Replacing usual snacks with almonds enhances nutritional quality.
Replacing usual snacks with almonds or adding a small portion of nuts to the daily diet can significantly enhance nutritional quality. This conclusion was reached by scientists who analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2023. The results were published in the journal Nutrients.
The authors analyzed the diets of 4,333 children and adolescents and 10,925 adults and modeled three scenarios: replacing all 'hard snacks' with almonds of equal caloric value, replacing only 'unhealthy' snacks with almonds while keeping 'healthy' ones, and adding 30 g or 50 g of almonds per day to the usual diet.
In the control group patients who followed standard recommendations without flaxseed, no such changes were recorded: on the contrary, they more frequently maintained elevated blood sugar and lipid levels. The authors note that the effect is associated with the high content of soluble fiber and bioactive compounds in flaxseed that influence metabolism.
Researchers emphasize that this is not about replacing medication therapy. However, adding a small amount of flaxseed can be considered a simple and accessible way to further support glucose and fat metabolism in people with diabetes, prediabetes, and overweight.
Leave a comment