Lets get NUTTY! I was crunching down on some cashews and thinking what other amazing nuts are out there and how they benefit us and our health.
Nuts are underrated as nutritious snacks! Raw nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and more, have been linked to lower cholesterol, better heart health, weight control, and even a lower cancer risk.
Unfortunately, there is very few of us that eat nuts regularly. Most people are afraid of the fat and calories in nuts, or they find plain nuts boring. That’s a shame, because a small handful can pack your diet with filling protein, fiber, unsaturated fats, and important vitamins and minerals.
Walnut contain the most antioxidants of all nuts, which help protect your body from the cellular damage that contributes to heart disease, cancer, and premature aging. They are the richest in omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation. The manganese they contain may reduce PMS symptoms, YAY!
Almonds contain the most finer and are richest in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. In a weight loss study those who included almonds in their weight loss plans lost more weight than those who ate more complex carbohydrates. Almonds are also good for your gut, they raise levels of good bacteria that improves the body’s immune system.
Cashews are particularly rich in iron and zinc. Iron helps deliver oxygen to all of your cells, which can prevent anemia, and zinc is critical to immune health and healthy vision. Cashews are also a good source of magnesium, which helps improve memory and protect against age-related memory loss.
Pecans aren’t just for making tasty pies, they can also help improve your heart health. “Pecans are among the most antioxidant-rich nuts. They may help prevent plaque formation in your arteries. Research found that consuming pecans can help lower LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 33 percent. The vitamin E found in the nuts could delay progression of degenerative neurological diseases like amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Just one Brazil nut packs more than 100 percent of the daily value for the mineral selenium, which may help prevent certain cancers, including bone, prostate, and breast cancer. A recent study in the Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that the selenium found in Brazil nuts, along with soy, may help fight prostate cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells. However, don’t overdo it on Brazil nuts: High levels of selenium can be harmful, so stick to a serving or less.
Pistachios are the most slimming nuts, with less than four calories each. Their shells make them especially dieting-friendly: Having to get them out of the shell slows down your pace so the snack lasts longer and you eat less. Pistachios are also packed with potassium, a mineral essential for a healthy nervous system and muscles, and are a good source of vitamin B6, which can lift your mood and increase your immune system.
An all-around healthy nut, hazelnuts are notable for their high levels of monounsaturated fats, which can improve cardiovascular health and help to manage type 2 diabetes. They’re also rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, which may prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, maintain healthy skin, and reduce risk of dementia.
#TotalShift #HolisticWellness #YuumyNUTs