Up until fairly recently, people who were trying to lose weight or simply follow a healthy diet were actively encouraged to stay away from nuts in any form. This was mostly due to concerns that these nuts were high-fat, calorie-dense foods which would cause set-backs in weight loss efforts. Now, though, as researchers learn more about the benefits of this nuts, this attitude is thankfully changing.
Why Tree Nuts Help with Weight Loss and Longevity
Increasingly, tree nuts like pecans and macadamia nuts are being linked not only to increased longevity but as extremely effective aids to weight loss. This is largely because these nuts are loaded with healthful fats that are needed by your body it is to function at its best. Also, to lose weight and to keep it off, you need to transition your body from sugar- to fat-burning mode and supplying it with a ready source of these healthful fats is a good weigh to begin that process. Swapping out the simple sugars and refined grains in your diet and adding these healthful fats in the form of nuts is a great first step towards a healthier lifestyle.
The New Harvard Study
This large-scale, 30-year-old study, recently published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, found that people who ate small amounts of nuts at least seven times weekly were 20% less likely to die from any cause than those who did not get a regular intake of nuts. They also found that these nut eaters tended to exercise more regularly, eat more fruits and vegetables as well, and also take more vitamins, herbs and other dietary supplements. Even those who ate nuts one to five times a week saw a significant drop in mortality rates.
Study Flaws
This study was not perfect and did have some flaws which some nutritionists found concerning. For instance, this study included all types of nuts, including peanuts which some feel is not as healthy for you as regular nuts. It also did distinguish between whether the nuts in question were raw or roasted or prepared in some other way, which can affect the nutritional value. However, the study outlined below seems to back up the claim that regular nut consumption is healthy.
In this corroborating study, it was found that women who followed a Mediterranean diet rich in both nuts and vegetables were forty percent more likely to survive longer and without as many chronic diseases or mental deterioration like dementia. It was believed that both the healthful fats and antioxidants in this diet were responsible for this difference.
So don’t avoid nuts in your diet, even if you are trying to lose weight. Yes, they are calorie dense and high in fat, but the fat is the healthiest kind for you and even though it is high in calories, it can still help you to shed unwanted pounds in a simple and delicious way.
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