The Asian Age

‘ Almonds in diet keep heart in good health’

- SHASHI BHUSHAN

A new review by a panel of experts in the field of nutrition and cardiovasc­ular disease ( CVD), published in the journal Nutrients, suggests that daily inclusion of almonds as part of a healthy diet — may help in to reduce dyslipidem­ia, one of the most important risk factors for cardiovasc­ular disease among Indians.

Dyslipidem­ia is a condition marked by high LDLcholest­erol and triglyceri­de levels and low HDL cholestero­l levels. The review was funded by the Almond Board of California.

According to the lead author of study, Dr. Soumik Kalita, daily consumptio­n of 45 grams of almonds can help reduce dyslipidem­ia, one of the most important risk factors for cardiovasc­ular disease in the Indian population.

"Typically, dietary strategies to reduce harmful LDL- cholestero­l, such as decreasing saturated fat, also reduce beneficial HDL cholestero­l, but that is not the case with almonds.

A recent systematic review that examined the breadth of studies on almonds and blood lipid levels showed that eating almonds results in significan­t reductions in total cholestero­l and harmful LDL- cholestero­l and triglyceri­de levels, while having no impact on beneficial HDL- cholestero­l levels," said Dr Kalita.

Experts claimed that numerous studies worldwide have shown that almonds have the potential to help improve blood cholestero­l levels.

The health benefits of almonds are thought to be due to their fat profile ( predominan­tly monoand poly- unsaturate­d fats i. e. good fats), antioxidan­t vitamin E, dietary fiber, and other important nutrients.

"To put it into perspectiv­e, cholestero­l is not all bad. HDL, infact, has protective properties and reduces the risk of disease.

A large multicente­r study done in India estimated that nearly 72 per cent of Indians have low HDL- C levels," Dr Kalita added.

Dr Kalita explained that many clinical studies, including those in the review and several among Indian population­s specifical­ly, have shown the role of almonds in lowering LDL- cholestero­l levels. "Studies have also looked at the effect of almonds on beneficial HDL cholestero­l, with results showing that consumptio­n of almonds can help maintain or even increase levels." said Dr. Kalita. heart Ghazipur, April 28: The cleric of the madrasa at Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, where a minor girl was allegedly raped, was sent to oneday police custody by a Delhi court, on Saturday.

He was arrested under POCSO Act on Friday.

A juvenile allegedly kidnapped the 12- yearold victim and raped her at the madrasa.

Advocate Sharfuddin Zakariya, representi­ng the cleric, told reporters, "The ( cleric) is saying he is innocent, he is just the owner of the madrasa."

Police told the court that to carry out an investigat­ion inside the madarsa where the incident took place, they would need the cleric along with them.

According to reports, the girl went missing after she went to the market on April 21.

After a case was registered in this regard by the victim's father, the police found a CCTV footage in which the accused was seen taking the girl along with him.

The police subsequent­ly traced the juvenile and apprehende­d him, they and rescued the girl, on April 22. — ANO

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