ZOE Science & Nutrition Recap: Why nuts make you healthier | Professor Sarah Berry
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Aug 20, 2024 
Professor Sarah Berry, a leading researcher in the health effects of nuts, dispels the myth that they are detrimental to health due to their fat content. She explains how the structure of nuts affects calorie absorption, revealing that we may absorb fewer calories than expected. Sarah shares insights on how eating whole nuts differs from processed versions like nut butters and provides tips for incorporating them into your diet. Discover the surprising ways nuts can boost your health!
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The Food Matrix and Calorie Absorption
- Nuts' cellular structure, the food matrix, affects calorie absorption.
- Whole nuts have 30% fewer absorbed calories than ground nuts, despite identical nutrition labels.
Food Matrix in Different Plants
- The food matrix effect on calorie absorption is consistent across most nuts but varies in other plants.
- In carbohydrate-rich foods like oats, the matrix affects absorption rate, impacting blood sugar response.
Nut Processing and Calorie Absorption
- Processing nuts breaks down their cell walls, increasing fat and calorie absorption.
- Home-ground nut butters likely have lower energy density than commercially ground ones.