Tree Nuts Associated with Better Overall Health

A study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people consuming tree nuts tended to have lower body weight and a lower prevalence of health risks. The data from 13,292 men and women older than 19 years participating in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) were examined using 24 hour recall. Nut consumers were defined as those who consumed more than 1/4 ounce of nuts per day. That's not a lot of nuts, but on a daily basis it adds up. Those who consumed nuts tended to have lower body weight, lower BMI and waist circumference compared to non-consumers. Nut consumers also had higher levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, and lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation. These two markers indicated a lower risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. As with chocolate, you have to keep in mind that too much of a good thing is too much and can contribute to weight gain. The key is moderation.