When it comes to weight loss, nuts can get a bad reputation – while they’re high in protein, they’re also high in fat, and this often deters those looking to shed a few kilos. But new research from the University of South Australia shows that you can eat almonds and lose weight at the same time.
In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that including almonds in a restricted diet not only helped people lose weight, but also improved cardiovascular health. Examining the effects of energy-restricted diets supplemented with California almonds or carbohydrate-rich snacks, the researchers found that both diets reduced body weight by about 7 kg.
University of South Australia researcher Dr Sharaya Carter says the study shows how nuts can support a healthy diet for weight management and cardiovascular health.
“Nuts, like almonds, are a great snack. They are rich in protein and fiber and full of vitamins and minerals, but they are also high in fat, which people can associate with increased body weight,” he adds. But, he explains, “Nuts contain unsaturated fats – or healthy fats – which can improve blood cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and contribute to heart health. In this study, we examined the effects of an almond-supplemented diet with a nut-free diet to determine any effect.” On weight and cardio-metabolic results, this diet led to a decrease in body weight by approximately 9.3% during the trial.
According to the Science Daily website, diets supplemented with almonds also showed statistically significant changes that indicate the possibility of improving cardiovascular health in the long term. Not to mention, nuts have the added benefit of making you feel full longer, “which is always a good thing when you’re trying to control your weight.”
2023-09-24 05:20:53
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