Pecans and Health

Pecans and Health

If you're looking for a low-calorie food, you should steer clear of pecans. One pound of pecans rings up an amazing 3,633 calories.

These nuts have a fat content of nearly seventy percent, the highest of all nuts, which is one reason why early Native American generations relied upon them heavily as a sustaining food source. This high oil content also makes it a useful ingredient for those on a low-carbohydrate diet.

On the plus side, the fat in pecans is primarily unsaturated which has been shown to help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.

Pecans are very rich in pyridoxine, more commonly known as vitamin B₆, a vitamin important to regeneration of cells in diseased hearts. Along with vitamin B₆, pecans are also a good source of thiamine, zinc, copper, potassium, and iron.

More about Pecans:

• Pecan Selection and Storage
• Pecan Equivalents, Measures, Substitutions, and Cooking Tips
• Pecan Harvesting, Sizes, and Grades
• Pecan History
• Pecan Legend and Lore
• Pecans and Health
• Pecan Recipes
_{Pecans Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.}