You may have heard, especially from us, the importance of adding nuts and dried fruits into your daily diet. Well, this October the world’s leading researchers came together for a historic gathering, Nuts 2022, where they reconfirmed their importance and discussed future research priorities in nut and dried fruit investigation to help ensure the healthy lives of all.
The effects of nut and dried fruit consumption
They have gained traction over the last years and are supported by growing scientific evidence they have been associated with a myriad of health benefits, from cardiovascular health to insulin resistance and diabetes, weight management, lipoproteins and dyslipidemia, inflammation and oxidation, gut health, aging and cognition, and some forms of cancer. More recently, other lines of research have included fertility and nuts and dried fruits as part of sustainable diets. While some areas of research have been put into focus more than others, there is irrefutable evidence that they are nutrient-dense foods with an interesting nutritional composition.
The benefits of nuts are wide-ranging and include a variety of nutrients, mono- and polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and antioxidants, all which have a beneficial effect on health, and dried fruits contain essential nutrients and health-promoting bioactive compounds such as antioxidants.
Among the future lines of research discussed at the gathering, the potential role of nuts and dried fruits in the prevention of diabetes was highlighted, which is of particular relevance in today’s world. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently 537 million people worldwide with diabetes, and this number is projected to reach 700 million people by 2045. Prevalence is increasing worldwide, leading to over 4 million deaths every year, and in countries such as China and India, the number of deaths attributable to diabetes are extremely high: 1.4 million and 648,000 people, respectively. Lifestyle measures and a healthy diet have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes.
At the meeting, it was also highlighted how a joint effort must be made to help bring awareness to the importance of including nuts and dried fruits as part of a healthy diet. And, that’s where you can help! We are constantly shouting about the importance of eating nuts and dried fruits and the health benefits they bring. So, please go over to our social media channels and show your support by giving us a follow (if you don’t already) and share our contents with everyone you know and don’t forget to add that handful of nuts and dried fruits into your daily diet.
Footnote: The gathering was chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Distinguished Professor at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, and included highly-esteemed researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Loma Linda University, and Penn State University, among others.
