The risk of type 2 diabetes and the some kinds of heart diseases can be reduced simply by eating nuts, scientists after a recent study has disclosed that. The study has claimed that eating one ounce of raw unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts together every day can cut down the risk of various kinds of heart diseases of those people who suffer from metabolic syndrome or MetS. Eating those mixed nuts every day directly leads to a boost up in the levels of serotonin in the bodies of the patients of MetS.

The study was conducted by Cristina Andres – Lacueva and her co workers of Biomarkers and NutriMetabolomics Research Group of the University of Barcelona. They were joined by the Human Nutrition Unit of the Rovira I Virgili University. The respected researchers have asserted that from the consistently rising number of patients of obesity it is clear that more and more people are getting affected by MetS every day. So, to get control over the growing problem of obesity among people it has become very important to increase the levels of serotonin in people that will lead people to feel less hungry, happier and make them owners of more healthy hearts.

The researchers presupposed the effects of nuts on growing abdominal fat, increasing blood pressure, increasing blood sugar, increasing risk of heart diseases and type 2 diabetes which are closely related to MetS. To verify their hypothesis the researchers selected 42 patients of MetS. They suggested 22 patients to eat one ounce of nuts every day. And suggest a “nut-less diet” to the rest of 20 patients. After 12 weeks they examined their urine samples and found that those patients who consumed nuts showed many improved health signs than those patients who avoided nuts. Those patients who consumed nuts were found to have increased levels serotonin.

The study report was published in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research.