A large-scale study into the impact of eating nuts has concluded that increased consumption can lead to reduced weight gain.
Published in the European Journal of Nutrition and co-funded by the International Nut and Dried Food Council, the research suggested that people who eat more nuts have a lower risk of becoming overweight or obese.
With a high carbohydrate and protein content, there is concern among consumers that significant nut consumption may led to weight gain. For that reason, the study aimed to analyse the effects of frequent nut intake into a normal diet.
The research is part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study which selected 373,293 participants from ten European countries to investigate the relationship between diet and cancer.
Body weight was measured at the beginning of the study and after a median follow-up of five years, and food consumption was assessed by country-specific questionnaires.
Results observed that those participants who consumed more nuts (more than one serving per week) gained less weight when compared to non-consumers.
Participants with a normal weight who consumed more nuts (6g a day) were found to have a 5% lower risk of becoming overweight or obese compared with non-nut consumers. At the same time, overweight individuals had a 5% lower risk of becoming obese.
Professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University and senior investigator of the research Dr. Joan Sabate said: “This is the largest study ever conducted showing that nuts are a non-fattening, healthy food.”
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