Nuts boost serotonin

Metabolic syndrome is a serious and widespread condition. It is five pronged and features high blood pressure, enlarged waist (and high BMI in the obese range), high blood sugar, high blood triglycerides, and reduced good cholesterol. The net result of all of these is a significant increase in risk of heart disease and because obesity in particular is increasing, so is the incidence of metabolic syndrome. Now a new study has found that a simple thing like a handful of nuts every day may be an answer and for a surprising reason.

Raw nuts are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and nutrients but this new research has found that they can also raise levels of the mood boosting neurotransmitter serotonin.

In the new study researchers had a group of people with metabolic syndrome go on a nut-enriched diet for twelve weeks. The amount of nuts added to the diet was around 30 grams of raw walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts each day. These people were compared to another group of people with metabolic syndrome who were told to avoid nuts for twelve weeks (a difficult thing to do in most major cities).

The researchers measured markers in the patients urine and found some interesting changes as a result of the nut addition.

It showed that levels of inflammation in the body had decreased and that is a good thing for heart health. What was surprising though was that eating nuts led to raised levels of metabolites of serotonin in the urine.

So nut eating was raising serotonin levels in the body. As well as making you feel happier serotonin decreases hunger. This means that at least part of the benefit of nuts in metabolic syndrome is reduced kilojoule consumption as a result of boosted serotonin levels.

In retrospect it all makes sense really, after all, have you ever seen a fat, unhappy squirrel?