Pecans: A Defense Against Obesity and Diabetes, Says Texas A&M Study

A study from Texas A&M University highlights the benefits of pecans in preventing obesity and diabetes. Published in the specialized journal MDPI, this research demonstrates that pecans offer multiple health advantages, such as reducing inflammation, maintaining body weight, and lowering the risk of diabetes.

Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, a professor of horticulture and food science at the Department of Horticultural Sciences within Texas A&M, emphasizes the rising numbers of people affected by obesity and diabetes in modern societies worldwide. He points out that, in addition to lifestyle and genetic predisposition, the trend of consuming high-fat diets is one of the main reasons for this increase. Thus, pecans emerge as a healthy alternative to such diets.

Originating from the southeastern United States and Mexico, the pecan, a fruit from the pecan tree, has long been recognized for its health benefits. South American traditions already regarded it as a source of essential nutrients.

To confirm this popular belief, researchers conducted studies on mice, providing them with various diets. The results showed that pecans promote energy expenditure, reduce dysbiosis (imbalance in gut flora), and alleviate inflammation in these rodents.

Researchers highlight that pecans act on the lipolysis of adipose tissue and the mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscles. Their anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation at an early stage, thereby preventing its progression to chronic inflammation and reducing the risk of developing various common diseases, even in cases of high-fat diets.

According to Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, the lead author of the study, this demonstrates that pecans can maintain body weight and prevent diabetes despite a high-fat diet.

Considering pecans as a superfood, particularly rich in nutrients, researchers suggest consuming them as they are or in the form of dietary supplements. They also encourage exploring new ways to incorporate them into the diet, thus paving the way for the creation of healthier products.