Almonds could lower risk of type 2 diabetes

Consuming more almonds and almond-based foodstuffs could help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to new research.
A study by scientists at Loma Linda University in California, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that people who eat a diet containing a lot of almonds experienced a rise in their insulin sensitivity as well as lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, both common risk factors in the development of type 2 diabetes .
The researchers compared levels of cholesterol and insulin in a group of people who had consume 20 per cent of their total daily calorie intake from almonds against a control group that were assigned no special dietary instructions. The study revealed that the most gains in cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity were from the group who consumed the almond-rich diet.
Michelle Wie, who led the study, commented “We have made great strides in chronic disease research from evidence of effective treatment to evidence of effective prevention.”
She added “It is promising for those with risk factors for chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, that dietary changes may help to improve factors that play a potential role in the disease development.”