Panel Reviews Nut Benefits Ranging from Weight Management to Heart Health

Many people refrain from eating nuts, said Fereidoon Shahidi of Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. However, studies show “little or no weight change” from a diet including nuts. Shahidi, one of five panelists who presented highlights from more than 50 studies linking tree nuts to a variety of health benefits as well as reduction in coronary heart disease and inflammation, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

Different nuts offer different health benefits. For example, almond skins are extremely high in vitamin E, according to Karen Lapsley, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Almond Board of California.

Almond skins contain more phenolics than flavonoids, and they are bioavailable, said Lapsley. As a result, almond skins may have potential use as a value-added ingredient, she added.

For more information, please contact:

Fereidoon Shahidi – fshahidi@mun.ca
Cyril WS Kendall, Ph.D. – cyril.kendall@utoronto.ca
Karen Lapsley, Ph.D. – klapsley@almondboard.com
Ronald Pegg, Ph.D. – rpegg@uga.edu
About IFT
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a nonprofit scientific society. Our individual members are professionals engaged in food science, food technology, and related professions in industry, academia, and government. IFT’s mission is to advance the science of food, and our long-range vision is to ensure a safe and abundant food supply, contributing to healthier people everywhere.

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