II Simpósio Nacional dos Frutos Secos

The II National Symposium on Dried Fruits, an organization of the Portuguese Society of Agricultural Sciences (SCAP) and the National Center for Dried Fruits (CNCFS), will take place on October 10-11 at the Mirandela Municipal Auditorium. This event counts on the participation of the best national and foreign specialists, making an important contribution to the […]

Dietary Supplementation with Hazelnut Oil Reduces Serum Hyperlipidemia and Ameliorates the Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Hamsters Fed a High-Cholesterol Diet.

Objective: Hazelnut oil (HO) is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study intended to analyze the effects of hazelnut oil supplementation on the serum lipid profile and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in hamsters fed a high-cholesterol (HC) diet. Methods: Hamsters were fed a basic diet (control group) and an HC diet […]

Nut consumption and cognitive function: a systematic review.

Antioxidant-rich diet patterns could contribute to the prevention and treatment of early stages of dementia. Nuts have an appreciable antioxidant load and there is evidence of their positive effects on several chronic diseases incidence and death rates. Moreover, they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which might also play a positive role in neurogenesis. The […]

Dried Fruit Intake and Cancer: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies.

Insufficient intake of total fruits and vegetables is linked to an increased cancer risk, but the relation is not understood for dried fruits. Dried fruits are generally perceived, by both consumers and researchers, as a less attractive but shelf-stable equivalent to fresh fruits and constitute a small but significant proportion of modern diets. Chemical compositions […]

Association between nut intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk: a retrospective case-control study in a sample of Chinese Han adults.

OBJECTIVES: Nut consumption has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. However, its effect on the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between nut consumption and NAFLD risk. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study including 534 […]

Almond Snacking for 8 wk Increases Alpha-Diversity of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Decreases Bacteroides fragilis Abundance Compared with an Isocaloric Snack in College Freshmen.

Background: Changes in gut microbiota are associated with cardiometabolic disorders and are influenced by diet. Almonds are a rich source of fiber, unsaturated fats, and polyphenols, all nutrients that can favorably alter the gut microbiome. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 8 wk of almond snacking on the gut […]

Evaluation of the Influence of Raw Almonds on Appetite Control: Satiation, Satiety, Hedonics and Consumer Perceptions.

Snack foods can be substantial contributors to daily energy intake, with different types of snacks exerting potentially different effects on satiety per calorie consumed. The present research compared the effect of consuming almonds as a mid-morning snack compared to an energy and weight-matched comparator snack (savoury crackers) or the equivalent weight of water (zero energy […]

Dried Fruit Intake May Help in the Prevention of Digestive Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and evidence suggests that over 40% of cancer deaths could be prevented through changes in lifestyles, including diet. This systematic review, recently published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, evaluated nine prospective cohort and seven case-control studies that examined the relations between traditional dried fruits (raisins, prunes, dates) consumption and cancer risk in humans.