Nuts may lower your risk for heart disease

A 1 oz. serving of nuts five times a week was linked to a 14 percent drop in risk for heart attack and stroke, and a 20 percent reduction in occurrence of coronary heart disease in a new review of research involving more than 210,000 people. It was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Read more at The New York Times…

Natural products CEOs keep up with changes, even as Wall Street enters industry

The growth of natural foods in conventional and online retail, plus the involvement of Wall Street investors and Big Food acquirers, means that the future of the natural products business could look very different in the near future. One thing that execs say won't change, though, is the focus on consumers and what they really want. “Whole Foods got saved by Amazon, but it doesn’t mean Amazon is steering the boat,” said Mark Retzloff, co-founder of Alfalfa’s, Horizon Organic Dairy and Aurora Organic Dairy. “The consumer still steers the boat. You have to listen to them and understand how they get their products.” Read more at BizWest…

MIT researchers discover that probiotic could be used to fight high blood pressure

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics discovered that a probiotic can boost good bacteria in the gut that prevent pro-inflammatory immune cells from growing in number. The researchers found that giving both humans and mice probiotics before going on a high-salt diet kept their blood pressure at normal levels. The new study was published in Nature. Read more at Boston Globe…

Goop for men? This new site targets the $3.7 trillion wellness industry

Hims is a new wellness site for men that features articles on various health-related topics and a couple of hair loss and sexual health products that consumers can purchase directly. “Most guys who want to take care of themselves have to walk into Sephora,” says founder Andrew Dudum. Future product launches could include mouth and body hygiene products and supplements for general wellness, anxiety and sleep. Read more at Fast Company…

Conagra’s bet on frozen food appears to be paying off

A number of new products in Conagra’s Healthy Choice, Banquet and Marie Callender lines—like bowls and meals that include lean proteins and more vegetables—have led to growth for those brands. And CEO Sean Connolly expects the frozen category to continue growing as millennials focus on affordable, healthy and convenient options. Read more at CNBC…