Almonds might be ticket to a healthier gut

Almonds might be ticket to a healthier gut


Anyone interested in the diet that follows be forewarned: That’s a whole lotta nuts.

Or 46 almonds a day, to be exact, about 56 grams.

But they might be the ticket to a healthier gut. Part of this story involves the 10 to 100 trillion microorganisms hitchhiking in our bodies, most of which are in our gut. Don’t be grossed out. They can be beneficial to good health and help us digest food. More about them later.

A study out of King’s College London had two groups of volunteers replace their normal snacks with almonds. The first ate 28 grams a day, the second 56.

A third group ate muffins that delivered the same amount of energy as those feisty nuts. The groups contained a total of 87 people ages 18 to 45 who were in good health.

Then somebody had to check the participants’ poop. Researchers found that those who devoured the 46 almonds had a higher amount of a fatty acid called butyrate (beaut-a-rate) in their feces than the other two groups.

Butyrate is known to support the health of our guts. It is the primary source of fuel for the cells in our colon, allowing them to function properly. This fatty acid also aids in the body’s absorption of nutrients. And via the bloodstream, butyrate helps keep the brain, liver and lungs fit for duty.

Of particular importance is its ability to serve as a barrier between the bacteria in our guts and our blood. That in turn reduces inflammation and bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort and irritable bowel syndrome.

Almonds are an excellent source of fiber, which ferments in our gut and thus produces butyrate.

So if you like them, eat a handful and keep your colon happy.

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