6 New Reasons to Eat Almonds


Nutritionists are having a love affair with almonds. Next week at the American Society of Nutrition annual meeting, researchers are set to present six new studies on the health benefits of noshing on almonds. 

Patience isn’t our strongest virtue, so we got a peek at the findings—and we’re sharing them with you. Check out these six new science-backed bennies of our favorite snack:

Less Belly Fat
Belly fat does more than look bad. It hangs around your organs and ups your risk of chronic disease. Luckily, a new Penn State study of 52 adults with elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol, people who ate 1.5 ounces a day of almonds for six weeks reduced their belly fat and waist circumference more than those had a high-carbohydrate, calorie-matched snack.

Lower Cholesterol
Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, that is. People who eat almonds are 44 percent less likely to have elevated LDL compared to those who don’t get their almonds on, according to a new Louisiana State University study of 24,808 adults.

Fewer Cravings 
Snack on this: Eating 1.5 ounces of dry-roasted, lightly salted almonds daily helped curb participants’ appetites and regulate their blood sugar, per a new Purdue University study of 137 adults.

Less Inflammation 
In a new Chinese study, type 2 diabetics who ate 1.5 ounces of almonds each day for three months dramatically improved their bodies’ levels of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Healthier Baby Bumps
More than half of women gain too much weight during pregnancy, increasing their odds of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia. But almonds might help. A new study of overweight and obese women by California researchers shows that eating 2 ounces of almonds improves satiety, reduces appetite, and may promote healthy weight gain during pregnancy. 

More from Women’s Health:
The Healthy Snack That Crushes Cravings 
How to Make your Own Almond Milk at Home
The Newest Superfood That Helps You Live Longer