{"id":20301,"date":"2025-03-17T23:06:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T23:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=20301"},"modified":"2025-03-17T23:06:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T23:06:31","slug":"swapping-snacks-with-pecans-may-improve-cholesterol-diet-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/swapping-snacks-with-pecans-may-improve-cholesterol-diet-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Swapping Snacks With Pecans May Improve Cholesterol, Diet Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A recent Penn State study shows that replacing daily snacks with pecans can improve cholesterol levels and overall diet quality, particularly for adults at risk of metabolic syndrome.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Swapping daily snacks with pecans can enhance cholesterol levels and overall diet quality, according to new research from Penn State&#8217;s Department of Nutritional Sciences. The randomized controlled trial involved adults either living with or at risk for metabolic syndrome \u2014 a cluster of conditions that increase the risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study included 138 participants, aged 25 to 70, divided into two groups: one substituting their daily snacks with two ounces of pecans, and the other continuing with their usual diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 12 weeks, those who consumed pecans showed significant improvements in several cholesterol metrics, including reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Replacing typical snacks with pecans improved key risk factors for heart disease including blood cholesterol levels and diet quality,\u201d co-author Kristina Petersen, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, said in a news release. \u201cThese results add to the large evidence-base supporting the cardiovascular benefits of nuts and add additional insights into how adults can incorporate nuts into their diet to improve the overall quality of their diet.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants who consumed pecans also saw a 17% increase in diet quality, based on adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This improvement included higher intakes of essential yet often under-consumed food groups like plant proteins and seafood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LDL cholesterol, often referred to as \u201cbad cholesterol,\u201d can accumulate in the arteries, presenting risks of stroke and heart attack. HDL, known as \u201cgood cholesterol,\u201d helps carry cholesterol back to the liver for elimination. Triglycerides, while essential for energy storage and metabolism, also contribute to cardiovascular risk when levels are too high. Thus, reducing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides alongside improving the LDL-to-HDL ratio are crucial steps for heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study&#8217;s authors noted that the presence of chemical compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, such as polyphenols found in pecans, may support endothelial function \u2014 essential in maintaining healthy blood vessels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the study did not find differences in vascular health outcomes between the two groups, the researchers emphasized the potential benefits of incorporating polyphenol-rich foods, like pecans, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, into one&#8217;s diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The improved diet quality among pecan snackers \u2014 including a higher percentage of calories from polyunsaturated fats and increased fiber and polyphenols \u2014 likely also contributed to the observed cholesterol improvements, particularly the LDL-lowering effects,&#8221; Petersen added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0002916525000577\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that replacing everyday snacks with pecans is a simple yet effective dietary change that could yield significant health benefits, particularly for individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This study, supported by the Clinical Research Center at Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute and funded by the American Pecan Council, adds a new dimension to our understanding of the cardiovascular benefits of nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psu.edu\/news\/health-and-human-development\/story\/replacing-other-snacks-pecans-may-improve-cholesterol-diet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Penn State University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swapping daily snacks with pecans can enhance cholesterol levels and overall diet quality, according to new research from Penn State&#8217;s Department of Nutritional Sciences. The randomized controlled trial involved adults either living with or at risk for metabolic syndrome \u2014 a cluster of conditions that increase the risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[140],"class_list":["post-20301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-food-nutrition","tag-penn-state-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Swapping daily snacks with pecans can enhance cholesterol levels and overall diet quality, according to new research from Penn State&#8217;s Department of Nutritional Sciences. The randomized controlled trial involved adults either living with or at risk for metabolic syndrome \u2014 a cluster of conditions that increase the risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20301"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20306,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20301\/revisions\/20306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}