LIVERPOOL, UK (StudyFinds.org) – Has Thanksgiving ever brought down your diet? You are probably not alone. With vacation weight gain being a major problem for many, a new study has found the one snack that can keep your vacation appetite (and waistline) in check: prunes.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool found that eating more prunes helped a group of dieters better control their appetites, consume fewer calories, and even lose a little more weight than people choosing others. snacks during a 12 week test.
“These studies demonstrate that dried fruits can both produce satiety and be incorporated into the diet during weight management,” said Professor Jason CG Halford, president of the European Association for the Study of Lymphoma. obesity (EASO), in a press release.
Researchers looked at the impact of consuming prunes in two phases. The first compared the reactions of participants who ate prunes, raisins, or jelly-like candies during the experiment. The team found that people who ate prunes generally consumed the fewest calories during their next meal. Prune snackers also reported feeling less hungry throughout the day, feeling more full after eating, and feeling like they can’t eat that much later.
Prunes facilitate weight loss
In Part 2, the study authors looked at how much weight each person lost after completing a 12-week weight loss program. They divided the volunteers into two groups, with one eating prunes as a daily snack and the other only receiving healthy snack advice, but being able to choose the snack they wanted.
Although the researchers say the difference in weight loss between the two groups was not significant in terms of total weight lost, the results show that participants in the prune group lost slightly more weight on average (4, 4 pounds versus 3.4 pounds). People who ate prunes also told the team that they found it easier to lose weight than those who ate other snacks.
“This study reveals that nutrient-rich prunes may offer an advantage over other snack choices due to their positive effects on satiety and appetite control,” adds Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, Nutrition Advisor RD for the California Prune Board.
“This is the first data to demonstrate both weight loss and the absence of negative side effects when consuming prunes as part of a weight management regimen,” concludes Halford.
A recent poll found that Americans expect to gain eight pounds during the holiday season. While prunes have a reputation for being a snack people choose purely for constipation relief, researchers say preparing a bowl at your next holiday party can cure you of festive overeating.
The results appear in the newspaper Nutritional Bulletin.
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