A handful of nuts a day is the perfect way to keep your body fit and healthy. Full of energy and protein, nuts are a great afternoon snack to keep you going strong. Nuts are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, mega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and poly and mono-unsaturated fats.
Almonds, for instance, are packed with vitamins and minerals. They are high in dietary fiber, making you feel fuller, longer which helps those trying to lose weight. They are especially high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids which help lower LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol”. Almonds are packed with the B- Complex group of vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, vitamin b6, thiamin, pantothenic acid, and folates.
Nuts like hazelnuts, also known as filberts, are very high in dietary fiber. They are extremely rich in vitamin E. They are a great source of minerals like iron, zinc, copper, calcium, and potassium to name a few.
Nuts are a great source of photo-chemicals that are shown to help protect your body against cancer and diseases. Peanuts contain resveratrol, a polyphenol antioxidant that has been shown to protect your body against cancers and heart disease. Research suggests pistachios help remove toxic free radicals from the body protecting you from infections and diseases.
Sunflower seeds help reduce blood sugar levels by reducing the breakdown of glycogen in the liver. Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids which help prevent coronary artery disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have an inflammatory property that lowers the risk of strokes and colon, prostate, and breast cancers.
Any way you want to look at it; nuts are an important part of a healthy and balanced diet. A handful of nuts a day can help with all kinds of diseases and maintaining healthy body weight. Besides the fact that they are good for you, nuts come in a wide variety and are delicious, fun, and easy to incorporate into everyday meals.
