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Pecans and Health

Pecans are full of fat, but it is good fat

By , About.com Guide

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Pecans

© 2006 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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 Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Cookbooks

Pecan Lovers' Cookbook
The Totally Nuts Cookbook
The Book of Edible Nuts
Nuts: Sweet and Savory Recipes from Diamond of California
More Cookbooks

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