People who want to lose weight and control cholesterol level need to eat a walnut-rich diet- states a new study. Research also shows that these nuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats and about 60 gms walnuts daily helps to lower the chances of cardiovascular diseases as well.
Lead author of the study, Dr Cheryl Rock at University of California showed his surprise at the findings and said,” Considering the results of this study, as well as previous walnut research on heart health and weight, there’s something to be said for eating a handful of walnuts a day”. Rock further stated,” One of the surprising findings of this study was even though walnuts are higher in fat and calories, the walnut-rich diet was associated with the same degree of weight loss as a lower fat diet”.
To ensure this conclusion, team studied 245 overweight people aged between 22 and 72, who participated in a one year weight loss programme. They were randomly asked to have three different diets. A lower carbohydrate and higher fat diet, a lower fat and higher carbohydrate diet and a walnut-rich in higher fat and lower carbohydrate diet.
They consumed around 43g of the walnuts a day – about a handful and a half. After six months of the dieting plan, people lost an average of almost eight per cent of their initial weight. Looking at the data from the last six months of the study, researchers conclude that people who ate a walnut-rich diet not only lost huge amount of weight to the other groups but also exhibit more positive changes in their cholesterol levels when compared to the other two groups.
In result, the level of bad ‘LDL’ cholesterol decreased, while good ‘HDL’ cholesterol increased. Recent research from Harvard also shows people who consume polyunsaturated fats instead of saturated fats may live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease.
So forget those salads and green tea, scoff a handful of walnuts now!
