Feeling hungry? Try snacking on walnuts. A study originally published in The Journal of Nutrition and featured in the New York Times found that regularly eating these tree nuts may reduce women’s risk of developing the condition.

Researchers collected data from 138,000 volunteers who have been part of a long-term, ongoing study on women’s health. In a span of 10 years, 5,930 cases of Type 2 diabetes were reported.

Interestingly, those who consumed at least eight ounces of walnuts a month lowered their chances of developing the condition by 24 percent as compared with those who didn’t. These women were also more likely to exercise, eat fish, and generally weigh less. Researchers speculate that the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids walnuts contain may be a factor that helps prevent the disease.

So aside from your leafy greens and lean meat, you may want to include walnuts in your list during your next grocery run. Of course, don’t forget to follow your diet up with good exercise and ample rest, and you'll be saying hello to a healthier you.

(Photo by FromSandToGlass via Flickr Creative Commons)