Handful of almonds may help dieters

(CNW)  A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows women who ate 344 calories worth of almonds (slightly more than two ounces) every day for one 10-week period did not gain weight during that period. 

The researchers determined the study participants felt satisfied, so they compensated for most of the calories in almonds by replacing other, mostly carbohydrate-rich foods, in their normal daily diet with the almonds. The researchers found the fibre in almonds appears to block some of the fat they contain. So, in reality, almonds may provide fewer calories to the body than the food label states.

Almonds have proven benefits in lowering LDL cholesterol, but traditionally have not been considered a diet food because they are relatively high in calories.