Walnut Consumption Suppresses Appetite in the Brain
![walnuts](/sites/default/files/2018-09/walnuts.jpg)
fMRI tests revealed increased activity in right insula, the part of the brain that regulates satiety and cravings, after participants consumed walnuts.
Study in a Sentence: In a well-controlled clinical trial with 10 obese adult volunteers, researchers found that daily consumption of 48 grams of walnuts in a smoothie for five days led to a subjective decrease in appetite correlated with activation of the region in the brain regulating food cravings as shown on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Relative to patients drinking a similarly flavored smoothie without walnuts, patients consuming the walnuts felt fuller and more inclined to make healthier food choices.
Healthy for Humans: The study suggests that promoting walnut consumption can be a potential public health strategy to curb obesity. The study can be adopted to test other foods and compounds for reducing obesity.
Redefining Research: This study demonstrated a human-relevant method to test treatments for human diseases in a well-controlled manner that can rapidly be translated into public health strategies without the use of animal models.
References
- Farr OM, Tuccinardi D, Upadhyay J, Oussaada SM, Mantzoros CS. Walnut consumption increases activation of the insula to highly desirable food cues: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over fMRI study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published online July 17, 2017. doi: 10.1111/dom.13060.