Infused Tiger Nut and Almond Nut Crunchy Snacks Enhanced the Nutritional Value and Antioxidant Activity in High‐Fat Diet Fed Rat

ABSTRACT The potential therapeutic applications of natural food ingredients, inclusive of nuts, are underexplored. Almond nuts (AN) and tiger nuts (TN) both have bioactive compounds for managing cardiovascular diseases and obesity. We produced AN–TN crunchy snacks with production made in ratios of AN:TN nuts while exploring their effects on heart antioxidant status in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed rats. We assessed in vitro phenolic content and amylopectin content of these AN–TN crunches. Thereafter, formulations of fortified AN–TN crunches were fed to mature male HFD‐fed rats ( n = 6), a combination ration of AN–TN of AN (100 g) and TN (100 g), and AN–TN groups between ratios of 25 and 75 g. These AN:TN fortified crunches produced had an acceptable sensory evaluation, phenol and amylopectin content, and inhibitory ability of α‐glucosidase enzyme activity in vitro. Following 21 days of treatment of HFD‐fed rats with AN:TN fortified crunches, we observed significantly ( p < 0.05) elevated levels of antioxidants, reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes in the heart and liver of HFD‐induced rats, respectively. Notably, this study identified both AN, TN, and AN–TN singular, and the inclusion effect in the AN–TN crunches produced was seen to be synergistic in improving the antioxidant profile of HFD‐fed rats. Thus, these AN–TN crunchy snacks serve as a dietary product based on antioxidant properties for managing noncommunicable diseases linked to obesity.