Nuts as a healthy snack – When you are advised to stay away from food which is high in calorie count, it does not include nuts. Nuts are not an unhealthy junk food. Nuts are dense in calories but are one of the best snacks available with a high concentration of healthy fats, protein and fibre. Just make sure to eat them as a snack and not a meal!
Nuts aren’t bad for your weight loss – Nuts will not affect your weight loss goals! A handful of nuts approximately contain 260 calories and are rich in unsaturated fats especially monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Consumption of these fats is actually beneficial to your body by improving blood cholesterol. Nuts also contain a small amount of protein which is always a good thing.
It is not necessary to eat only activated nuts – Activate nuts are the nuts that are soaked in water overnight. This soaking is to break down some of the protein, oils and starches in the nuts to make them seemingly more digestible. If you enjoy eating activated nuts, that’s completely okay, but there has been very little evidence to prove that this makes any difference.
Nuts aren’t bad for digestion – Nuts actually help in digestion! Your gut has always been a thriving ecosystem for bacteria, and nuts contain probiotics (food) for the bacteria in your gut. Therefore, consuming nuts as a snack is definitely a yes!
People with a peanut allergy can eat nuts– Peanuts are not nuts. They are legumes. Unless you are allergic to tree nuts, you don’t have to worry about consuming other nuts. If you do have a peanut allergy, you may not be able to consume other legumes but go nuts!
Nuts do not produce any body heat – Unfortunately, nuts do not produce any body heat. People tend to believe the myth that eating more nuts during winter produced body heat, and will hence keep you warm. That’s a definite myth. As mentioned above, eat nuts only as a snack since they are dense in calories.
Nuts also help in lowering your risk of heart attack or stroke.
They are not the solution, but a a good part of it. Eating nuts in the right amounts help in improving artery functions as well.
All in all, nuts should be considered as a snack, and their calories should be taken into account while preparing your diet chart. Substituting nuts for cookies and other snacks is a good way to start off. Nuts can be enjoyed a butter or as nut butters without losing their health benefits.
Have a happy and healthy life!
