Australia (Commonwealth Union) – As the rates of obesity continue to rise, the impact of obesity on a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and more, continue to be a concern for health officials worldwide.
Research from the University of South Australia (UniSA) found how a handful of almonds can be a major calorie controller. Studying the impact of almonds on appetite, researchers discovered that a snack of 30-50 grams of almonds can assist in cutting back on the number of kilojoules consumed every day. The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, indicated that individuals consuming almonds, as opposed to energy packed carbohydrate foods, saw a reduction of their energy intake by 300 kilojoules, where majority of it came from junk food at the subsequent meal.
Dr Sharayah Carter, of the UniSA’s Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) indicated that the study provides valuable knowledge for weight management. “Rates of overweight and obesity are a major public health concern and modulating appetite through better hormonal response may be key to promoting weight management,” she said, further pointing out that their study evaluated the hormones that regulate appetite, and ways nuts, like almonds can play a role in appetite control. “We found that people who ate almonds experienced changes in their appetite-regulating hormones, and that these may have contributed to reduced food intake (by 300kJ),” Dr. Carter added.
In Australia, 12.5 million adults are overweight or obese and across the world, 1.9 billion adults are overweight, with 650 million who are obese.
The study demonstrates that eating almonds produce minor changes to a person’s energy intake, which Dr Carter states may have long term clinical effects. “Even small, positive lifestyle changes can have an impact over a longer period. When we’re making small, sustainable changes, we’re more likely to be improving our overall health in the long run,” she noted.
