The body of evidence about nuts and health continues to grow. These local and international research papers, recently published, corroborate decades of research about the importance of a regular handful of nuts in a healthy diet.

Knowledge, practices, and perceptions of nut metabolisable energy on nutrition labels in Australia: Consumers’ and stakeholders’ perspectives. (Nikodijevic et al, 2015).
This qualitative study consisted of focus groups and interviews, with 20 participants – both nut consumers and stakeholders, including dietitians. It explored perceptions around including nut metabolisable energy on nutrition labels, and how this may impact nut consumption. Five major themes were generated. Among these, nutrition labelling was perceived as confusing for consumers, and if used, needs to be clearly presented and positively framed. Overall, the study found that presenting nut metabolisable energy on nutrition labels may not be a straightforward solution to resolving concerns about the impact of nut consumption on body weight.

Are nuts safe in diverticulosis? A mixed-methods systematic review of available evidence. (Voniatis et al, 2025).
This systematic review, of nine observational studies and >2 million person-years of follow-up, found no evidence that nut consumption increases the risk of diverticulosis or diverticulitis. Instead, nut consumption was shown to be protective against diverticulosis, and had no adverse effect on diverticulitis incidence. The findings challenge historical guidelines on nut avoidance in diverticular disease. Instead, they align with modern cohort evidence showing that whole-plant foods, rich in fibre, unsaturated lipids, and polyphenols, do not exacerbate diverticular complications. The findings also contradict the notion that insoluble fragments lead to inflammation.

Impact of a 12-week hypocaloric weight loss diet with mixed tree nuts vs. pretzels on trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels in overweight adults. (Lei et al, 2025).
This trial, involving 95 overweight and obese adults, explored the impact of a 12-week weight loss diet (500 kcal/day energy deficit) – with either 42g of mixed tree nuts (MTN) or pretzels (providing the same kilojoules as the nuts) as snacks – on plasma levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Body weight and TMAO levels were significantly reduced in both groups, with no overall difference between the MTN and pretzel groups. But among participants with the poorest quality diets at the start of the study, incorporating MTN resulted in a more profound reduction in TMAO levels, compared to the pretzel control. TMAO is a gut microbiome metabolite linked to cardiovascular disease.

Ingesting nuts can regulate adipokines expression in individuals living with overweight and obesity: A narrative review of what is known so far. (Campos et al, 2025).
This review, of 15 articles, explored the impact of consuming nuts on the production of adipokines – a large group of molecules made by fat cells in the body. It reports that studies show regular nut consumption reduces total- and LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with overweight and obesity, but few studies show consistent changes in adipokine levels. A decrease in the concentration of the adipokine interleukin-6, with nut consumption, appears the most consistent. While further research is needed in this area, the researchers say a good strategy is to include at least 30g of mixed nuts in the diet of people with overweight and obesity.

Infant diet recommendations reduce IgE-mediated egg, peanut and cow’s milk allergies. (Walker et al, 2025).
This Australian research compared the prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergies at 1-year of age between two cohorts – before (cohort 1) and after (cohort 2) the Australian infant feeding and allergy prevention guidelines changed (in 2016) to recommend introducing common food allergens earlier during infancy. The combined prevalence of IgE-mediated peanut, egg and/or cow’s milk allergies was 4.1% in cohort 2, compared to 12.6% in cohort 1. Specifically, peanut allergy was five times lower when peanuts were introduced earlier (cohort 2, compared with cohort 1). This study is the first to show a reduced prevalence of multiple food allergies following implementation of the updated guidelines.

Real-world impact on dietary intake and quality of life post-successful oral food challenge to peanut and tree nuts. (Shen et al, 2025).
This study followed up New Zealand children who had completed, at least six months earlier, an oral food challenge to peanuts, tree nuts or a combination of nuts (mixed nut). Attaining a ‘tolerant food-challenge outcome’ did not guarantee ongoing ingestion of the challenged food allergen, particularly with tree nuts. The family’s dietary habits made a significant difference, with tree nut (but not peanut) ingestion more likely to be ongoing in ‘tolerant’ patients whose family usually consumed the same tree nut as part of their diet. Importantly, ongoing ingestion after a successful oral food challenge had a positive impact on quality of life.

Nighttime pistachio consumption alters stool microbiota diversity and taxa abundance compared with education to consume 1–2 carbohydrate exchanges (15-30 grams) over 12 weeks in adults with prediabetes: A secondary analysis from a randomized crossover trial. (Riley et al, 2025).
This secondary analysis, of a randomised cross over trial, examined the effect of nighttime pistachio intake on the stool microbiota of 51 adults with prediabetes. As a night time snack, participants had either 57g of pistachios, or consumed 1–2 carbohydrate exchanges (15-30g) (usual care), over a 12-week period. These resulted in significantly different stool microbial community profiles. Among the findings, specific bacterial groups, including Roseburia and members of the Lachnospiraceae family – known as ‘good’ bacteria that produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate — were more abundant following the pistachios.

Benefits of short-term (4-week) daily walnut consumption in middle-aged adults at risk for metabolic syndrome: Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial. (Mates et al, 2025).
This randomised controlled cross-over trial involved 20 middle-aged adults at risk of metabolic syndrome. Over 28 days, they either ate 45g of walnuts daily, or no walnuts (control group). It found a statistically significant decrease in waist circumference, and a slight change in fasting blood glucose, following daily walnut intake. While the primary biomarker of interest – VCAM-1 (a protein upregulated in cardiovascular disease) – was not significantly different between the two groups. The findings highlight the need for longer-term studies to better understand the potential benefits of walnut supplementation in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome within this demographic.