Pecan
Pecan
Pecan, is also known as hickory nut, bitternut, mockernut, nutmeg or shagbark nut.
Nutritional Benefit of Pecans:
According to article on “Nourish by WebMD”, Pecans,
1. Keep your heart healthy. Pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help lower blood pressure. Most of the fat found in pecans is a healthy type called monounsaturated fat. Eating foods with monounsaturated fat instead of foods high in saturated fats (like potato chips) can help lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol. Keeping your LDL cholesterol low cuts down your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
2. Manage diabetes. Studies have shown that nuts can help prevent heart disease in people with diabetes. Snacking on an ounce of nuts when hungry helps you feel full, making it easier to avoid high-carb foods and keep blood sugars in check. Pecans have a very low glycaemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycaemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.
3. Relief arthritis. Pecans contain Omega-3 fats, which can help ease the pain of arthritis by reducing inflammation. The magnesium, calcium, fibre, vitamin E, and zinc in pecans also give the nuts anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Prevent diseases, support your immune system. Vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc, which are all found in pecans, support your immune system so that your body can fight off infections and repair damage. Pecans also provide folate, which can guard against changes to your DNA that might otherwise lead to cancer. Antioxidants can help protect the body from the cell damage that causes Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cancers. The USDA has ranked over 100 foods by antioxidant levels, and pecans made the top 20.