8354
0
Posted on Jun 30, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
People who regularly eat almonds could improve their digestive health and reduce their cholesterol, it has been reported.
People who regularly eat almonds could improve their digestive health and reduce their cholesterol, it has been reported.
Researchers working for the Institute of Food Research (IFR) found that almonds include prebiotic properties that stimulate the 'good bacteria' in stomachs and boost the development of the immune system.
Scientist at IFR used the 'Model Gut', a scientific replica of the human digestive system, to investigate the impact of almonds on the body and discovered that finely ground bits of the nut significantly increased the levels of some friendly bacteria.
While high in vitamin E, prior research has revealed that almonds need to be chewed thoroughly if the nut is to stimulate the beneficial bacteria in the intestine system of a person.
The effectiveness of the prebiotic properties contained within an almond area also dependent on the amount of time it spends in the digestive system.
The study, which was funded by the Almond Board of California, was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 
