Pistachios curb diabetes - Indian study

[sbiyer]

Pistachios curb diabetes: Study

TNN | Nov 17, 2013, 11.35 PM IST

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NEW DELHI: In a controlled intervention trial of pistachios conducted by National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC), daily consumption of a handful of the nut was found to reduce symptoms of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in people with metabolic syndrome.

"Nuts (mainly pistachios, almonds and walnuts) have been shown to have beneficial effects on glycemic and lipid parameters. Pistachios are most beneficial for Indians," said Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-DOC center for diabetes, obesity, metabolic diseases, and endocrinology, who led the study.

Nearly 500 people, between the ages of 25 and 65 years, who had pre-diabetic conditions were analysed for two years.

Half the people in the programme were put on a restricted healthy diet, 45 minutes of moderate to brisk exercise and given pistachios. The other half followed the same schedule with the exception of consumption of pistachios.

After being observed for about six months, the candidates showed marginal weight loss, reduction in gut fat, better insulin action among other positive results.

"We recommended that in a day, 20% of the calories, out of a calorie demand of about 1,200 kcal, should come from pistachios. But it also depends on a person's weight, height, lifestyle etc. Pistachios are known to reduce appetite, have good fat and boost metabolism to an extent," said Dr Seema Gulati, also a part of the study.

More and more young people are suffering from pre-diabetic conditions owing to their unhealthy lifestyle. "We are also genetically predisposed to acquiring lifestyle diseases and that is why we need to be careful, especially those who are at a higher risk due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, etc," said Dr Misra.

[norreal]

sbiyer & medfree: What they probably have not probed is what response would have come for nuts like walnut and almond which are perceived as healthier. On some count beans like peanut too may have a good score.