Q: I read that vitamin E may help reduce blood clots. Since pecans are rich in vitamin E, could eating Georgia pecans provide a similar benefit?
A: They could, though that wasn't researched. In the study, which was part of the Women's Health Study, almost 40,000 women were given supplements of 600 International Units of natural source vitamin E every other day or a placebo. After following the women for almost 11 years, the researchers found that the women who took vitamin E had a 21% lower risk of developing blood clots in major veins or in the pulmonary artery. Blood clots like these can lead to heart attacks, strokes and sudden death. Though the findings were encouraging, experts say it's too soon to start taking E supplements, especially people taking blood thinning medications, like warfarin, since vitamin E could add to the medication's blood-thinning effects. Though lower doses of E weren't studied, it's possible that lower amounts could be effective, and getting plenty of vitamin E-rich foods like Georgia pecans is always a smart move. Besides, most health experts routinely recommended nutrient-rich whole foods, like pecans, over supplements. A study by the USDA found that pecans were the top nut for antioxidants, beating out almonds, peanuts, pistachios and walnuts. Natural vitamin E is well-recognized as an antioxidant vitamin that helps prevent damage caused by free radicals circulating in the bloodstream.
