I am wildly enthusiastic about eating nuts because the science behind this delectable food group is simply glorious. And just when I thought it could not get any better, scientists have uncovered yet another reason to be nuts about nuts. Because past studies had indicated that nuts provide protection against metabolic syndrome (MetS), scientists sought to investigate if eating nuts could lead to measurable improvements in standard markers of metabolic health. For the study they placed 21 MetS patients on a nut-enriched diet (about an ounce or handful a day) and compared them to a control group of MetS patients who did not eat nuts. At the end of the study, the nut eaters experienced several measurable improvements in metabolic health. An intriguing and unexpected finding was that the nut eaters had an increase in their serotonin levels. Serotonin is the body’s “feel happy” hormone that also plays a role in quieting appetite. In a nutshell — nuts are “real” good mood foods that are great for your waistline and your health! (Journal of Proteome Research, November 2011)

RELATED

The Benefits of Nuts [VIDEO]

A Prescription for Pistachios [VIDEO]