If you’re obese, including almonds in your daily diet can help to prevent diabetes and heart disease.
Almonds are popular and affordable. Aside from being delicious, they also contain antioxidants, promote skin health, lower cholesterol, and aid digestion.
But for obese people, almonds have far more benefits and should be incorporated into their daily diet.
Almonds Can Help Prevent Diabetes and Heart Disease in Obese People
A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in January 2023 by researchers from India’s Foods Nutrition and Dietetics Research unit clarified the effectiveness of almonds in reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease in obese people.
The study investigated the effectiveness of almonds in reducing insulin resistance and improving lipid profiles in overweight people.
A total of over 350 overweight or obese volunteers (body mass index 23 kg/m2) aged 25 to 65 years were enrolled in this 12-week randomized, controlled trial in Chennai, India. The experiment group ate 43 grams of almonds per day, while the control group was told to eat a normal diet while avoiding nuts.
The researchers evaluated the participants’ anthropometric, clinical, and dietary data at various points throughout the experimental period. In addition, indicators related to diabetes development were evaluated.
The study discovered that participants who ate almonds on a daily basis saw significant improvements in reliable indicators of pancreatic-cell function and risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, which included elevated oral insulin disposition index, decreased insulin resistance index, and total cholesterol. Furthermore, participants who consumed almonds reduced their carbohydrate intake as a result of the nut consumption.
