The body of evidence about nuts and health continues to grow, with new local and international research papers regularly published.

Key studies: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Consumption of nuts and seeds and health outcomes including cardiovascular, diabetes and metabolic disease, cancer, and mortality: An umbrella review. (Balakrishna et al, 2022).
This comprehensive umbrella review compiled the evidence from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on nuts and health. Among the findings, eating a handful of nuts a day, compared to eating no nuts, was associated with a 21% reduced risk for CVD, and a 22% reduced risk of dying from all causes. The researchers say the evidence supports dietary recommendations to eat a handful of nuts a day.

Nuts and seeds – A scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. (Fadnes and Balakrishna, 2024).
This scoping review, of the best evidence to date on health outcomes from the consumption of nuts and seeds, informed the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Overall, it supports dietary recommendations to increase consumption to a serving of nuts and seeds per day. Among the conclusions, an intake of 28–30 g/day of nuts, compared to not eating nuts, is estimated to translate to ~20% relative reduction in the risks of cardiovascular disease and premature deaths. And for cancers, consumption of a serving of nuts is inversely associated with cancer mortality.

Composition of nuts and their potential health benefits – An overview. (Goncalves, 2023)
This overview summarises the health benefits of nuts – and particularly the link between nut consumption and reduced risk of certain chronic diseases. It describes nut nutrients with recognised health benefits, including dietary fibre, protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and bioactive compounds. It also touches on the impact of nut processing on nutrients and phytochemicals, and consumer perceptions of nuts.   

Groundnut and tree nuts: A comprehensive review on their lipid components, phytochemicals, and nutraceutical properties. (Maestri, 2023)
This systematic review analyses the general chemical profile of peanuts and certain tree nuts (almond, walnut, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio, macadamia, pecan), particularly focusing on the bioactive properties of their lipid components and phytochemicals. It also reviews the scientific literature linking consumption of nuts, and/or some of their components, with ameliorative and/or preventive effects on certain diseases, including cancer, and cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Health benefits related to tree nut consumption and their bioactive compounds. (Gervasi et al, 2021).
This review summarises the research for the impact of nuts on body weight, glucose modulation, cardiovascular risk, inflammation and oxidative stress, cognitive performance and the gut microbiota. It particularly points to a beneficial role of nuts in preventing certain chronic diseases, and protecting against oxidative stress and inflammation. The researchers highlight that the unique combination of nutrients and bioactive compounds nuts contain are responsible.

Nut and legume consumption and human health: An umbrella review of observational studies. (Martini et al, 2021).
This study reviewed previously-published meta-analyses of observational studies on nut and legume intake and disease, and assessed the level of evidence. Out of the six meta-analyses focussed on legume intake, and 15 on nut intake, a possible association with decreased risk of colorectal adenoma and coronary heart disease was found for higher legume consumption, and a decreased risk of cardiovascular and cancer mortality, colon cancer, hypertension and ischaemic stroke for higher nut consumption.

Nuts: Natural pleiotropic nutraceuticals. (Ros et al, 2021).
This narrative review paper summarises nut nutrients and the increasing evidence that nuts positively impact a myriad of health outcomes. The macronutrients, micronutrients and phytochemicals of nuts benefit health, particularly a reduced risk of CVD and related metabolic alterations. As nuts are rich in beneficial bioactive compounds and positively impact various health outcomes, the researchers suggest they can be considered ‘natural pleiotropic nutraceuticals’ (that is, having favourable and wide-ranging health benefits). As such, they suggest eating nuts daily should be considered an essential feature of a health-promoting dietary pattern.

Food groups and intermediate disease markers: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials. (Schwingshackl et al, 2018).
A recent meta-analysis provides evidence that an increased intake of nuts, legumes and wholegrains is more effective at improving metabolic health (including LDL cholesterol and TAGs) than other food groups.

Review of nut phytochemicals, fat-soluble bio-actives, antioxidant components and health effects. (2015).
Nuts, which contain phytochemicals, fat-soluble bio-actives, minor components as well as nutrient and non-nutrient anti-oxidants beyond their basic nutritional functions, offer an excellent choice for heart-healthy snack food and food additive. Nuts should be consumed with their skin (pellicles), whenever possible, because of their high phytochemical content as well as antioxidant activity.

Tree nut phytochemicals: Composition, antioxidant capacity, bioactivity, impact factors. A systematic review of almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts. (Bolling et al, 2011).
The phytochemicals found in tree nuts have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, antiviral, chemo-preventive and hypocholesterolaemic actions, all of which are known to affect the initiation and progression of several pathogenic processes.

Dietary fiber intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. (Ramezani et al, 2023).
This systematic review and meta-analysis, of 64 prospective cohort studies with a total of >3.5 million participants, found that higher consumption of total dietary fibre significantly reduced the risk of all-cause mortality, CVD-related mortality, and cancer-related mortality – by 23, 26 and 22%, respectively. Also, dietary fibre from whole grains, cereals, and vegetables was linked with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, while dietary fibre from nuts and seeds reduced the risk of CVD-related death by 43%.

Other evidence

Consumption of tree nuts as snacks reduces metabolic syndrome risk in young adults: A randomized trial. (Sumislawski et al, 2023).
This randomised parallel-group trial, over 16-weeks, included 84 young adults (aged 22–36 years) with overweight or obesity, and at least one metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factor. They received overall guidance for weight maintenance. Some ate, twice daily, 33.5g mixed tree nuts, while others had a carbohydrate-rich snack – with the same kilojoules, protein, fibre, and sodium as the nuts. It found that daily tree nut consumption reduced MetS risk by improving waist circumference, lipid biomarkers, and/or insulin sensitivity – without requiring caloric restriction.

Mixed nut consumption improves brain insulin sensitivity: A randomized, single-blinded, controlled, crossover trial in older adults with overweight or obesity. (Nijssen et al, 2023).
In this randomised, single-blinded, controlled, crossover trial, 28 healthy older adults, with overweight or obesity, received either daily 60g mixed nuts or no nuts (control) for 16 weeks, separated by an 8-week washout period. Brain insulin sensitivity was assessed. Among the findings, nut consumption significantly improved insulin sensitivity in specific brain regions (occipital and frontal) – which may be important for the prevention of age-related metabolic and cognitive diseases. Body weight and composition did not change.

Association of tree nut consumption with cardiovascular disease and cardiometabolic risk factors and health outcomes in US adults: NHANES 2011–2018. (Lopez-Nayman et al, 2023).
The cross-sectional study, of 18,150 US-based adults aged ≥20 years (part of the NHANES 2011-2018 dataset), found just 8% of all participants consumed tree nuts (defined as those consuming ≥¼ ounce, or 7.09g nuts, per day). The average (mean) usual intake among these tree nut consumers was 39.5 ± 1.8g/day. Among the findings, tree nut consumers were less likely to have obesity, low HDL-cholesterol, and elevated apolipoprotein B, and had a lower mean waist circumference, compared with those who did not consume nuts.

Nuts and seeds consumption mitigates mortality risk in MAFLD: A comprehensive cohort analysis with optimal intake insights. (Chen et al, 2023).
This prospective cohort study involved 13,762 US-based study participants, from within the nationally-representative NHANES dataset, followed across a median of 9.6 years. Among the findings, nuts and seeds consumption was linked with a 15% reduced risk of all-cause mortality in people with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) (HR, 0.85; 95%CI, 0.74–0.97). The suggested optimal consumption of nuts and seeds, linked with protection against all-cause mortality, was 3.5-4.0 ounces (100-115g) per day.

Association between nut consumption and low muscle strength among Korean adults. (Jun et al, 2023).
This cross-sectional study, among Korean adults, explored the link between nut consumption and low muscle strength – measured by hand-grip strength. Around one in four Korean adults were consuming nuts. Nut consumption was associated with lower risk of low muscle strength among older adults ≥65 years (men: OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.38, 0.79; women: OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51, 0.93), but not younger (19-39 years) or middle-aged adults (40-64 years). It suggests that consuming nuts might be beneficial in lowering the risk of low muscle strength among Korean older adults.

Legumes and nuts intake in relation to metabolic health status, serum brain derived neurotrophic factor and adropin levels in adults. (Assi et al, 2023).
This cross-sectional study, involving 527 Iranian adults, explored the link between legume and nut intake and metabolic health. It found that higher consumption of legumes and nuts was linked with lower odds of a ‘metabolic unhealthy’ phenotype, in people of both normal weight and with overweight/obesity. Higher consumption of legumes and nuts was also related to decreased odds of some components of metabolic health status, including hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension.

Association between nut consumption and frailty in the elderly: A large sample cross-sectional study. (Yang et al, 2023).
This study investigated the link between nut consumption and frailty among 10,033 US-based older people (above 60 years), using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. It found that nut consumption was linked with a significantly lower risk of frailty, compared with not eating nuts. And the impact on preventing frailty was particularly observed in those without hypertension. The researchers concluded that nut intake, at around 30g/day, can help improve quality of life in older adults.

Effect of nut consumption on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (Pan et al, 2023).
This first-of-its-kind meta-analysis, of observational studies, found nut consumption may help protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – the main cause of chronic liver disease. A total of 11 articles were included. Results showed that the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81–0.99, p < 0.001) when comparing the highest and lowest total nut intake, indicating a significant negative correlation. Subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of nuts on NAFLD was more significant in females.

Life expectancy can increase by up to 10 years following sustained shifts towards healthier diets in the United Kingdom. (Fadnes et al, 2023).
This modelling study, using data from 467,354 participants in the UK Biobank cohort, estimated how sustained dietary changes could impact life expectancy. Among the findings, sustained dietary change from ‘unhealthy’ to ‘longevity-associated dietary patterns’ was associated with 10.8 and 10.4 years gain in life expectancy in males and females, respectively. The largest gains were obtained from consuming more whole grains and nuts, and less sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats.

Plant-based dietary patterns and Parkinson’s disease: A prospective analysis of the UK Biobank. (Tresserra-Rimbau et al, 2023).
This prospective cohort study, of 126,000 people who were tracked over almost 12 years, examined the link between three different plant-based diets and incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Among the findings, participants in the highest ‘healthful plant-based diet index’ quartile had a 22% lower risk of PD, compared to the lowest quartile. And in food-based analyses, higher intakes of vegetables, nuts, and tea were associated with a lower risk of PD (28%, 31% and 25%, respectively).

Estimating impact of food choices on life expectancy: A modelling study. (Fadnes et al, 2022).
Sustained change from a typical to an optimised diet from early age could translate into an increase in life expectancy of more than 10 years. Gains are reduced substantially with delayed initiation of changes, particularly when approaching the age of 80 years. An increase in the intake of legumes, whole grains, and nuts, and a reduction in the intake of red meat and processed meats, contributed most to these gains. Among the findings, consuming 25g nuts/day from 20 years of age could increase life expectancy by almost two years.

Long-term consumption of nuts (including peanuts, peanut butter, walnuts, and other nuts) in relation to the risk of frailty in older women: Evidence from a cohort study. (Wang et al, 2023).
This large US-based prospective cohort study looked at the link between nut consumption and frailty in an aging female population (71,704 non-frail women, ≥60 years old). Frailty was defined as having ≥3 of the FRAIL components (fatigue, lower strength, reduced aerobic capacity, multiple chronic conditions, significant weight loss), and was assessed every four years, from 1992 to 2016. It found a strong and consistent inverse association between regular nut consumption and incident frailty. Consuming ≥5 serves/wk of nuts was linked with a 20% lower risk of frailty, compared to <1 serving/month.

Nut and seed consumption is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in females but not males: Findings from the 2005–2018 NHANES data. (Wong et al, 2023)
This cross-sectional analysis used data from 22,687 adults involved in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Compared to non-consumers, female (but not male), habitual consumers of either nuts or seeds had lower odds of having metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.71, 0.97). Combined consumption of nuts and seeds up to 15g/day, but not in higher intake levels, was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome, high fasting glucose, central obesity, and low HDL-cholesterol in females. Nut consumption seemed to be the main driver of these relationships.

Nuts as functional foods: Variation of nutritional and phytochemical profiles and their in vitro bioactive properties. (Dojdylo et al, 2022).
The study offers a summary of the nutritional (fat, fatty acids, minerals, sugars) and bioactive compounds (polyphenols, tocochromanols, triterpene) in nuts, and their influence on in vitro anti-diabetic (pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase), anti-obesity (pancreatic lipase) and anti-cholinergic (AChE and BuChE) inhibitory activity. The researchers looked at eight nuts – pecans, pine nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds, cashews, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. They conclude that nuts “should be one of the important components of the daily human diet’.

Nut consumption and effects on chronic kidney disease and mortality in the United States. (Wang et al, 2022).
This study looked at the association between the consumption frequency of nuts and the prevalence and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among 6,072 adults (aged ≥20 years) in the USA. Consuming nuts 1–6 times per week was linked with a lower prevalence of CKD. And for those with CKD, consuming nuts 1–6 per week was associated with lower all-cause mortality. In addition, higher nut consumption was significantly associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the non-CKD population.

Nuts and metabolic syndrome: Reducing the burden of metabolic syndrome in menopause. (Bauset et al, 2022).
This review summarises the evidence to date – prioritising meta-analyses and systemic reviews – on how nut consumption impacts the risk factors for metabolic syndrome that are associated with menopause. It suggests nuts have a beneficial impact on lipids and on carbohydrate metabolism, a likely reduction in both the process of fat accumulation and increase in waist circumference typically linked with menopause, and a potential, but minimal, reduction in blood pressure.

Small targeted dietary changes can yield substantial gains for human and environmental health. (Stylianou et al, 2021)
US-based researchers evaluated 5,853 foods to identify environmentally sustainable foods that promote health. They quantified whether the foods either added or took minutes away from a ‘healthy life’. Results suggested that substituting just 10% of daily calorie intake from beef or processed meat in favour of fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes and ‘selected seafood’ adds 48 minutes of healthy life every day and cuts our carbon footprint by a third (33%). Eating a 30g serve of nuts and seeds provides a gain of 25 minutes of healthy life per day.

Associations of total nut and peanut intakes with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a Japanese community: The Takayama study. (Yamakawa et al, 2021)
This Japanese-based cohort study tracked >31,000 adults over 16 years, to investigate the link between total nut and peanut intakes with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The mean intakes of total nuts were 1.8 and 1.4g/day in men and women, respectively. It found tree nut and peanut intakes, even in low amounts, were linked with a reduced risk of mortality, particularly in men. This is one of the few studies to have looked at this association in non-white, non-Western populations.

Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors modifies the association between nut consumption and metabolic syndrome incidence. (Hosseinpour-Niazi et al, 2021).
This prospective cohort study found an association between consuming nuts and a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), particularly among more physically active study participants. The researchers tracked 1,915 adults, who were part of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose study, for around nine years. Consuming nuts higher than the median and having moderate to high physical activity levels resulted a 26% and 37% reduction in Mets, respectively. Participants who did not smoke had lower risk of MetS, regardless of the amount of nuts they consumed. And the risk reduction with nuts was seen in both educated and non-educated groups. 

Metabolic syndrome features and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after 1-year follow-up in the PREDIMED-Plus Study. (Julibert et al, 2020).
The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in nut consumption over a one-year follow-up were associated with changes in features of metabolic syndrome in a middle-aged and older Spanish population at high cardiovascular disease risk. It found that features of metabolic syndrome and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after one-year follow-up. As nut consumption increased, between each tertile, there was a significant decrease in waist circumference, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, weight, and BMI, and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol in women.

In vitro anti-HSV-1 activity of polyphenol-rich extracts and pure polyphenol compounds derived from pistachio kernels. (Mussarra-Pizzo et al, 2020).
This study examined the activity of polyphenol-rich extracts of natural shelled pistachio kernels on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication. The results indicate that polyphenols from pistachios are effective against herpes simplex virus type 1. This study concluded that the antiviral effects of pistachio extracts are the result of a balance of the individual polyphenolic components (antioxidants) that in combination exert the anti-viral activity.

First course DASH, second course Mediterranean: Comparing renal outcomes for two ‘heart-healthy’ diets (Yazdi et al, 2020).
What do the DASH and Mediterranean diets have in common? According to the authors of this new review, renal health benefits – including reduced risk for chronic kidney disease, nephrolithiasis, and mortality due to all renal causes. They put the benefits of both eating patterns largely down to their common focus on whole, plant-based foods, such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

Does ‘activating’ nuts affect nutrient bioavailability? (Kumari et al, 2020)
This study assessed the effects of different soaking regimes on phytate and mineral concentrations of whole and chopped almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, and walnuts. The treatments were: 1. Raw; 2. soaked for 12 h in salt solution; 3. soaked for 4 h in salt solution; 4. soaked for 12 h in water. Although there were some statistically significant differences in phytate concentrations between treatments, no soaking treatment reduced phytate concentrations to a level that would result in clinically meaningful improvements in the bioavailability of minerals. In summary, the authors found no evidence that soaking is an effective strategy to reduce phytate concentrations and improve the nutrient bioavailability of almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts and walnuts.

Nut consumption in a representative survey of Australians: A secondary analysis of the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. (Nikodijevic et al, 2020).
Exploration of nut consumption in a representative sample of Australians identified that nut intake does not meet recommendations. Mean nut intake was 4·61g/d, with only 5.6 % of nut consumers consuming the target of 30 g of nuts per day. Higher nut consumption was not adversely associated with higher body weight, aligning with the current evidence base. Given the current levels of nut consumption in Australia, strategies to increase nut intake to recommended levels are required.

Tree nut snack consumption is associated with better diet quality and CVD risk in the UK adult population: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2014. (Dikariyanto et al, 2020).
Researchers examined the association of tree nut snack consumption with diet quality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in UK adults from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Tree nut snack consumers report better dietary quality and consumption was associated with lower CVD risk factors. Encouraging replacement of less healthy snacks with tree nuts should be encouraged as part of general dietary guidelines.

Consumption of nuts at midlife and healthy aging in women. (Freitas-Simoes et al, 2020).
Results of this research showed a significant association between the consumption of nuts and healthy aging at midlife, and a greater likelihood of overall health and well-being at older ages. Walnuts appeared to have the strongest relation to healthy aging. The findings support the notion that long-term nut consumption merits as a strategy contributing to a healthier lifespan.

Bio-actives and health benefits of nuts and dried fruits. (2020).
This review summarizes recent findings on bioactive constituents, health claims, and health benefits of nuts and dried fruits and also discusses their great potential as healthy foods to benefit a number of diseases afflicting human beings.

Hazelnut consumption improves testicular antioxidant function and semen quality in young and old male rats. (2019).
Hazelnut supplementation in the diets of young and old rats significantly improved testicular function and semen quality.

Metabolizable energy from cashew nuts is less than that predicted by Atwater Factors. (2019).
The average available energy content of a 30g handful of cashews is 137kcal – 16% lower than what is found on food labels. These results are in line with previous studies suggesting that the Atwater factors over-estimate the calories in nuts.

The health burden of preventable disease in Australia: A systematic review. (2019).
Although the methods used to estimate preventable health burden varied greatly between the studies included in this systematic review, all found that a substantial amount of death and disability was attributable to lifestyle-related risk factors. It found that of the 15 dietary risk factors, diets low in nuts and seeds, low in fruit, low in vegetables and low in wholegrains attributed to the greatest number of deaths.

Prospective association between nut consumption and physical function in older men and women. (2019).
An average nut intake of ~15g/day was associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of impaired agility and mobility in men, and with lower risk of overall physical function impairment in women, compared with those consuming no nuts.

Association between nut consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults. (2019).
A recent cohort study of more than 20,000 healthy adults showed that consuming nuts more than 4x/week resulted in a 20% lower prevalence of NAFLD, which remained significant after adjusting for variables.

Development of a database for estimation of the nut content of Australian single-ingredient and multi-ingredient foods. (2019).
Nuts were found in a wide range of foods, highlighting the importance of developing specific databases to facilitate estimation of core food intake. This database can be used to estimate nut intake in the Australian population and explore associations between nut intake and health outcomes.

Anti-aging potential of tree nuts with a focus on the phytochemical composition, molecular mechanisms and thermal stability of major bioactive compounds. (2018).
Tree nuts, complete functional foods, contain macro- and micronutrients of high biological value. These bioactive compounds have a synergistic effect in preventing and delaying many age-related pathologies (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, certain types of cancer, and several neurodegenerative diseases). The consumption of tree nuts has been scientifically proven to improve lifespan and health span and should be a part of a healthy diet in the elderly.

Beneficial effects of walnut consumption on human health: role of micronutrients. (2018).
Walnuts are optimal healthful foods, containing a number of bioactive nutrients, which helps to explain their health promoting effects.

A comparison of perceptions of nuts between the general public, dietitians, general practitioners, and nurses. (2018).
Significant differences exist between health care professional groups, and between health care professionals and the general public in terms of beliefs, attitudes and perceptions of nuts. Results indicate that a greater understanding of the health benefits of, as well as addressing the barriers to nut consumption, is important to increasing nut intake throughout the population.

Can nuts mitigate malnutrition in older adults? A conceptual framework. (2018).
Nuts are nutrient dense, typically rich in healthy fats, fibre and protein together with a range of essential vitamins and minerals. The review explores the role of different forms of nuts (such as pastes), timing, sensory monotony and variety as methods in need of further investigation to help determine the feasibility of nuts in preventing and reversing undernutrition among older adults.

Nutrition across the life stages: AIHW. (2018).
Across all the life stages, Australians are not faring well, with up to 41% of total energy coming from discretionary foods. Australians are eating too much sugar, saturated fat and sodium, and not eating enough of the foods from the five food groups. It’s clear that changes are needed to improve the nutritional quality of Australians’ diets and that multiple areas require improvement, rather than a single food group, food type or nutrient.

The economic burden of not meeting food recommendations in Canada: The cost of doing nothing. (2018).
Nuts and seeds and whole grains were the top cost contributors rather than vegetables and fruit. Our findings suggest that unhealthy eating constitutes a tremendous economic burden to Canada that is similar in magnitude to the burden of smoking and larger than that of physical inactivity which were estimated using similar approaches. A status quo in promotion of healthy eating will allow this burden to continue. Interventions to reduce the health and economic burden of unhealthy eating in Canada may be more effective if they are broad in focus and include promotion of nuts and seeds and whole grains along with vegetables and fruit rather than have a narrow focus such as primarily on vegetables and fruit.

Walnut consumption for two years and leukocyte telomere attrition in Mediterranean elders: results of a randomized controlled trial. (2018).
The inclusion of 30-60g walnuts/day for 2 years delayed telomere attrition (a possible hallmark for ageing) in older adults, suggesting that walnuts might impact ageing in older adults.

The effects of ‘activating’ almonds on consumer acceptance and gastrointestinal tolerance. (2018).
According to a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, soaking (or activating) almonds did not reduce phytates, nor did it improve GI tolerance when compared to un-soaked nuts.

Associations between nut consumption and health vary between omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. (2017).
Higher nut consumption appeared overall to be associated with greater benefits amongst omnivores compared to vegetarians and vegans. Findings support existing literature around beneficial effects of nut consumption and suggest that benefits may be larger among omnivores. Nut promotion strategies may have the highest population impact by specifically targeting this group.