Almonds May Help Cut Risk of Diabetes, Heart Disease

From IndiaInfo Online.

"The secret is to learn how to manage the condition, so it stops managing you.

It’s good news for almost 49 million people suffering from diabetes in India. Dr. Karen Lapsley, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Almond Board of California was in India to announce the study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition on the benefits of almonds for people at risk for type-2 diabetes.

Diabetes has emerged as a major health problem in India. Today, there is no cure for diabetes, but effective treatment exists. The secret is to learn how to manage the condition, so it stops managing you.

Diabetes is probably one of the most dreaded illnesses, and it is a very sad fact that the epidemic is now growing and engulfing more and more people, regardless of age, sex and demographic. But the research brings hope for diabetics by showing the benefits of incorporating almonds into your diet that can possibly help prevent type-2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular disease.

During her recent visit to India, Dr. Lapsley highlighted ABC's commitment to India and the intent to promote a healthy lifestyle. She enumerated the various health benefits of almonds in day to day life and especially for those who are pre-diabetic or suffering with type-2 diabetes.

Dr. Lapsley discussed the latest study that reinforces the fact that eating almonds can help people with type-2 diabetes. She said, ”The study has provided evidence that eating almonds can help maintain healthy levels of insulin, which both helps encourage healthy blood glucose levels and fight type2 diabetes. Eating a handful of almonds also helps maintain a feeling of satiety, an important factor in weight control. This is critical because being overweight is a major risk factor for developing diabetes”.

The study, published in the June 2010 Journal of the American College of Nutrition and one of the first of its kind to quantify prevention data, illustrates that consuming a diet rich in almonds may help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease LDL-cholesterol levels in those with pre-diabetes.

“We have made great strides in chronic disease research from evidence of effective treatment to evidence of effective prevention” said Dr. Michelle Wien, Assistant Research Professor in Nutrition at Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health and Principal Investigator for this study, which was conducted at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Wien adds, “It is promising for those with risk factors for chronic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease that dietary changes may help to improve factors that play a potential role in the disease development.”

The study looked at the effects of consuming an almond-enriched diet as it relates to the progression of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adults with pre-diabetes. After 16 weeks of consuming either an almond-enriched or regular diet, both of which conformed with American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations, the group that consumed an almond-enriched diet showed significantly improved LDL cholesterol levels and measures of insulin sensitivity, risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes."