Tasty and NUTritious
It can drive you nuts, the confusion about this whole “good fat/bad fat” thing. Well, fear not, Daily Gourmet is here to break it down. And we’ll do so in the context of our recent offer for Oren’s Kitchen delicious artisan slow-roasted nuts. Feel free to snack while you read.
Nuts are high in “good” fat. Also known as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, these “good” fats lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level in your blood. (Saturated fats are the “bad” fats that clog arteries and cause obesity). LDL is the cholesterol that can build up and cause heart disease.
By lowering your cholesterol, nuts can actually reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 35%. That’s not a bad result of enjoying a delicious snack. But there are even more healthy benefits to these tasty little treats.
Eat your omega-3s. You’ve heard of these helpful fatty acids. They’re found in fish, some plants, and, you guessed it, nuts. You body needs omega-3s, but it can' t make them on its own, you have to get them through food. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.
Fill up on fiber. Nuts also contain fiber. Fiber has the benefit of not only lowering your cholesterol, but also making you feel full. Feeling full means you’re less likely to snack on other less healthy foods.
What kind of nuts are best? The tastiest of course. Let’s talk specifically about almonds, cashews, pecans and macadamia nuts—the four nuts offered in Oren’s Kitchen’s selection.
Cashews: the whole nine. There are a total of nine amino acids. Amino acids help you absorb protein into you body. Cashew contains high levels of all nine amino acids.
Thiamin says: eat macadamia nuts. Also known as Vitamin B1, thiamin is needed to convert carbs into energy and to maintain the nervous system. One cup of macadamia nuts provides over 100% of your daily thiamin requirement.
Almonds, the feel good nut. Almonds contain tryptophan, which helps in relieving stress and controlling mood swings. They can also help improve memory. According to healthtipsandremedy.com, a daily snack of five to six almonds that have been soaked in water or milk overnight will increase your memory. Weird.
Pecans antioxidant. Pecans are a rich in antioxidants such as polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. Though hard to pronounce, these compounds help your body remove toxic oxygen free radicals from your body to protect it from diseases such as cancer and infections.
Of course, like any food, nuts are best for you when eaten in moderation. They are, after all, high in calories, so practice good portion control and try to eat no more than a small handful a day. It can be difficult, especially when you have nuts as good as Oren's.
Now order the best-tasting little bundles of fiber, protein and omega 3’s that you will ever have!
Sources:
Mayo Clinic <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nuts/HB00085>
Livestrong <http://www.livestrong.com/article/10452-choose-nuts-low-fat/>