Nuts are good for your weight and general health

Nuts are packed with energy. Every type has a unique combination of nutrients and they all contain those healthy fatty acids. Find out why nuts are good for your weight!

Unique combination of nutrients

Almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, peanuts, brazil nuts, yogurt nuts.. The list goes on! Nuts are packed with nutrients and contains a lot of energy. Did you know that as much as 45-75% of the nut’s weight is fat? One may easily draw the conclusion that nuts must be unhealthy and that avoiding them is a necessity if you want to lose weight. But that’s really not the case. Nuts are good for your weight because the nuts mainly consist of the essential fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6, which your body is dependent to get through your diet.

Nuts contain both protein, fiber, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Proteins are the building blocks of your body and a necessity to build and maintain muscles. Fiber helps your digestion and keeps you satiated for longer. The fatty acids are crucial for several basic functions, and despite their great presence it is important to keep in mind that it is the healthy type of fat you find in nuts. Nuts are actually the most important plant source for omega 3 and omega 6.

How much nuts should you eat?

Because of their high energy content nuts are also rich in calories. Too many calories aren’t good for anyone, especially not those wanting to lose some weight. Therefore, a balance between what is too much and what is enough is necessary. Science shows that your health benefits from 30-60 grams of nuts a day. If you want to eat more than this, you should not have it as an addition to other food as the daily calorie intake will be too high. Right amount of nuts are good for your weight because you get such great nutrients and because they keep you full for longer. This help prevent overeating.

Chose unsalted nuts

A handful of salted nuts isn’t the worst if it happens occasionally. Yet it is a fact that most of us eat too much salt already. Hence, choosing unsalted nuts will be better for you. Eating too much salt will contradict the fact that nuts are good for your weight as too much salt binds water to your body, leads to bloating and increase the risk of heart and vascular disease.

Not just good as a snack

Nuts are good as they are but are also incredibly good in foods. What about having some cashew nuts in your next chicken dish? Or using walnuts and chopped almonds as topping for your oatmeal? Peanuts adds an amazing crunch in Asian dishes and in your salad. Hazelnuts are good for stews, sauces and salads, and macadamia nuts are fantastic in baking and desserts. Brazil nuts are packed with selenium which makes it a super antioxidant that may reduce the risk of some types of cancer. These nuts are good in salads, cooked food and different types of sauce. In other words, nuts are good for your weight and to maintain good health.

• See also: 12 simple ways to stop overeating