A health expert has explained how eating one type of food can help reduce your waistline, despite being high in fats and calories.
Speaking on his BBC Sounds podcast, Just One Thing, Dr Michael Mosley said: "It is mid afternoon and I am craving some chocolate or perhaps a biscuit, but instead I am going for a protein-packed snack that can protect my heart, may stave off cancer, and give my brain a boost. I am cracking out the nuts."
He described how nuts often got "bad press" as they were high in fat and caused life-threatening allergies. However, he added: "But if, like me, you are able to eat nuts, this is definitely one thing you should start doing today."
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He called nuts "nutritional power-houses," adding that when we eat them we get lots of fibre, and more importantly, polyphenols, which feed our gut bacteria and reduce inflammation, reports Wales Online. Nuts are packed full of "good things" like unsaturated fats, fibre and protein, as well as a number of compounds with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
There is even evidence that nuts are able to slow the ageing process at the cellular level. Dr Mosley detailed how one study found that eating more nuts was associated with reduced weight gain over a five-year period. It also showed a lower risk of becoming overweight or obese.
The fact that nuts have such high levels of fat is also good for our brains, that need fat to work, some research shows that eating nuts can give your brain a boost. On the benefits of nuts with your waistline, Dr Mosley spoke to Dr Sze-Yen Tan from Deakin University in Australia. They detailed how there was no evidence that nuts could increase your bodyweight, despite having such a high amount of fat.
They added: "Those with higher nut intake tend to have lower body weight or lower body fat, so many studies have repeatedly shown that incorporating nuts into the diet doesn't make you gain weight. When we eat nuts we feel fuller and consequently adjust our diets in the next meal."
The expert recommended eating around 15-30 grams per day. Mosley backed how nuts were a good replacement to sugary snacks like chocolates and biscuits, that often left you craving more, as they had a high amount of protein which could help you feel fuller for longer. You can listen to Michael Mosley's Just One Thing podcast on BBC Sounds.
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