The latest study on the health effects of eating almonds, pistachios, walnuts and other tree nuts shows that individuals who eat one ounce a week of these varieties have a seven percent lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Eating two ounces per week reduces the risk by 14 percent. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of health factors associated with substantially increased risks for cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.

The study, published on January 8, 2014, in the online journal PLOS One, included 803 Seventh-day Adventists who recorded their consumption of tree nuts and peanuts, and whether they were eaten together or separately. The researchers, from Loma Linda University, reported that while overall nut consumption was linked with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome, tree nuts specifically provide benefits independent of demographic, lifestyle and other dietary factors.

The study also showed that participants who ate the most tree nuts had a “significantly lower prevalence of obesity” compared to those whose nut consumption was low. In addition to almonds, walnuts and pistachios, tree nuts include Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans and pine nuts.

Source:
Karen Jaceldo-Siegl et al,“Tree Nuts Are Inversely Associated with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity:
The Adventist Health Study-2”.PLoS ONE 9(1): e85133. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085133