Effects of short-term pistachio consumption before and throughout recovery from an intense exercise bout on cardiometabolic markers.
Although pistachios have been shown to improve cardiometabolic biomarkers in diseased and at-risk populations, less research has been conducted on young, healthy individuals. Furthermore, some but not all research indicates that exercise acutely improves cardiometabolic markers; however, it remains unclear as to why outcomes vary among studies. This research evaluated secondary aims of a study designed to assess the impacts of pistachios on recovery from vigorous eccentrically-biased exercise. Here we examined the short-term (two weeks) effects of two different doses (1.5 oz/d and 3.0 oz/d) of pistachios and a water-only control on the biomarkers of metabolic health in young adult men. This was followed by daily blood collection for three consecutive days after a 40-min downhill run. Twenty-seven participants completed each of three conditions in a counterbalanced randomized order. Plasma biomarkers (lipid profile, glucose, and insulin) were measured at the end of each 2-week feeding period immediately before the exercise bout and again 24, 48, and 72 h thereafter. Two weeks of pistachio consumption failed to elicit changes in any biomarker (p < .05).. Exercise reduced LDL-cholesterol at the end of the recovery period; however, positive effects were limited to when subjects were consuming the higher dose of pistachios. Follow up t-tests revealed significant reductions in LDL-C in the high dose group at 72-H compared to that at 0-H (8.2 ± 19.4; p < .04), 24-H (8.0 ± 18.6; p < .04), and 48-H (9.3 ± 15.8; p < .005) post exercise within the same trial. Overall, in healthy young men with normal blood lipid and glucose metabolism, little effect of either pistachios or intense exercise on cardiometabolic risk indicators was detected. More research is needed to determine the influence of usual diet consumption on outcomes following an acute exercise bout. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metop.2022.100216
A review on plant-based tree nuts beverages: technological, sensory, nutritional, health and microbiological aspects.
The term tree nuts is used to describe any nut that comes from a tree. The best known and most consumed are almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, and walnut. This consumption has led to their use in the development of plant-based beverages. This review aims to bring information reported in the literature on plant-based beverages made from tree nuts regarding health, technological, microbiological, sensory, and consumer aspects. The bibliographic search covered the articles published between the years 2000 and 2022. In total, 54 articles were selected for this review, which were categorized according to their thematic area as Food technology (n = 37); Nutrition and Health (n = 19); Microbiological aspects (n = 10); and Sensory and consumer studies (n = 12). It was observed that the most mentioned tree nuts were almond, cashew, hazelnut, and walnut, and the lowest mentioned were Brazil nut, macadamia nuts, pine nut, mallow nut, and sapucaia. Finally, this review observed that beverages represent beneficial nutritional and functional profile, but cannot be considered as a substitute, in their entirety, for dairy milk, except in the case of allergies to this food. Technological aspects proved to be positive for obtaining these beverages, with high pressure being the most advantageous. Considered safe and very promising from nutritional, industrial, environmental, and functional aspects. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2022.2134417
Effects of Regular Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa HBK) Consumption on Health: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.
The Brazil nut (BN) is a promising food due to its numerous health benefits, but it is still necessary to systematically review the scientific evidence on these benefits. Thus, we examined the effects of regular BN consumption on health markers in humans according to the health state (with specific diseases or not) of the subjects. PubMed, Embase®, and Scielo databases were used to search for clinical trials. The PRISMA guideline was used to report the review, and the risk of bias for all studies was assessed. Twenty-four studies were included in the present review, of which fifteen were non-randomized. BNs were consumed in the context of a habitual free-living diet in all studies. Improvement in antioxidant status through increased levels of selenium and/or glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma, serum, whole blood, and/or erythrocytes was observed in all studies that evaluated antioxidant status, regardless of the health state of the sample. In addition, healthy subjects improved lipid markers and fasting glucose. Subjects with obesity had improvement in markers of lipid metabolism. Subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia improved oxidative stress or DNA damage. Subjects undergoing hemodialysis benefited greatly from BN consumption, as they improved lipid profile markers, oxidative stress, inflammation, and thyroid function. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment improved verbal fluency and constructional praxis, and controversial results regarding the change in a marker of lipid peroxidation were observed in subjects with coronary artery disease. In conclusion, the benefits of BN consumption were found in different pathways of action and study populations. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11182925
The effect of almond intake on cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory markers, and liver enzymes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.
Almond intake may be correlated with improvements in several cardiometabolic parameters, but its effects are controversial in the published literature, and it needs to be comprehensively summarized. We conducted a systematic search in several international electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov until April 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of almond consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory markers, and liver enzymes. Data were pooled using the random-effects model method and presented as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-six eligible trials were analyzed (n = 1750 participants). Almond intake significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very LDL (p < 0.05). The effects of almond intake on systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, C-peptide, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, C-reactive protein (CRP), hs-CRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein), interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α, ICAM (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule), VCAM (Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule), homocysteine, HDL, ox-LDL, ApoA1, ApoB, and lipoprotien-a were not statistically significant (p > .05). The current body of evidence supports the ingestion of almonds for their beneficial lipid-lowering and antihypertensive effects. However, the effects of almonds on antiinflammatory markers, glycemic control, and hepatic enzymes should be further evaluated via performing more extensive randomized trials. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7622
Walnut fruit: Impact of ethylene assisted hulling on in vitro antioxidant activity, polyphenols, PUFAs, amino acids and sensory attributes.
The effects of three different hulling methods wiz natural heaping/traditional (T1), steeping (T2), and spraying (T3), on moisture, colour, fat, free amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidant activities, flavonoids, tannins, total phenolic content, and organoleptic qualities of walnut kernels were examined in this study. The kernels extracted from walnuts subjected to T3 method recorded significantly (p ≤ 0.05) highest DPPH inhibition (68.61 %), ABTS (54.56 %inhibition) and FRAP (0.106 μM trolox/100 g); flavonoids (1993.08 mg QE/100 g), tannin content (0.312 %) and phenols (0.736 mg GAE/g) compared to T1 and T2. Walnut kernels of T3 treatment group were rated better in terms of taste (3.8), odour (3.6) and overall acceptability (3.78) Furthermore, walnut kernels obtained from T3 treatment group exhibited the highest percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and sweet free amino acids. The outcome of the present study offers a fresh viewpoint regarding the hulling processes of green walnuts to meet the quality requirements of walnut kernels. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134763
Acute feeding with almonds compared to a carbohydrate-based snack improves appetite-regulating hormones with no effect on self-reported appetite sensations: a randomised controlled trial.
Purpose: Early satiety has been identified as one of the mechanisms that may explain the beneficial effects of nuts for reducing obesity. This study compared postprandial changes in appetite-regulating hormones and self-reported appetite ratings after consuming almonds (AL, 15% of energy requirement) or an isocaloric carbohydrate-rich snack bar (SB). Methods: This is a sub-analysis of baseline assessments of a larger parallel-arm randomised controlled trial in overweight and obese (Body Mass Index 27.5–34.9 kg/m2) adults (25–65 years). After an overnight fast, 140 participants consumed a randomly allocated snack (AL [n = 68] or SB [n = 72]). Appetite-regulating hormones and self-reported appetite sensations, measured using visual analogue scales, were assessed immediately before snack food consumption, and at 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-min following snack consumption. A sub-set of participants (AL, n = 49; SB, n = 48) then consumed meal challenge buffet ad libitum to assess subsequent energy intake. An additional appetite rating assessment was administered post buffet at 150 min. Results: Postprandial C-peptide area under the curve (AUC) response was 47% smaller with AL compared to SB (p < 0.001). Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide AUC responses were larger with AL compared to SB (18%, p = 0.005; 39% p < 0.001; 45% p < 0.001 respectively). Cholecystokinin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, leptin and polypeptide YY AUCs were not different between groups. Self-reported appetite ratings and energy intake following the buffet did not differ between groups. Conclusion: More favourable appetite-regulating hormone responses to AL did not translate into better self-reported appetite or reduced short-term energy consumption. Future studies should investigate implications for longer term appetite regulation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03027-2
Recent Studies on Protective Effects of Walnuts against Neuroinflammation.
Neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the aging process and the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Accordingly, possible therapeutic strategies aimed at anti-inflammatory effects may be beneficial to brain health. Walnut kernels contain large quantities of unsaturated fatty acids, peptides, and phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory effects. The long-term intake of walnuts has been found to improve cognitive function and memory in rats and humans. However, the modulatory effect of walnuts on neuroinflammation has received much less attention. This review focuses on the potential influence and main regulating mechanisms of walnuts and their active ingredients on neuroinflammation, including the regulation of microglia activation induced by amyloid β or lipopolysaccharides, inhibition of peripheral inflammation mediated by macrophages, reduction in oxidative stress by decreasing free radical levels and boosting antioxidant defenses, and control of gut microbes to maintain homeostasis. However, the majority of evidence of the beneficial effects of walnuts or their components on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration comes from experimental work, whereas evidence from clinical studies on the beneficial effects is scarcer and less conclusive. This review aims to provide new insights into the neuroinflammation-regulating mechanisms and natural active ingredients of walnuts and the development of walnut-based functional foods for the alleviation of neurodegenerative diseases. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204360
The Effects of Walnuts and Academic Stress on Mental Health, General Well-Being and the Gut Microbiota in a Sample of University Students: A Randomised Clinical Trial.
Poorer mental health is common in undergraduate students due to academic stress. An interplay between stress and diet exists, with stress influencing food choices. Nutritional interventions may be effective in preventing mental health decline due to complex bidirectional interactions between the brain, the gut and the gut microbiota. Previous studies have shown walnut consumption has a positive effect on mental health. Here, using a randomized clinical trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, #ACTRN12619000972123), we aimed to investigate the effects of academic stress and daily walnut consumption in university students on mental health, biochemical markers of general health, and the gut microbiota. We found academic stress had a negative impact on self-reported mood and mental health status, while daily walnut consumption improved mental health indicators and protected against some of the negative effects of academic stress on metabolic and stress biomarkers. Academic stress was associated with lower gut microbial diversity in females, which was improved by walnut consumption. The effects of academic stress or walnut consumption in male participants could not be established due to small numbers of participants. Thus, walnut consumption may have a protective effect against some of the negative impacts of academic stress, however sex-dependent mechanisms require further study. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224776
Labeling Update: December 2022
Japan: Walnuts, Food Labeling Standards
The Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the proposed Partial Revision to the Food Labeling Standards regarding labeling for certain products and allergen labeling.
The Food Labeling Standards will be partially amended to add walnuts to "specified ingredients" for allergen labeling and shall always be declared.
Marketing Orders Update: December 2022
USA: Increased Assessment Rate for Dried Prunes Produced in California
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Prune Marketing Committee to increase the assessment rate established for the 2022/23 crop year and subsequent fiscal years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Deadline for comments is December 7, 2022.
USA: Pecans Grown in Multiple States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intends to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas, Marketing Order No. 986.
Deadline for comments is January 17, 2023.