Replacing Solid Snacks with Almonds or Adding Almonds to the Diet Improves Diet Quality and Compliance with the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Modeling Analyses of NHANES 2017-23 Data

Background: Healthier between-meal snacks can improve diet quality in the US and globally. Objectives: To assess the impact on diet quality of replacing solid snacks with almonds or adding almonds (30 g) to the diet. Methods: Dietary data for 4333 children (4-19 y) and 10,925 adults (>19 y) came from the National Health and Nutrition […]

Replacing Solid Snacks with Almonds or Adding Almonds to the Diet Improves Diet Quality and Compliance with the 2020–25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Modeling Analyses of NHANES 2017–23 Data

Background: Healthier between-meal snacks can improve diet quality in the US and globally. Objectives: To assess the impact on diet quality of replacing solid snacks with almonds or adding almonds (30 g) to the diet. Methods: Dietary data for 4333 children (4–19 y) and 10,925 adults (>19 y) came from the National Health and Nutrition […]

Consuming Tree Nuts Daily as Between-Meal Snacks Reduces Food Cravings and Improves Diet Quality in American Young Adults at High Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Background: Daily energy intake from snacking behaviors has increased over the past few decades, during which the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome has risen to epidemic proportions. There remains considerable room for improvement in the overall quality of dietary intakes of the U.S. population when compared to national recommendations. Food cravings may contribute to […]

Nutrient Displacement Associated with Replacing Intake of Usual Snacks with Pecans: An Exploratory Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The effect of instructions to replace usual snacks with nuts on nutrient displacement is unknown. Objectives: This analysis aimed to investigate nutrient displacement and changes in food pattern component intake that occur with instructions to consume 57 g/d of pecans in place of usual snacks in adults at increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases after […]

Life expectancy gains from dietary modifications: a comparative modeling study in 7 countries

Background: Eating healthier is associated with a range of favorable health outcomes. Our previous model estimated the impact of dietary changes on life expectancy gains but did not consider height, weight, or physical activity. Objectives: We aimed to estimate the increase in life expectancy resulting from the transition from typical national dietary patterns to longevity-optimizing […]

A Walnut-Enriched Diet for 2 Years Changes the Serum Oxylipin Profile in Healthy Older Persons

Background: Oxylipins are products derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play a role in cardiovascular disease and aging. Fish oil-derived n-3 PUFAs promote the formation of anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory oxylipins; however, there are little data on oxylipins derived from α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), the primary plant-derived n-3 PUFA. Walnuts are a source of C18:3n-3. Objectives: […]

Prune Consumption Attenuates Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion and Alters Monocyte Activation in Postmenopausal Women: Secondary Outcome Analysis of a 12-Mo Randomized Controlled Trial: The Prune Study

Background: Proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal bone loss. Clinical studies demonstrate that prunes prevent bone mineral density loss; however, the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. Objective: We investigated the effect of prune supplementation on immune, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted in the Prune Study, […]

A Dietary Model of Partial Meat Replacement with Walnuts Demonstrates Changes in the Nutrient Profile and Quality of the United States Population’s Diet

The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of partial meat replacement with walnuts using a dose-escalation approach on nutrient intake and diet quality in the usual US diet. Food modeling was implemented using the nationally representative 2015-2018 National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES), with a focus on non-nut consumers, which included 2707 […]

Dietary fiber intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Background: Accumulating evidence supports the effects of dietary fiber on the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is no updated systematic review and meta-analysis that compares and pools the effect of different types of fiber on mortality. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, all prospective cohort studies that evaluated the relationship between dietary […]