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.

Nut consumption and sperm quality in healthy men: Results from the Led-Fertyl Study. (Davila-Cordova et al, 2026).
In this cross-sectional study, of 222 young, healthy men from the Led-Fertyl study, higher nut consumption (≥7 servings/week) was associated with greater total sperm count and sperm concentration, compared to lower consumption (<3 servings/week). Men in the highest intake group were also 75% less likely to have abnormal motility and 69% less likely to exhibit seminogram abnormalities. In contrast, replacing nuts with potato chips or pastries was associated with poorer sperm parameters. Overall, these findings support a positive association between nut consumption and sperm quality, contributing to the growing evidence linking diet to male reproductive health.

Does walnut supplementation have favourable effect apolipoprotein a, b and blood pressure? A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-evidence of randomised clinical trials. (Musazadeh et al, 2026).
This review of clinical trials (n = 2,155) evaluated the impact of walnut-enriched diets on apolipoproteins and blood pressure. Walnut consumption was associated with a significant reduction in ApoB levels in adults, suggesting a potential cardiovascular benefit – particularly in people with hyperlipidemia. However, no significant effects were observed for ApoA1, systolic blood pressure (SBP), or diastolic blood pressure (DBP), compared with control diets. Overall, the findings provide strong evidence that walnut intake can lower ApoB levels, with no corresponding improvements in ApoA1, or blood pressure outcomes. Elevated ApoB – a protein found on all atherogenic lipoproteins, including LDL-cholesterol – is strongly linked with cardiovascular disease risk.

Effects of 24-week almond supplementation on executive function and processing speed in middle-aged Asian Indians with prediabetes: An open-label randomized controlled trial. (Gulati et al, 2026).
This 24-week, parallel-arm randomised controlled trial involved middle-aged Asian Indians with pre-diabetes. They were assigned to either an almond group (with almonds providing 20% of daily energy) or an isocaloric control group, without almonds. At six months, the almond group showed significant improvements in executive function and processing speed, compared with controls. These cognitive gains were accompanied by reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, fasting and postprandial glucose, HbA1c, and oxidative stress, alongside increased plasma α-tocopherol. The findings suggest that almonds may provide both cognitive and metabolic benefits in this high-risk population.

Almond consumption improves inflammatory profiles independent of weight change: A 6-week randomized controlled trial in adults with obesity. (Adepoju et al, 2026).
This six-week, parallel-arm randomised controlled trial in adults with obesity (n = 69; 30-45 years) compared 57g/day of almonds with an isocaloric cookie snack. Almond consumption significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) relative to the cookie group. The almond group also demonstrated improved nutrient intakes – including higher monounsaturated fat, fibre, α-tocopherol, magnesium, zinc, and manganese – and better overall diet quality. Compliance was high in both groups, with greater acceptability reported for almonds. No significant between-group differences were seen in anthropometric measures. Overall, the findings support recommending almonds as part of healthy dietary patterns to help attenuate obesity-related inflammation.

Almond allergy in children and adults: A narrative review of current knowledge, clinical challenges, and research gaps. (Laura et al, 2026).
This review summarises current evidence on the epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnostic challenges of almond allergy. The available literature, although heterogeneous, suggests that although sensitisation is common (23–62%), true clinical allergy is relatively rare (0–12%, <6% in children). Prospective data indicates that 2% of sensitised individuals are confirmed allergic by oral food challenge, highlighting that sensitisation often reflects clinical tolerance. Clinical outcomes vary by age, ethnicity, and almond processing. The authors suggest that improved almond-specific molecular diagnostics could enhance risk stratification and reduce unnecessary dietary restrictions.

Supplementation with mixed nuts does not improve inflammatory biomarkers or dietary inflammatory potential in post-myocardial infarction: A secondary analysis of the DICA-NUTS trial. (Marcadenti et al, 2026).
This secondary analysis investigated whether adding 30g/day of mixed nuts, for 16 weeks, to the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet (DICA-Br) influences systemic inflammation and dietary inflammatory potential in adults recovering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n = 170). Participants followed either the DICA-Br diet alone or the same diet with mixed nuts. No significant between-group differences were observed in inflammatory biomarkers or Dietary Inflammatory Index scores. While the DICA-Br-only group showed a reduction in IL-4 and an increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, overall findings suggest that mixed nut supplementation does not confer additional anti-inflammatory benefits beyond the DICA-Br diet in post-AMI patients.

Nutrients and food supplements for the prevention of musculoskeletal diseases: An umbrella review. (Pellegrini et al, 2026).
This umbrella review synthesised evidence from nine reviews (128 studies; n = 661,705 participants) to identify dietary factors associated with the primary prevention of musculoskeletal diseases. Outcomes included fractures, frailty, sarcopenia, muscle mass and strength, walking speed, inflammation, bone mineral density, and turnover markers. Higher intakes of cheese and yogurt were associated with reduced fracture risk and improved grip strength, while calcium supplementation showed modest benefits for bone mineral content. Fruit and vegetable intake was linked to improved gait speed, and nut consumption to lower sarcopenia risk. Overall, selected dietary components appear to support musculoskeletal health, although further research is needed to define optimal intakes.

Association between animal and plant protein intake and obesity: A cross-sectional analysis of data from the study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents (ERICA). (Bricarello et al, 2026).
This cross-sectional analysis of 70,332 adolescents from the nationally-representative ERICA study in Brazil examined associations between protein intake and obesity-related outcomes. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour recalls, with animal protein contributing substantially more to total protein intake than plant protein. Lower animal protein intake, expressed both in grams per day and as a percentage of total energy, was associated with more favourable obesity-related outcomes, whereas no significant associations were observed for plant protein intake. Overall, the findings suggest that reducing animal protein and increasing plant protein intake may help lower the risk of total and abdominal obesity in adolescents.

Healthy dietary patterns and risk of major eye diseases: Evidence from nationally population‐based data and bibliometric analysis. (Xiao et al, 2026).
This nationally-representative, cross-sectional study, of 4,242 US adults, examined associations between dietary patterns and major eye diseases. Higher Healthy Eating Index-2020 (measuring how well diets align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans) scores and DASH scores were associated with lower risk of retinopathy and overall risk of eye diseases, while higher Mediterranean diet scores were specifically linked to reduced retinopathy risk. Associations varied across population subgroups. Whole grains, vegetables, and nuts emerged as protective components, whereas refined grains were identified as a potential risk factor. The researchers say high‐quality prospective studies and clinical trials are required to validate the preventive potential of dietary interventions.

Protective potential of minimally processed, plant-derived foods against steatotic liver disease in early adulthood. (Tashkent et al, 2026).
This analysis of 887 participants from the Raine Study Generation 2 cohort (assessed at age 27) examined associations between dietary patterns and markers of steatotic liver disease (SLD). Higher intakes of vegetables, nuts, fish and seafood, legumes, coffee, and tea were associated with lower odds of SLD, whereas fruit juice, processed animal products, processed meats, and sweets were linked to higher odds. Greater consumption of healthy foods was independently associated with reduced odds of SLD, particularly in males, while overall diet score and unhealthy food intake were not significant after adjustment. Overall, diets rich in unprocessed or minimally processed plant foods appear protective against SLD in early adulthood, independent of central adiposity.