Gaby
New research from Spain and Portugal suggests that a daily handful of nuts can help prevent dementia.
A team from the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the University of Porto found that consuming just 30 grams of nuts reduces the risk of developing dementia by 12 percent. However, there’s a catch: the nuts must be unsalted and unprocessed — specifically, unroasted.
What else did the researchers discover?
Over seven years, the team analyzed regular surveys of more than 50,000 Britons. The data came from the UK Biobank and the Oxford WebQ survey.
They found that nuts appear to protect against dementia by reducing inflammation and lowering cholesterol levels.
The benefits were strongest among women, people over 60, and those who were not obese or heavy drinkers.
“Among adult residents of the UK who consumed nuts daily, the risk of developing dementia from any cause was lower compared to those who did not eat nuts,” the scientists said. They added that the association varied with lifestyle factors, hearing problems, overall health, and the number of chronic diseases, the Daily Mail reported.
“Nuts are rich in nutrients, containing fats, proteins, fiber, and micronutrients. Considering that nuts are also linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, they are an excellent component of a healthy diet,” said British nutrition expert Bridget Benelam, who was not involved in the study. She warned that nuts are calorie-dense, so eat them in small portions. A handful is the optimal daily serving.
The results of the study were published in the journal GeroScience.
