Consuming tree nuts could help lower obesity risk

A new study has linked tree nut intake with lower risks of obesity.

Researchers at Loma Linda University studied 803 Seventh-day Adventist adults using a validated food frequency questionnaire and assessed both tree nut and peanut intake together and separately.

Mean tree nut (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts), intake was 16 grams/day among the high tree nut consumers and 5 grams/day among low tree nut consumers.

Lead researcher Karen Jaceldo-Siegl, DrPH, said that their results showed that one serving (28g or 1 ounce) of tree nuts per week was significantly associated with 7 per cent less metabolic syndrome (MetS).

MetS is a cluster of risk factors shown to be associated with death, a twofold increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and a fivefold increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

Jaceldo-Siegl said that doubling this consumption could potentially reduce MetS risk by 14 per cent, asserting that while overall nut consumption was associated with lower prevalence of MetS, tree nuts specifically appear to provide beneficial effects on MetS, independent of demographic, lifestyle and other dietary factors.

Dr. Jaceldo-Siegl said that they also found that high tree nut consumers had significantly lower prevalence of obesity compared to the low tree nut consumers.

A new study has been published online in the journal PLOS ONE.