The low carb snack you can eat on the run...
A new study by researchers at Loma Linda University in California
has found that snacking doesn't have to be bad for you, especially
if your preference is for almonds.
The study found that when individuals added almonds as a snack
to their regular diet, their overall intake of several important
nutrients increased.
Researchers followed eighty-one men and women, ranging in age
from 25 to 70 years old, for one year, to evaluate the long-term
impact of a diet supplemented with almonds.
During the first six months, patients in the study followed their
standard diet. For the next six months, they added an average of
52 grams of almonds per day (approximately two one-ounce handfuls)
to their routine.
After incorporating almonds into their diets, patients demonstrated
a significant increase in their intake of several nutrients, including
monounsaturated fats (42 per cent), polyunsaturated fats (24 per
cent), dietary fiber (12 per cent), vegetable protein (19 per cent),
alpha-tocopherol vitamin E (66 per cent), magnesium (23 per cent),
and copper (15 per cent).
Moreover, researchers found a decrease in patients' intake of
trans fats (14 per cent), sodium (21 per cent), cholesterol (17
per cent) and sugars (13 per cent).
Those who ate almonds tend to naturally balance
their calorie intake. So, even though they were introducing an additional
food into their repertoire, they were making appropriate dietary
substitutions so there was not a significant change in body weight.
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Reference
Jaceldo-Siegl K, Sabate J, Rajaram S, Fraser GE. (2004). Long-term
almond supplementation without advice on food replacement induces
favourable nutrient modifications to the habitual diets of free-living
individuals. Br
J Nutr. 2004 Sep;92(3):533-40
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