Insights & Discussion
Almond consumption has beneficial impacts on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and it can improve cognitive performance and protect against skin aging.
The methodology employed in this study included analyzing a range of clinical studies centered on the health benefits linked to the consumption of sweet almond nuts. Various health outcomes correlated with almond consumption were investigated such as body weight, food intake, blood pressure, blood lipid composition, glucose and insulin levels, oxidative status, liver enzymes, and some inflammation biomarkers.
The discussion of the results reveals that almond consumption has been found to create favorable alteration in aspects like body weight, food intake, blood pressure, blood lipid composition, glucose, and insulin levels, as well as oxidative status, liver enzymes, and inflammation biomarkers. These findings highlight the beneficial impact of almonds on multiple health issues including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, the consumption of almonds has been associated with improved cognitive performance and protection against skin photodamage and aging.
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Pomegranate extract and its phytochemicals can potentially inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and improve gut microbiota, preventing obesity and diabetes.
2022 Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy Medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, and the molecular mechanisms of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) plant extracts: A review Maphetu N, Unuofin JO, Masuku NP, Olisah C, Lebelo SL
Review Article COVID-19 Gut Microbiota Obesity
The study employs the use of in silico molecular docking methodologies to demonstrate that extract from pomegranates and their phytochemicals can serve as inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2's spike protein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor contact. These findings are further reinforced by clinical trials which suggest that pomegranates can also alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, dental infections, and symptoms of menopause.
This study has also identified numerous active compounds within pomegranates such as alkaloids, anthocyanidins, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, proanthocyanidins, sterols, terpenes, terpenoids, xanthonoids, fatty acids, organic acids, lignans, saccharides, and vitamin C. This mixture of active compounds is believed to significantly contribute to the broad array of pharmacological activities identified within the pomegranate. This includes anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-malaria, anti-fibrotic, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. The extract from this fruit improves gut microbiota which could potentially aid in the prevention of obesity and diabetes.
Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of nut RCTs showed that almonds were the only nut that had a small but significant decrease in both mean body mass and fat mass, compared to control diets.
2021 Nutrients A Comprehensive Review of Almond Clinical Trials on Weight Measures, Metabolic Health Biomarkers and Outcomes, and the Gut Microbiota Dreher ML
Review Article Almond Gut Microbiota Obesity
The biological mechanisms for almond weight control include enhanced displacement of other foods, decreased macronutrient bioavailability for a lower net metabolizable energy (ME), upregulation of acute signals for reduced hunger, and elevated satiety and increased resting energy expenditure.
Almonds can support colonic microbiota health by promoting microflora richness and diversity, increasing the ratio of symbiotic to pathogenic microflora, and concentrations of health-promoting colonic bioactives.
2021 Nutrients A Comprehensive Review of Almond Clinical Trials on Weight Measures, Metabolic Health Biomarkers and Outcomes, and the Gut Microbiota Dreher ML
Review Article Almond Gut Microbiota Obesity
This narrative review of 64 RCTs and 14 meta-analyses and/or systematic reviews presents a more in-depth analysis of almond clinical trials and their effects on weight measures, metabolic health biomarkers and outcomes, and colonic microbiota health than typically described in systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses. Almonds have one of the largest portfolios of RCTs on weight measures, metabolic health, and colonic microbiota of any food. These RCTs consistently support an important role for almonds in reducing body and fat mass, other weight measures, and promoting metabolic health as a premier snack for precision nutrition diets
Almond-based diets may be effective in promoting short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria and lowering glycated haemoglobin and body mass index in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with control.
2021 Nutrients The Effects of Almonds on Gut Microbiota, Glycometabolism, and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials Ojo O, Wang XH, Ojo OO, Adegboye ARA
Systematic Review Almond Gut Microbiota HbA1C
The research was a systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis methodology. Diverse databases, including the Health Sciences Research Databases via EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and other article's reference lists, were thoroughly searched following the population, intervention, control, outcome, and study framework. The searches encompassed all relevant studies available from the inception of these databases until August 1, 2021.
Nine randomised studies were analysed, eight of which were used for the meta-analysis. Results revealed that diets rich in almonds foster the growth of gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, the analysis demonstrated that such diets effectively reduce both glycated haemoglobin levels and body mass index in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of almonds were not significant concerning fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, various inflammatory markers, and certain other indicators of diabetes. The biological mechanisms attributed to reductions in glycated haemoglobin and body mass index are thought to be related to the nutritional composition of almonds, namely their high fibre content and low glycaemic index.
Coffee consumption may contribute to the prevention of several inflammatory diseases and types of cancer, with reduced mortality risk deemed safe up to 400mg of caffeine per day.
2021 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition Coffee consumption, health benefits and side effects: a narrative review and update for dietitians and nutritionists Barrea L, Pugliese G, Frias-Toral E, El Ghoch M, Castellucci B, Chapela SP, et al.
Review Article Metabolic Syndrome Obesity Type 2 Diabetes
The methodology used in this scholarly review was based on an extensive literature review using the PubMed/Medline database. As the primary research tool, this database facilitated the authors' collation and analysis of relevant studies concerning the impact of coffee consumption on health outcomes. The focus was to determine both the positive and negative aspects of coffee consumption, with an additional aim of providing dosage recommendations. The data collated from these studies was then summarised and analysed through a narrative approach, making the findings more digestible and interpretable.
The findings suggested that coffee consumption may play a significant role in preventing inflammatory and oxidative stress-related diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. In addition, findings indicated that coffee consumption also seemed to have an association with a lower incidence of several types of cancer and a reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality. However, notable is the need for a time gap between coffee consumption and the intake of some drugs to avoid potential interactions. It was also concluded that the consumption of up to 400mg/day of caffeine was generally found to be safe for the average person.
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