Walnuts Key In Reducing Metabolic Syndrome

In a major study published December 8, 2008 in the Archives of Internal Medicine, results of the PREDIMED study were released. This very large study showed that participants who consumed a so-called "Mediterranean diet" supplemented with nuts (50% walnuts, 25% hazelnuts, and 25% almonds) achieved superior results in reducing Metabolic Syndrome, which is defined as having three or more of the following conditions: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low levels of good cholesterol (HDL), high blood sugar and high blood pressure.

Participants who consumed the diet supplemented with nuts--primarily walnuts--showed a 13.7% reduction in Metabolic Syndrome. Those whose diets were supplemented with olive oil showed a 6.7% decrease. Those who consumed a low-fat diet showed a reduction of 2%.

For more information on the results of the study, please visit the Archives of Internal Medicine website at http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/168/22/2449.