Many bodybuilders don’t eat nuts because they are calorie dense and high in fats. Research conducted over the past 10 years shows that nuts should be an important part of your diet. They promote a healthy heart, prevent cancer and improve digestion. A symposium conducted at the University of California, Davis summarized the many important health benefits of using nuts:
- While nuts are calorie dense, nut eaters are thinner than the rest of the population. Nuts prevent hunger, are difficult to absorb during digestion, and increase resting energy consumption.
- Nuts promote cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol, oxidative stress, inflammation and blood vessel reactivity.
- Frequent nut consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar regulation.
- Nuts decrease the risk of cancer, possibly by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.