Daily Almond Consumption to Better Brain and Metabolic Health

Mumbai: New research published in the Journal of Nutrition indicates that a simple dietary change – eating just a few almonds each day – may benefit cognitive performance, metabolic health, and markers for inflammation and oxidative stress in middle-aged Asian Indian adults with prediabetes.

Prediabetes affects more than 600 million people worldwide and is linked not only to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes but also to impaired brain function. In the 24-week study conducted in New Delhi, 60 Asian Indian adults aged 40 to 60 with prediabetes but no signs of cognitive decline were randomly assigned to either a control or intervention group after receiving guidance on following a balanced diet consistent with dietary guidelines for Asian Indians.

While the control group continued with the same diet, the intervention group consumed a calorie-matched diet that included almonds, with almonds accounting for 20% of daily calories, equivalent to around 32-42g per day. Participants were monitored remotely twice a week and attended in-person visits every four weeks. Researchers assessed cognitive performance, blood glucose levels, HbA1c, blood lipids, weight, BMI and waist circumference at the beginning and end of the study.

Additional metabolic benefits included significant reductions in body weight, body fat, BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Dr. Anoop Misra, co-investigator and Chairman, Fortis-CDOC Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases, and Endocrinology in New Delhi, believes the findings from this exploratory study have the potential to support better brain health in millions of people around the world.

“Adults with prediabetes are vulnerable to a decline in cognitive function,” he says. “Our study indicates that just one simple dietary change – adding a small quantity of almonds to the daily diet – may help support brain health and improve cognitive performance in some populations. Discussing the findings, Ritika Samaddar said, “With the growing issue of prediabetes and lifestyle-related health concerns, it is encouraging to see research highlighting how a simple dietary addition like almonds may support both metabolic and cognitive health.