Almonds are not only good for the heart. Study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association indicates that a daily serving of 42g instead of a carbohydrate-rich food with the same calorie content helps lose abdominal fat and waist circumference .
Over the course of 12 weeks, 52 healthy overweight adults with bad cholesterol were observed by researchers at Penn State University in the United States. Some have followed a diet that includes a 42g serving of almonds while others have received a banana muffin instead.
The first program, aimed at lowering cholesterol, revealed another good news to guinea pigs: loss of fat in the abdomen and legs, and waist circumference. “Our study showed that replacing high-carbohydrate foods with almonds can improve several cardiovascular risk factors, including by reducing abdominal fat,” said one of the study’s doctors.
Note that a 30g serving of almonds contains 170g of calories, 6g of protein, 4g of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.