More evidence comes in that demonstrates calories are not all created equal...

Interesting article.

...while this group were munching on peanuts, another group was adding a similar number of calories into their diets in the form of candy (high sugar snacks). Yet the results were quite different: both weight and waist circumference increased significantly. Metabolic rate did not rise, but levels of supposedly unhealthy LDL cholesterol did.

It's important to eat well.  Just counting might not be enough.

Patrick

One must eat clean for a fabulous body, and nuts are a great demonstration of that! Thanks!

Pat, this study followed 25 people for two weeks. Even within the study itself, the two comparison groups weren't matched very well.

The study design is significantly flawed. I wouldn't trust the conclusions based on this protocol.

when i eat candy bars, i'm significantly less likely to get off my ass and go for a run than when i eat nuts. 

that's scientific, right?

That's right Eric.  But at least it's not epidemiology.

Patrick

Sim, what about the 8 year study of 50,000 women?

A prospective cohort study (an epidemiological study btw) of 50,000 women over a period of eight years is incredibly more substantial evidence than the study comparing candy consumption to nut consumption. However, this doesn't support the idea of calories not being equal for several reasons.

• This study makes no claims that calories from nuts are any different from calories consumed form any other source, it merely suggests a possible correlation between people who eat nuts and slightly lower weight gain.
• The difference in weight gain between these two groups was about 1 lb. after eight years.
• Even though this study has a sufficient sample size and study length, the conclusions can only be taken so far. Even the authors concede to this: "Confounding may explain the lack of a positive association between nuts and weight gain because women who frequently consumed nuts had a generally healthier lifestyle and dietary habits than did those who rarely ate nuts."
• The study protocol doesn't record calorie consumption of the study subjects so it is very possible that the very little difference between the two groups can be explained by the protein content of the nuts increasing satiety.