Almonds Are Alright
Posted Sept 7, 2011
MODESTO, Calif. - The biggest-ever almond harvest in California's Central Valley has started amid yet more evidence that the nuts can help keep people healthy.
A recent study suggests that including almonds in the diet could help people manage their weight over the long term.
The study was published in the June issue of Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases by Karen Jaceldo-Siegl of Loma Linda University and her colleagues.
A key point is that the study participants who boosted their almond intake "were not counseled to reduce their intake of other foods," said Jenny Heap, manager of health professional marketing for the Almond Board of California, in an e-mail Tuesday.
The Modesto, Calif.-based board urges people to eat an ounce of almonds a day - about 23 nuts. Its marketing efforts have helped boost consumption of a food that used to have a reputation as a fatty indulgence.
Many studies have suggested various health benefits for almonds and walnuts, both major crops in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
"The healthy choices made at each occasion, on each day, impact a person's weight over time," said Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board, in a news release. "For this reason, it is important that more long-term research be conducted to examine what those choices should be."
©2011 The Modesto Bee (Modesto, Calif.) Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.