Eating walnuts may not cause weight gain: Study


Team Udayavani, Oct 17, 2018, 2:45 PM IST

Los Angeles: A diet rich in walnuts may not lead to weight gain or increase the risk of obesity, a study conducted in healthy elders claims.

The study, published in the journal Nutrients, found that healthy elders consuming nearly 300 calories of walnuts daily did not show any negative effects on body weight and composition.

The findings by researchers at Loma Linda University (LLU) in the US also expand the knowledge of how nuts can affect the independently living, predominantly healthy, elderly people.

“There is a widespread fallacy that the fats in nut cause weight gain, and therefore could lead to issues such as obesity, or other weight-related health issues such as heart disease or diabetes,” said Edward Bitok, an assistant professor at Loma Linda University.

“The research, however, shows that nuts are a healthful snack,” Bitok said.

During the study, healthy elders — with mean age of 69 years and 67 per cent women — were randomly assigned to walnut or control diets.

Subjects in the walnut group received packaged walnuts, about 2856 grammes per day, to incorporate into their habitual diet, while those in the control group abstained from walnuts.

After two years, no significant differences were noticed between the control and walnut groups regarding body weight or body fat, researchers said.

“Because of their high energy content, many people have believed the misconception that nuts cause unwanted weight gain, and avoid them altogether,” said Bitok.

“This study helps us understand more about good fats versus bad fats and disproves the idea that the fats in nuts are unhealthy and cause weight-gain,” he said.

The study was a sub-study of the Walnuts and Healthy Aging Study (WAHA), the first large study to test if walnuts play a part in healthy ageing.

The WAHA study tested how daily consumption of walnuts was associated with age-related cognitive decline and macular degeneration in seniors.

Prior studies examining walnut consumption and body weight have focused on younger individuals and for shorter durations, researchers said. 

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

UP: 25 people booked for attacking civic officials for encroachment removal

SC transfers cheating case against choreographer Remo D’Souza to Delhi court

Fishing vessel collides with naval platform off Goa coast; 2 fishermen missing

‘Nation First’ key to India’s progress, says President Murmu

Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra slams Cong govt over Waqf notices to farmers, fund crunch

Man declared dead wakes up before cremation, 3 doctors suspended in Rajasthan

Teen stabs man to death at railway station in Mumbai after quarrel over local train seat

Related Articles More

10 month baby gets new heart, new life

World COPD Day: Know your lung function

As Delhi chokes with dangerous pollution levels, doctors warn of health risks for all

World Diabetes Day 2024: Kasturba Hospital Manipal Hosts Zumba Session at Malpe Beach to Raise Diabetes Awareness

World Diabetes Day: An overview of types of diabetes

MUST WATCH

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava

Naxal Operation


Latest Additions

Markets stage sharp recovery; Sensex reclaims 79k level, Nifty surges 557.35 points

UP: 25 people booked for attacking civic officials for encroachment removal

SC transfers cheating case against choreographer Remo D’Souza to Delhi court

Fishing vessel collides with naval platform off Goa coast; 2 fishermen missing

BGT Day 1: Bumrah leads India’s spectacular bowling comeback after batting no-show

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.