The dried fruit that improves the hormones that regulate hunger

The peanuts They are well known for their health benefits as they are high in protein and high in healthy fats. They can also promote satiety, which could help curb hunger and stimulate weight control.

A new investigation of the University of South Australia (UniSA) shows that people who have eaten almonds their levels of hormones that regulate appetite improved compared to those who consumed a high-carb bar.

The study, funded by the California Almond Board, was recently published in the European Journal of Nutrition and spread throughout the world.

How the almond study was done

For the study, the researchers measured participants’ energy intake in kilojoules (kJ): 1 calorie equals 4 kilojoules.

The study involved 140 adults aged 25 to 65 with obesity and overweight.

After fasting overnight, participants were randomly assigned a snack: 68 people received almonds and the other 72 received a similar high-carb calorie bar.

After measuring the participants’ hormonal changes, the researchers asked them about theirs perceived appetite 30 minutes, 1 hour, 90 minutes and 2 hours later.

Next, they offered 97 of the participants an all-you-can-eat buffet, during which their calorie intake was assessed. Of these people, 49 had consumed almonds and 48 snacks.

Participants were given 30 minutes to eat as much as they wanted and were immediately asked about their appetite.

Specialists found no significant difference in the number of calories consumed at the buffet between those who ate almonds and those who ate a high-carb bar.

Impact of almonds on energy consumption

With levels of overweight and obesity rising, health and nutrition experts are looking for effective strategies to help people lose weight. consume fewer calories.

The corresponding author Alison Coates, Professor of Human Nutrition at UniSAtold to Medical News Today that more studies monitoring daily energy intake for almond consumption versus carbohydrate equivalent snacks are needed to adequately measure the long-term effects on weight management.

Changes in hunger hormones

The study shows that the almond snack had a effect on various hunger hormones.

The answers of the C-peptide they were reduced by 47% in the almond group. This hormone reflects the level of insulin produced by the pancreas and lower levels can increase insulin sensitivity, causing development of diabetes Y cardiovascular disease (CVD) is less likely, the study reports.

Other glucose-dependent hormones that suppress appetite were also increased in almond eaters.

For example, they explain, glucagon levels which induce satiety increased by 39%. Responses of pancreatic polypeptides that delay digestion and therefore food consumption increased by 45%.

and levels of insulinotropic polypeptide dependent on glucose, which regulates a person’s weight and food intake, increased by 18%, the research adds.

Note that this is not an effect unique to almonds, as noted by previous research consuming walnuts or pistachios produces similar results in hormones that regulate appetite.

Conclusion of the expert on the study

In any case, although the study participants he did not consciously report feeling less hungryfor the authors it is not something that attracts attention.

“Only a handful of studies have previously tested the role of nut consumption in appetite control. However, not all studies have reported the beneficial effects of nut consumption on appetite-regulating hormones with different responses, perhaps due to differences in the study and the health status of those participating in the trials,” Coates said. study manager.

The study also notes that people who are overweight or obese can develop it resistance to hormones that regulate appetitesomething like a “mismatch” between hormonal signals and perception.

In conclusion, they determine that appetite itself is complex, and some nuances in the findings only set a course for the need to better look at hormone levels and other factors that determine hunger levels and what people choose to eat.