Going nuts turns out to be a healthy thing! Nuts, the variety we like to eat, not become, have proven to be just about the best snack for better heart health, increased energy, blood sugar control and overall increased health and longevity. Nuts are high in unsaturated fats, proteins, and vitamins as well as antioxidants that are needed to protect our heart. The best nuts for overall health and improved heart functioning include almonds, peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts. People who eat nuts at least seven times a week are 20% less likely to get heart disease than other individuals who did not eat nuts. Nut eaters are also more active and leaner than the less nutty crowd. Even one ounce of nuts a day can shift health to the better from the worse and include five to six ounces of protein into your daily caloric intake can greatly protect your health and increase your wellness!
Researchers have recently tracked over 100,000 men and woman and found that those individuals who regularly ate nuts had lower risks of premature death, had healthier hearts and a heartier cardiac capacity and were thinner than the non-nut eaters. Staying slim appears to be a by-product of the satiating effects the healthy fats nuts provide you with. Nut consumption also showed to lower the incidence of diabetes and level spiked blood sugar. Nuts provide the body with all of the essential fats that work to decrease inflammation and therefore benefit all individuals with any inflammatory disease.
Unless you have an allergy to nuts, it is time to experiment with a daily dose of nuts. There are many ways to enjoy them from a simple handful to a lovely pine nut topped salad. Nuts are tasty and diverse and lend to both sweet and savory dishes. Add them to berries for breakfast and tie them into your frittata at lunch. Keep a stash in your desk drawer and instead of sugar or processed foods, reach for an ounce of nuts. Either raw, roasted or lightly salted nuts are a sure way to improve your health.
