Eating a handful of almonds a day may significantly improve your gut health.
According to a new studyTrusted Source funded by the Almond Board of California and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
when we digest almonds, it increases the production of a short-chain fatty acid known as butyrate.
The health benefits of almonds The researchers looked at the benefits of eating almonds over 4 weeks in 87 people between the ages of 18 and 45.
who were already eating less than the recommended daily amount of fiber,
and who were snacking on nutritionally deficient snacks such as potato chips or muffins about twice a day.
Nutrition experts who spoke with Healthline agreed that eating almonds is a smart choice for improving gut health because of fiber.
If you’re curious about trying almonds for gut health, know that some effects may be felt immediately and others may take weeks to months.
“It really depends on how far along the disease path an individual has traveled,” said Heimowitz.
Preventing complications with better gut health Quoting Hippocrates, Sapola says, “all disease begins in the gut and over the past 2,400 years, this statement remains true.”
Improving gut health is foundational to a person’s overall well-being because, without properly a functioning digestive system,
you aren’t fully absorbing nutrients. At that point, Sapola explains, you could be eating nourishing food without reaping full health benefits.