One wise thing you should do if you don’t already is eat a handful of nuts everyday. It’s too bad that the calories in nuts got a bad rap (nuts are very high in calories) because they are a super food that can actually help you stay slim!
Here are some reasons you should make nuts a part of your healthy diet:
- Helps you maintain weight. There is significant research that people who eat nuts regularly are a healthy weight.
- Satiates your appetite.
- Stabilizes blood sugar levels.
- Improves your cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Chocked full of disease fighting nutrients (potassium, B6, fiber, magnesium, selenium, E, zinc ..) that combat heart disease, arthritis, osteoporoses, keep your skin and hair pretty, protect your eyesight, and even fight PMS.
- You can get your Omega-3 fatty acids which act as an anti-inflammatory.
- Lower the risk for heart attack due to all the mono-unsaturated (healthy) fats.
This list could probably go on! Not all nuts are created equal – For example, did you know 1 Brazil nut will give you 100% of your DV! But they are all healthy.
Those who know me well, know I eat nuts EVERY day… and look forward to it! Just a few words to the wise from an old nut-eating pro: watch sodium if you’re buying salted – choose “lightly salted” varieties. Dry roasted or raw is best – no added oils = no added unnatural calories and fats. Store nuts in the freezer if you’re buying them in bulk.
Most importantly use moderation and enjoy!
A few good resources if this peeked your curiosity:
- http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA73918
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nuts/HB00085
- http://www.joybauer.com/food-articles/nuts-and-seeds.aspx
- http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefits_eating_nuts
