Eating nuts can stave off obesity risk

New York Sep 21 (IANS) Want to shed those extra kilos? Consume nuts such as almonds hazelnuts pistachios walnuts and peanuts in your diet as these can help you reduce weight as well as lower the risk of becoming being overweight and obese researchers say.

The findings showed that people who ate who ate nuts not only had less weight gain than their nut-abstaining peers but they also enjoyed a five per cent lower risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Many people have historically assumed that nuts -- an energy-dense high-fat food -- are not a good choice for individuals who want to lose weight. The findings however contradict that assumption said Joan Sabate director at the Loma Linda University in California US.

"The study confirms that nuts are not an obesogenic food " Sabate added in the paper published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

Further the researchers found that nuts are rich source of energy good fats protein vitamins minerals and phytochemicals.

Nuts are also associated with a variety of health benefits including healthy ageing and memory function especially in older adults.

"Eat nuts during your meal. Put them at the center of your plate to replace animal products. They re very satiating " Sabate suggested.

For the study the team evaluated diet and lifestyle data from more than 373 000 individuals from 10 European countries between the ages of 25 and 70.

--IANS
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