Healthy Nuts to Snack On

Can I Eat Nuts For A Snack?

When I talk about diet to my patients, I often get asked whether nuts make a good snack. I have to be honest, I’ve wondered this myself. The short answer is yes. But first I would like to mention that if you are hungry between meals, try and find out why. Usually it’s because you haven’t eaten enough nutrient-rich foods. Another possibility is if you’re going through a very stressful time in your life. Your body may respond by increasing your hunger sensations. If neither of these are the case, then nuts can make an excellent snack in small portions. Nuts are high in fat and calories and the main problem is that people tend to eat too many of them. For example, one ounce of nuts is about 20-25 almonds or 5 Brazil nuts. One serving a day is more than enough to give your body what it needs. This is also why you shouldn’t be using nuts to fill the hunger gap. Overeating can make your calorie count skyrocket.

That being said, here’s what’s good about them:

Some known Health Benefits of Nuts
1. Contain some anti-viral properties.
2. Help reduce the factors that may lead to cancer
3. Help keep the elasticity of the arteries and control blood pressure
4. Contain varying amounts of vitamins and minerals depending on the kind of nut that you consume.
5. Good source of antioxidants
6. Good source of protein
7. Some have anti-inflammatory properties

Healthy Nuts to Snack On