Four new science-backed reasons to nosh on more almonds

Everyone's raving about the nutritional benefits of almonds right now. At a recent American Society Nutrition annual meeting, researchers presented six new super-interesting studies on the health benefits of munching on almonds.

I took a look at the findings and am going to share four of them with you. Read on for some seriously eye-opening, science-backed bennies of my all-time favourite snack!

Four awesome health benefits of almonds

#1: Almonds lower your cholesterol
Almonds lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels. People who eat almonds regularly are in fact 44% less likely to have very high LDL cholesterol levels compared to those who don’t, according to a Louisiana State University study that looked at 24,808 adult subjects.
 
#2: Almonds reduce belly fat
Belly fat doesn’t only make you look and feel uncomfortable about your weight… it also boosts your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Luckily, a Penn State study found that people who ate 42 g of almonds each day for six weeks decreased their belly fat more than those who snacked on high-carbohydrate, calorie-matched snacks.

 
#3: Almonds keep cravings at bay
Eating 42 g of dry-roasted, lightly salted almonds every day will help you satisfy your cravings and even regulate your blood sugar levels, per a Purdue University study that included 137 adult subjects.
 
#4: Almonds calm inflammation
A Chinese study uncovered that people with type 2 diabetes who eat 42 g of almonds every day for three months can significantly improve the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in their bodies; both of hallmarks of chronic diseases like arthritis and cancer.
 
Happy snacking!

Tags: almonds, almonds health benefits, nuts, superfoods, healthy eating, healthy snacks, nutrition tips