The use of nuts increases the level of serotonin
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Recent scientific studies have shown that eating nuts increases the level of serotonin in the blood in patients with metabolic syndrome who have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
In the study, scientists first attempted to analyze the effect of a diet rich in nuts on the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disease that, according to WHO estimates, affects about 20% of the adult population of the planet, increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The clinical part of the study consisted of observing two groups of people: the first group consumed foods rich in nuts (in particular, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts), the second group - products that did not contain any nuts at all.
Patients who adhered to a diet rich in nuts, in the urine, higher levels of metabolites of tryptophan and serotonin, fatty acids and polyphenols were determined than those who did not eat nuts. However, scientists have not been able to determine how these metabolites increase due to exogenous intake of these substances with nuts or endogenous stimulation of their own serotonin.
This study was the first to show the usefulness of nuts for health due to the reduction in the body of substances associated with inflammatory processes and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.