San Saba Pecan - Nutrition Facts

		Nutrition Facts Why Pecans... ? Surprisingly to some, pecans are cholesterol friendly,
	and very nutritious. Native to North America, the pecan is a member of the hickory family and closely related to the walnut.

Here are some reasons why more and more people are going 'nuts' about the nut:

Pecans Double the Cholesterol-Lowering Effectiveness of a Traditional Low-Fat, Heart-Healthy Diet*

Rigorous new research from Loma Linda University recently found that a diet incorporating pecans (about a handful a day) significantly reduced cholesterol levels beyond that of a traditional American Heart Association (AHA) Step 1 diet. The pecan diet "outperformed" the AHA diet in several ways.

The pecan diet had more than double the cholesterol-lowering effectiveness of the AHA diet. The pecan diet (vs. the AHA diet) significantly lowered total and "bad" cholesterol while maintaining high levels of "good" cholesterol. The pecan diet did not raise triglyceride levels (often seen with low -fat diets).

	Total Cholesterol	Bad Cholesterol	Good Cholesterol	Triglycerides
Step 1 Diet	down 5.2%	down 6.7%	up 5%	up 4.8
PECAN DIET	down 11.3%	down 16.5%	up 1%	down 5.7%

*Rajaram, S., Burke, K., Connel, B., Myint, T., Sabate, J. A Monounsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Pecan-Enriched Diet Favorably Alters the Serum Lipid Profile of Healthy Men and Women. the Journal of Nutrition. September 2001. 131:275-2279

Pecans offer very good nutrition:

90% of the fats in pecans are unsaturated (about 60% monounsaturated/30% polyunsaturated)
A serving of pecans (30g) provides about 25 percent more oleic acid than a serving of olive oil (one tablespoon)
Cholesterol-free
Sodium-free
Fiber-rich
Valuable plant protein source
More than 19 vitamins & minerals
Excellent source of gamma tocopherol, an important type of vitamin E
Concentrated amounts of natural plant sterols, touted for their cholesterol-lowering ability
A variety of phytochemicals
Nuts are recommended by the American Heart Association and U.S. Dietary Guidelines as a desirable source of heart-healthy unsaturated fat

Flavor	Texture
Full, rich, meaty flavor of pecans is compatible with most foods	A variety of textures are available for any processed food, from traditional baked goods to entrees, candies and dairy items.
The natural flavor of pecans can be enhanced with salt, herbs, spices, sweeteners, flavorings or roasting.	Texture depends on the form of pecan chosen (e.g., pecan halves offer a crisp bite, while pecan meal offers no bite at all).
Aroma	Appearance/Color
The characteristically sweet odor is found primarily in pecan's oils.	Pecans are classified by the predominant color of their skin as specified by USDA standards - Light, Light Amber, Dark, Dark Amber.
This desirable aroma enhances the appeal of many finished products.	Courtesy of National Pecan Shellers

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