Nuts, fatty as they are, are a key component of slimming diets. According to a brand-new study from Loma Linda University in California, as little as an ounce of nuts per week was associated with a 7% drop in metabolic syndrome. “We found that those who eat nuts on a regular basis have lower odds of being obese or developing metabolic syndrome,” said Joan Sabaté, lead investigator of the study and professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the unversity’s School of Public Health. All nuts, however, are not created equal. The greatest anti-obesity effect was found in diets high in tree nuts—like almonds, cashews, walnuts, and pistachios. Peanuts, which are ground nuts, had a visible but less noticeable impact. How can a food that’s 50-75% fat be so good at making people not fat? Nuts are packed with protein and fiber, so they’re fantastic at making you feel full. That might make you less likely to chow down on other energy-dense foods. They’re also excellent sources of vitamin E, magnesium, and other phytochemicals key to metabolism, the study says. “Twenty-five years ago, nobody believed that nuts were good for anything,” says Dr. Sabaté. “We now know that nuts are part of any traditional healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean, Asian, or vegetarian diet.” Stay tuned for more nut-friendly news: Dr. Sabaté and his team next plan to examine the link between nuts and inflammation markers, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. More from Prevention: How Pistachios Target Belly Fat
