Eating a handful of almonds a day can reduce constipation and improve gut health, according to new research.
Certain foods have a positive influence on the behaviour of gut bacteria, which can affect our health and digestive system. A study published in October found the consumption of almonds significantly increases the body's production of butyrate, a fatty acid that strengthens the gut wall and stops it leaking or becoming inflamed.
The study by researchers at King's College London was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and funded by the Almond Board of California. It looked at the impact of whole and ground almonds by splitting a group of 87 healthy adults, who were already eating less than the recommended amount of dietary fibre.
