Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines (PDF, 3MB) - Eat For Health

2.4.2.5 Nuts and seedsConsumption of nuts and seeds may help reduce the risk of heart disease and is not associatedwith weight gain if total energy (kilojoule) intake is controlled. Since the previous dietaryguidelines, the evidence for the benefits of consumption of nuts and seeds on heart disease hasbeen shown to be related to favourable effects on serum cholesterol. The evidence on lack ofassociation with weight gain is a new development.2.4.2.5.1 Nuts and Seeds: Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and excessweightCardiovascular disease: Evidence suggests that consumption of nuts (65–110g per day) isassociated with a reduction in serum cholesterol, a surrogate marker for cardiovascular disease(Grade C, Section 8.2 in Evidence Report [14]) [352-356].Excess weight: Evidence suggests that the consumption of nuts (65–110g per day) does not leadto weight gain, at least in the short term (Grade C, Section 8.1 in Evidence Report [14]) [353-358].2.4.2.5.2 Nuts and Seeds: CancerNo recent studies investigating the association of consumption of nuts and seeds were identified[14].2.4.2.6 Legumes/beansFew studies on legumes/bean foods, other than soy foods, were identified in the literature reviewto inform the review of these dietary guidelines. For the evidence regarding legumes/beans, seeSection 7 in the Evidence Report [14].2.4.3 How eating lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, nutsand seeds, and legumes/beans may improve healthoutcomesThis is such a broad and diverse group of foods that a variety of possible mechanisms mayinfluence the effects of their consumption.DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 56