CORVALLIS, Ore. – A daily dose of almonds improved key health markers for people with metabolic syndrome in a study led by scientists at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU College of Health.
The findings, published in Nutrition Research, showed that eating 2 ounces of almonds – about 45 nuts – daily led to signs of better cardiometabolic and gut health.
The research is important because almost 40% of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome has also recently been linked with cognitive dysfunction and dementia.
Patients are considered to have metabolic syndrome if they have at least three of the following: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of “good” cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides.
“Evidence suggests that people with metabolic syndrome are three times as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke and twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease compared to people without this condition,” said Emily Ho, director of the Linus Pauling Institute. “Poor diet and inactivity contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, and gut health and chronic inflammation may also play roles.”