Pecans are a healthy addition to your lifestyle!

 

• Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals – including vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, several B vitamins and zinc. One ounce of pecans provides 10 percent of the recommended Daily Value for fiber. Pecans are also a natural, high-quality source of protein that contain very few carbohydrates and no cholesterol. Pecans are also naturally sodium-free, making them an excellent choice for those on a salt- or sodium-restricted diet.

• Pecans double the cholesterol-lowering effectiveness of a traditional low-fat, heart-healthy diet. A Loma Linda University study published in the September 2001 The Journal of Nutrition showed a pecan diet significantly lowered total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. In fact, pecans doubled the cholesterol lowering ability of the Step I diet (a traditional low-fat American Heart Association diet) in the study. The pecan diet increased HDL cholesterol levels whereas the Step I diet decreased HDL unfavorably. Triglycerides also were lower with a pecan diet. All these differences were statistically significant. Although the pecan diet contained more fat (39.6%) than the Step I diet (28.3%), participants didn't gain weight. 

• Pecans raise Vitamin E levels and may support prostate and intestinal health. The March 2001 FASEB Journal detailed a study evaluating the effects of a pecan-enriched diet on serum gamma tocopherol levels. The researchers concluded that the pecan-enriched diet significantly raised blood levels of gamma tocopherol compared to the AHA Step I diet. Gamma tocopherol is an important antioxident nutrient and studies have shown that it may benefit intestinal health and have a protective effect against prostate cancer. 

• Pecans increase fiber and nutrient intake. Researchers at Texas A&M discovered that a heart-healthy diet containing pecans significantly increased study participants' levels of dietary fiber, thiamin, magnesium, copper and manganese. The study found that the diet changed dietary copper and magnesium intakes from inadequate to adequate as compared to the AHA Step I diet. 

Research listed in this section has been compiled by the National Pecan Shellers Association.

For more nutritional information or information about pecans, visit www.ilovepecans.org.

 

 

Pecan oil is heart-healthy.

 

• Pecan oil is a healthier alternative than most oils and butters. It has only 9.5% saturated fat compared to olive oil with 13.5%, peanut oil with 17%, corn oil with 13.7% and butter with a whopping 66% saturated fat.

• Pecan oil leaves no aftertaste and can be seasoned to bring out any flavor that you wish, making it an extremely versatile oil. Pecan oil is neutral in flavor. Therefore, it doesn't overpower the flavor of your food and has a smoke point of 470 degrees.

• Pecan oil is expeller pressed, a completely mechanical process. Most oils, with the exception of olive oil, are extracted with the use of chemical solvents that are later evaporated from the oil in the refining process. Therefore, pecan oil is free from any possible chemical residue leftover from the extraction process. No additives, preservatives or stablilizers are added at any point in the refining process. 

 

 

Whey Low® is an all-natural sugar alternative.

 

• Whey Low is a safe, all-natural blend of sugars.

• Replace sugar one for one in all foods without any recipe changes.

• Natural sugars in Whey Low inhibit absorption of dietary carbohydrates such as starch and sucrose.

• Whey Low helps Type 1 and 2 diabetics control after-meal blood sugar levels while managing healthy body weight. 

• Reduced insulin requirement means reduced stress on the already compromised pancreas of diabetics.

• Whey Low stimulates the healthful gut microflora that researchers claim improve immune system function.