Eating a handful of pecans every day could protect your nervous system. A study suggests that adding pecans to your diet may delay the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration.
Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant found in pecans, and it may provide a key element to the neurological protection shown in the study. Pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut and are among the top 15 foods to contain the highest antioxidant capacity.
According to Eurekalert:
“Mice provided a diet supplemented with pecans displayed a significant delay in decline in motor function compared to mice receiving no pecans. Mice eating the diet with the most pecans (0.05 percent) fared best. Both pecan groups fared significantly better than those whose diets contained no pecans.”