A high-fat diet is often blamed for rising obesity and diabetes rates but a high-fat food could actually be part of the solution. Researchers at Texas A&M University have found daily pecan consumption can reduce inflammation and prevent obesity, as well as related issues such as fatty liver disease and diabetes.
While it is technically a high-fat food, pecans are loaded with healthy fats as well as polyphenols, a plant-based compound that provides many health benefits.
Texas A&M researchers fed mice a high-fat diet with pecans to test the benefits and published their findings in the journal Nutrients.
"Obesity and diabetes numbers are increasing in modern society worldwide, and the trend in high fat diet consumption is one of the main reasons besides lifestyle and genetic predisposition," said Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, Ph.D., professor of horticulture and food science.
He said pecans can help people maintain a healthy body weight and prevent diabetes even though pecans contain a lot of fat.
“Cisneros-Zevallos's work provides scientific evidence supporting the traditional knowledge in the Americas that pecans are highly nutritious,” said Amit Dhingra, Ph.D., head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences. "Thanks to Dr. Cisneros-Zevallos' work, we now know what potential mechanisms underlie that nutritional benefit. Our department is focused on the areas of sustainability, wellness and food security, and this research illustrates the relevance of horticultural crops for human health."
Researchers found pecans helped the mice increase energy expenditure and reduce inflammation and dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut microorganisms. The study also showed pecans modulate adipose tissue lipolysis, which is the catabolic process leading to the breakdown of triglycerides stored in fat cells and release of fatty acids and glycerol. It also modulated mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle and the liver.
Pecans were shown to reduce low-grade inflammation which can lead to chronic inflammation and trigger a range of diseases.
Researchers estimate that to see the similar results, a person weighing 130 pounds would need to consume about 25 pecans per day. They hope to pursue more research regarding the health benefits from pecans in their natural form or in supplement form.
"This observation is key when designing strategies for studies, the more we know of unique functionalities of pecans, the more possibilities to create healthier products" Cisneros-Zevallos said. "Pecans are of economic and historical importance to Texas and the U.S., and their production provides stability to farmers. This work will aid in the development of novel uses and products from pecans."