A brain imaging study has found that consuming walnuts activates an area of the brain associated with regulating hunger and cravings. Using fMRI imaging, researchers showed participants images of desirable foods, neutral objects, and less desirable foods. When participants consumed a five-day walnut-rich diet, the scans showed increased activity in the right insula, a part of the brain that helps regulate hunger and cravings. First author Dr. Olivia M. Farr explains, “We know people report feeling fuller after eating walnuts, but it was pretty surprising to see evidence of activity changing in the brain related to food cues, and by extension what people were eating and how hungry they feel.”
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, August 2017