In a recent study, researchers from King's College London used Nightingale’s blood analysis technology to find that switching to whole almonds as snacks for just six weeks can improve heart health and lower unhealthy LDL-cholesterol levels.
You may think of snacks as the small (irrelevant) meal of the day. However, data from the UK and USA show that most people consume more than 2 snacks per day, contributing to 20-25% of their daily energy intake on average. What’s concerning is that the average snack has a nutrient profile of 14% of energy as saturated fats and 23% of energy as sugars (predominantly added sugars) — both exceeding the upper-limit dietary recommendations of their intake which can lead to poorer heart health in the long run.
Therefore, improving snacking habits — replacing habitual daily snacks with the right healthier options — can significantly impact a person’s long-term health and well-being.
In this 6-week randomised study, the researchers used Nightingale’s blood analysis technology to investigate whether substituting average snack energy intakes with whole nuts like almonds (which are often recommended encouraged as part of recommended healthy eating patterns) could improve a person’s heart and metabolic health.
Study found snacking on whole nuts significantly lowers bad LDL-cholesterol levels even among adults with a high risk of heart diseases
Researchers found that substituting almonds as snacks for just 6 weeks:
Read the full research paper here.
Snacking on almonds also improved the fatty acid balance, increased dietary fibre and Vitamin E levels in participants.
Interested in knowing more about how diet and other lifestyle choices affect your health? Blood shows exactly what’s happening inside your body. Whatever health routine you may be following, the My Nightingale blood test and app can help you see how your body is reacting to it and if your lifestyle is helping you achieve good health.