Did you know this?

If you’re hoping to shed some pounds, but not sure where you could be going wrong with your food intake, it might be time to introduce walnuts into your diet. While many people might associate nuts with high-fat content, a new study from the University of California has found that walnuts could be the secret tool to help burn belly fat. Dr. Cheryl Rock from the San Diego School of Medicine compared three diets over a test study of 245 overweight women. The journal published on Women’s Health showed the participants ate one of three diet styles - a lower fat and higher carb diet, a lower carb and higher fat diet, and finally a walnut-rich, higher fat and lower carb diet. Analysing the diets, the research pointed to a walnut-rich diet being as good for weight loss as a lower fat diet, while having the added benefit of lowering bad cholesterol. So how does the walnut add up to a fat burning boost? Polyunsaturated fats activate genes that reduce fat storage and improve insulin metabolism. At about 13g of polyunsaturated fats per 30g serving, walnuts are one of the best dietary sources. Speaking about the result, Dr Rock continued:

“In addition to these findings, we hope to explore the effect of walnuts on satiety, as we believe satiety is a critical factor for maintaining weight loss.”

To get the most out of your new nut, add a handful of chopped walnuts to your morning oats or a mixed salad for a kick-start to your workout.