Almonds may benefit digestive health

Almonds may have a prebiotic benefit and encourage digestive health, according to a study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

The study, by the UK Institute of Food Research, used a model gut to digest almonds before applying them to an in vitro batch system to mimic the bacterial fermentation in the large intestine and monitoring their effect on samples of intestinal bacteria. The culture showed a significantly-increased level of certain beneficial digestive bacteria.

The effect was not demonstrated when the fat content was removed from the almonds, suggesting it is the almond lipid that encourages healthy bacterial growth. The amount of lipid reaching the bacteria is increased when almonds are finely ground or chewed, suggesting that processed almonds are more beneficial.