Nuts about nuts? Researchers in the USA - famed for its love of pecan pies - have discovered that eating these North American nuts every day can help prevent obesity and ward off certain diseases, such as fatty liver and diabetes
As well as being highly nutritious, pecans have been found to boost total daily energy expenditure (the number of calories you burn in a 24-hour period) - and help balance the gut microbiome.
They have also been shown to reduce inflammation, which is one of the key markers for disease.
The study confirmed that pecans can help the body break down fats and reduce oxidative stress in the liver and skeletal muscle.
A new superfood
Pecans were found to help maintain body weight and prevent diabetes - even in high fat diets.
They were also show to reduce low-grade inflammation that leads to chronic inflammation and the development of a range of prevalent diseases.
Thanks to their new-found functionality, researchers are now hailing pecans a new superfood.
They can be eaten in their natural state or added as an ingredient to functional foods and dietary supplements - so watch this space for new pecan products coming to market!
"Obesity and diabetes numbers are increasing in modern society worldwide, and the trend in high fat diet consumption is one of the main reasons besides lifestyle and genetic predisposition," says Dr Luis Cisneros-Zevallos Ph.D of Texas A&M AgriLife who led the study.
"People are searching for healthier options, and we have now shown pecans are a healthy tool consumers have in their hands."
Pick up pecans and other feel-good foods from the likes of Holland & Barrett, Amazon or Grape Tree.
Discover more benefits of eating pecans here.
Click here for pecan recipes.
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