According to research, eating small amounts of almonds daily enhances the synthesis of short-chain fatty acid butyrate which is beneficial for the health of your gut.
According to research, the consumption of a handful of almonds per day significantly boosts the production of butyrate which is a short-chain fatty acid which is beneficial to the health of your gut. A group of researchers of King’s College London investigated the effect of whole and ground almonds on the microbes in the gut. The study, which was published this morning in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is funded through the Almond Board of California.
The microbiome in the gut comprises millions of microorganisms within the digestive tract. They play a crucial role in digestion of nutrients. They may be either positive or negative effect upon our overall health which includes the immune system and digestion. The mechanism of how microbiomes of the gut affect on human health is being researched, however, research suggests that eating certain kinds of food may positively impact the type of bacteria present within our gut, or the work they perform in our gut.
Researchers from King’s College London recruited 87 healthy adults who were taking in less that the suggested daily amount of fibre , and who ate usual junk food items (e.g. chocolate, crisps). Participants were divided between three categories: One group swapped their meals to 56 g of almonds in whole form every day, the other group for 56 grams of almonds ground every morning, and the third group consumed energy-matched muffins as an experiment. The study lasted for four weeks.
Researchers discovered that the amount of butyrate in the blood was significantly higher in almond eaters when compared with those who ate the muffin. Butyrate is a fat that is the primary source of energy for colon’s cells. When the colon’s cells are functioning effectively they create the ideal conditions for gut microbes to thrive as well as for the wall of the gut to be sturdy and free of leaks or inflammation and also for nutrients to be taken in.
There was no significant difference in the transit time of the gut, the amount of time required for food items to travel through the intestines. However, whole almond consumers had an extra 1.5 weekly bowel movements in comparison to other groups. The findings suggest that eating almonds can also help people suffering from constipation.
The study found that eating almonds whole and ground helped people’s diets with higher levels of monosaturated fat acids, potassium, fiber, as well as other important nutrients, in comparison to the control group.
The lead author, Lead author Professor Kevin Whelan, Head of Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London, said: “Part of the way in which the gut microbiota impact human well being is through the creation of short-chain unsaturated fats, for example, butyrate. These particles go about as a fuel hotspot for cells in the colon, they control retention of different supplements in the stomach, and assist with adjusting the resistant framework. We think these discoveries propose almond utilization might help bacterial digestion in a manner that can possibly impact human wellbeing.”
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