Nuts are often considered a high fat food and they are concentrated sources of energy. Due to this, they are often thought to promote weight gain. But an interesting study found that the higher the consumption of nuts in the study participants the lower the prevalence of obesity.
This study looked specifically at tree nuts and peanuts (though actually a legume). They found that the participants eating high amounts of tree nuts and low amounts of peanuts had the lowest prevalence of obesity. While the participants consuming low amounts of both tree nuts and peanuts had the highest prevalence of obesity.
Other studies have shown that weight tends to be lower in individuals who eat more nuts versus those who eat less. Additionally, when nuts were added to the diets of participants in another study, they didn’t gain weight.
So, though nuts are a concentrated food, they are not necessarily a cause for weight gain. Additionally, they present many benefits for cardiovascular disease and even potential benefits for brain health.
Text: Theresa Nybo
Reference:
Jaceldo-Siegl, K., Haddad, E., Oda, K., Fraser, G. E., and Sabaté, J. (2014) Tree Nuts Are Inversely Associated with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: The Adventist Health Study-2. PLOS ONE. January 2014, vol. 9, issue 1, e85133