Tree Nuts Lower Blood Sugar Levels in People with Type 2 Diabetes

Including tree nuts in diet helps lower and stabilize levels of blood sugar in people with type-2 diabetes.

Tree nuts - almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, walnuts, pine nuts, chestnuts, Brazil nuts and pistachos - are known to boost longevity. They are listed as wonder foods as they lower the risk of heart disease, some form of cancers and diabetes. They offer essential vitamins and minerals including niacin, zinc, folic acid, selenium and magnesium. They have more unsaturated fats that reduce the levels of bad cholesterol.

According to the study led by St. Michael's Hospital, tree nuts lower sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes.  

Researchers reviewed the meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials that included 450 participants. They found that consuming two servings of tree nuts a day improved the two key markers of blood sugar, mainly HbA1c test and the fasting glucose.

HbA1c measures the blood sugar levels over three months and, in fasting glucose patients are not allowed to eat or drink anything but water for nearly eight hours before their glucose levels are tested.

They received their best results when tree nuts replaced refined carbohydrates rather than the saturated fats. 

Dr. John Sievenpiper, a physician and researcher in the Clinical Nutrition said, "Participants in the clinical trials reviewed ate 56 grams of tree nuts a day. One serving of tree nuts is about ¼ cup or 30 grams. He said that people in North America consume on average less than one serving a day, so this is one way they can adapt their diets to take advantage of the metabolic benefits."

Although these nuts are high in calories, the study participants did not have increase in weight. According to the researcher tree nuts are an alternate way people can adapt to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

The study was documented in the journal PLOS One.