Eating Almonds Daily May Help Reduce Facial Wrinkles, Pigmentation in Some Women: Study

The Tribune (India) ^ | Mar 18, 2021

[nickcarraway]

In addition to the snacks, study participants consumed their regular diets and did not eat any nuts or nut-containing products

Daily consumption of almonds may help reduce the severity of facial wrinkles and skin pigmentation in post-menopausal women with a skin condition, a study claims.

The research, published in the journal Nutrients, confirms and expands on a 2019 study which found that a daily snack of almonds in place of other nut-free snacks improved measures of wrinkle width and severity in postmenopausal women.

The new study involved 49 healthy postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin type 1 or 2, which is characterised by increased tendency to burn with sun exposure.

Researchers at the University of California (UC), Davis in the US randomly assigned participants to one of two groups.

In the intervention group, women ate almonds as a snack, which accounted for 20 per cent of their total daily calorie intake, or 340 calories per day on average (about 60 grams).

The control group consumed a calorie-matched snack that also accounted for 20 per cent of calories: a fig bar, granola bar or pretzels.

In addition to the snacks, study participants consumed their regular diets and did not eat any nuts or nut-containing products.

Skin assessments were made at the start of the study, and again at eight weeks, 16 weeks and 24 weeks.

At each of these visits, facial wrinkles and facial pigment intensity were assessed using high-resolution facial imaging and validated three dimensional (3D) facial modelling and measurement.

Skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and excretion of sebum -- an oily, waxy substance produced by the body's sebaceous glands -- were also assessed.

TEWL is the amount of water that passively evaporates through skin to the external environment due to water vapor pressure gradient on both sides of the skin barrier.

The researchers saw a statistically significant reduction in wrinkle severity in the group consuming almonds, finding that at 16 weeks, there was a reduction of 15 per cent and at 24 weeks, a reduction of 16 per cent.

There was also a statistically significant decrease in overall facial pigment intensity or unevenness of skin tone in the almond group -- a 20 per cent reduction by week 16 that remained so at week 24, they said.

The researchers noted that body weight remained constant for both the almond group and the control group from baseline to 24 weeks.

"Daily consumption of almonds may be an effective means of improving the appearance of facial wrinkles and skin tone among postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II. Consumers may describe this reduced pigmentation effect as having a more even skin tone," said Raja Sivamani, dermatologist and lead researcher of the study.

“Our findings emphasise the need to look at almonds as a whole food with multiple nutrient components including alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and good unsaturated fats, rather than oversimplifying potential benefits due to one nutrient alone.

According to Sivamani, almonds are high in alpha-tocopherol which has antioxidant functions, and may be partially responsible for the effects that we see in both wrinkles and skin tone in postmenopausal women.

The researchers noted that the limitations of the study include its duration of 24 weeks, and as such results do not provide insight into the potential effects of longer-term almond intake.

Additionally, the study participants were postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II, characterised by increased tendency to burn with sun exposure.

The team noted that more research is warranted to investigate the impact of almond consumption in other populations.

[Mount Athos]

was this funded by the almond industry

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I think Potato Chips, Doritos, Fritos, French Fries, etc have the same effect. Right?

[dkGba]

Hah! I can tell you this does not work!🤣

[Third Wheel]

“in some women”

LOL! How vague can they be with this? How many is “some”? Two, ten, 20 or a million?

[skr]

Sort of. The salt content helps you to retain water and fill out the wrinkles that way. Much cheaper than Botox!

[MachIV]

I heard a few years ago a few almonds every day has anti-cancer qualities to it so I down a few each morning on my way out the door.

[nickcarraway]

Eating a Handful of Nuts Lowers Heart Disease, Cancer Risk

There are several studies to this effect.

[MomwithHope]

maybe, I think this was for sure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJCTIPWPNtw

[Beowulf9]

Yeah because you will be so constipated and straining all the time it will pull your face out.

[Jamestown1630]

I heard that back in the 1970s.

We also heard that sardines were full of nucleic acid, and would delay aging. Millions of women gulped down lots of sardines - until we became sick of them :-)

[Jamestown1630]

As I recall, raw almonds were suggested as healthy - not those wonderful smoked and salted ones you get in the little can at the grocery or drugstore :-)

[WLusvardi]

Please, please do not eat more than a few almonds at one time. They are loaded with oxalates that will cause perforation of your gut lining leading to leaky gut, brain fog, fatigue, dehydration, pain all over body, and for some, breast cancer, heart attacks, autism, etc.

[conservative98]

Buying more almonds tonight.

[nickcarraway]

I don’t know if this specified raw ones, but they probably are healthy. Try the sprouted almonds, if you have a chance.

[Jamestown1630]

Oh, my.

I’ve eaten so many over the decades, raw as well as those wonderful ‘Smokehouse’ ones, that I must be dead by now...

(Is ‘Brain Fog’ anything like ‘Brain Cloud’?)

[PeachyKeen]

I’m a cashew girl. Eat a handful every day and I have never looked so beautiful in my 67 years!😁

[nickcarraway]

I know they talk about oxalates, but if you avoid oxalates, what are you going to do: just eat yoghurt and eggs?

[conservative98]

More on nuts. My gurus, Dr Weil, eats a handful a day, raw.

https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/nutrition/nuts-for-nuts/

I eat nuts frequently, mostly raw and unsalted. I store them in the refrigerator until I need them. If you like, you can toast nuts yourself by stirring them about in a dry skillet over medium heat. Or spread them on a baking sheet placed in a 350-degree oven; toss them occasionally until they are done. Use up toasted nuts quickly, because their unsaturated oils oxidize quickly on exposure to heat, light and air, creating rancidity. Rancid oils are pro-inflammatory and carcinogenic. Always smell nuts before you eat them or add them to recipes to be sure they are fresh.

As you noted, despite their beneficial nutritional profile, nuts are relatively high in calories, so enjoy them in moderation. I usually eat a handful A day – my favorites are walnuts, cashews, and almonds.'

Andrew Weil, M.D.

[Jamestown1630]

One of my favorite YouTubers, at ‘David’s Tutorials’, has a great recipe for ‘Savory Buttered Pecans’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=musbl8x3ZJo