Recent research suggests that walnuts might help to fend off diabetes, with the study highlighting a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes among individuals who nibble on a handful of walnuts every day. This extensive research, encompassing over 34,000 adults, indicates a possible reduction of up to 50 per cent in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes for adults who include walnuts in their daily diet compared to those who do not consume nuts.
On average, walnut eaters were found to be consuming about 1.5 tablespoons daily. If they doubled their walnut intake to three tablespoons each day, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes could potentially decrease by 47 per cent.
This quantity aligns closely with the recommended serving size for walnuts, which is four tablespoons or one ounce.
While the study didn’t explore effects of walnut consumption beyond twice the usual intake, Dr Lenore Arab from the David Geffen School of Medicine at The University of California, Los Angeles, commented: “These findings provide more evidence for food-based guidance to help reduce the risk for diabetes.”
She further added: “The strong connection we see in this study between walnut consumers and lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes is additional justification for including walnuts in the diet. Other research has shown that walnuts may also be beneficial for cognitive function and heart health.”, reports Gloucestershire Live.
A study involving 34,121 adults aged between 18 and 85 has revealed that eating walnuts could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. The research, which used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), asked participants about their diet and whether they had been diagnosed with or were taking medication for diabetes.
The study also assessed participants for diabetes using common lab tests including fasting plasma glucose and haemoglobin A1c. It was found that those who reported eating walnuts had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those who didn’t eat any nuts, regardless of factors such as age, gender, race, education, BMI, and physical activity levels.
It’s well known that people with diabetes often have high blood pressure, cholesterol, or triglycerides, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Previous studies have looked at the link between walnut consumption and cardiovascular health as well as diabetes.
The researchers suggested that the health benefits of walnuts could be due to them being a rich source of recommended polyunsaturated fat (13 grams per ounce), which includes the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (2.5 grams per ounce).
The findings were published in the journal Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews.