Nuts Reduce Diabetes Risk

According to a National Institutes of Health study of nearly 84,000 female nurses, eating about 5 oz of almonds or walnuts or a serving of peanut butter each week can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 27%.

Eating between 1 and 4 oz results in a 16% lower risk, even when other diabetes risk factors are present.

Published in the November 27, 2002, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the results suggest that unsaturated fats found in nuts may improve the body?s ability to use insulin and regulate blood glucose. The authors caution, however, that nuts should be eaten as a substitute for other foods to avoid adding calories to the diet.