The research adds a new dimension to the existing research because it highlights the importance of long-term consumption of almonds for weight management.
In a study published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, Jaceldo-Siegl and colleagues found that long-term almond consumption was associated with maintenance of healthy weight.
Researchers specifically studied the impact of almond consumption on cholesterol levels for 81 men and women for 24 weeks. When free-living individuals added almonds to their diets (without being asked to compensate calorically by cutting other foods), they didn’t gain weight.
In this study, all participants followed their habitual diet for six months, after which they followed their habitual diet supplemented with almonds for six months. For the almond supplement intervention, participants were provided with their choice of dry roasted or raw almonds in the amount of 15% of their mean habitual energy intake.
Participants were free-living and compliance with the almond supplement was 90% according to reported intake. On average, daily almond supplementation was 52g.
Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board of California, said: “It’s important for Americans to look at their whole diet over time in relation to weight management, not just one meal. The healthy choices made at each occasion, on each day impact a person’s weight over time. For this reason, it is important that more long-term research be conducted to examine what those choices should be.”
Source: Almond Board of California
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