New study supports daily almonds as part of heart-healthy diet
“Effect of Almond Consumption on the Serum Fatty Acid Profile: A Dose-Response Study,” a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, found that participants who ate almonds as part of a heart-healthy diet significantly improved certain factors associated with heart disease risk. Researchers estimated that for every 30 g. increase (approximately 1 oz.) of almonds consumed daily during the study, study participants’ estimated 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk score was reduced by 3.5%.
The randomized, controlled clinical study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, included 27 adult participants (mean age of 64 years) with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol. Participants followed a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol that also included each of three dietary interventions for four weeks each in a crossover design.