproteins: A comprehensive literature update
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/3/596
Sign up to NutENews
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Host: Belinda Neville
Contact us: admin@nutsforlife.com.au
