Almonds improve diet quality
A new study published in Nutrition Research has found that adding a moderate amount of almonds to the family diet significantly improves overall diet quality and modulated intestinal microbiota composition in study participants.
The health benefits of almonds have been well established and are recommended as a non-dairy protein source as part of a healthy dietary pattern. Due to their high content of fibre, vitamin E, unsaturated fats and flavonoids, almonds offer potential for changing gut microbiota, which may in turn impact immunity, inflammation and general health.
This is the first study of its kind investigating the effects of dietary change on digestive health and immune function in parent-child pairs.
“The findings suggest that participants replaced some of their empty calorie snacks with almonds, which has important implications since snacking has become so prevalent,” says Wendy Dahl, associate professor at the University of Florida and contributing researcher on the study.
Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, professor at University of Florida and principal investigator of the study, adds, “Choosing almonds as a snack may be a simple strategy to establish healthy eating patterns in children and an achievable way to improve public health.”
These new findings are in line with the more than 120 peer-reviewed studies to date which together support the benefits of almonds for heart health, diabetes and weight management when eaten as part of a healthy diet.
