Nuts come in a variety of forms and are a very popular food. They can also be a very convenient and tasty snack, no matter your diet. Many people worry about the fat content found in nuts, but the fat contained in nuts is actually a healthy fat. We need good fat, just not too much of it of course. On top of their healthy content, nuts also have also have many amazing health benefits.
What Are Nuts?
In a nutshell (no pun intended), nuts are actually considered to be type of fruit. Instead of being sweet, they are quite high in fat. Many nuts contain an inedible outer shell that protects the “fruit” inside. Most nuts can be purchased from a store and are usually already pre-shelled.
Some of the most common types of nuts people like to consume are:
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Pecans
- Brazil nuts
- Pine nuts
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Macadamia Nuts
- Walnuts
Here is a list of why you should start consuming nuts.
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They are a great source of many nutrients
Nuts are highly nutritious. They are high in fibre, protein, healthy fats, and many essential vitamins and minerals. No two nuts are the same though. Some may contain higher amounts of one nutrient while others may contain lower amounts of that same nutrient. They do vary in carb content, but are still an excellent choice for anyone on a low carb diet.
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Nuts Are Full of Antioxidants
If you’re thinking of adding nuts to your diet, make adding them a priority. They are rich in antioxidants, which help our body control free radicals, something our system produces in response to things like stress, excess sun exposure, pollution, or other possible reasons.
When our levels of free radicals are high, our cells can be damaged. This is also called oxidative stress, which increases the probability of developing disease. The antioxidants found in plant food can help neutralize the free radicals so our cells won’t be damaged. Eating more nuts can help us get more of these essential antioxidants.
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Nuts Can Help with Weight Loss
Even though nuts are considered to be a high-calorie food, extensive research tells us that they may play an important role in weight loss. Here’s how: while nuts are high in calories, many studies conducted show that our bodies don’t actually absorb all of the calories contained in nuts. This is largely due to the fact that some of the fat stays trapped in the fibrous wall of nuts during the digestion process.
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Nuts Can Lower Triglycerides and Cholesterol Levels
Nuts have been shown to have impressive effects on triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts, and peanuts appear to reduce total cholesterol as well as LDL while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol at the same time.
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Nuts Are High in Beneficial Fiber
If you’re going to eat nuts for any reason, eating them for their high amounts of fiber could provide your body with many health benefits for this one reason alone. Fiber helps us feel full and is digested by the bacteria in our colon, helping our bodies create healthy bacteria for digestion. Eating nuts is a win-win situation when it comes to this point alone.
To start incorporating nuts and other raw foods into your diet, check out this page for a comprehensive list of raw foods that are ready to be shipped and delivered to your front door.