Benefits of eating nuts
One of the most common misconceptions about nuts is that they are unhealthy due to their high fat content. We would like to clarify some points about that, and show you how healthy nuts really are.
It is true that nuts do have a high fat content; however, part of that fat is unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids your body needs. Aside from the healthy fats, your are also getting other important nutrients that you won’t find in other snack foods. Eaten in moderation, nuts are a healthy alternative to snacks with saturated fats. In fact, when eaten in moderation, most nuts possess many positive properties that the Canada Food Guide recommends eating a 1/4 cup serving of nuts per day as part of a regular balanced diet.
Another source of the unhealthy nut misconception comes from a popular practice from the past to fry nuts in oil. Deep fried nuts have a higher fat content, and many of the positive health benefits get wiped out during the process. Our nuts are never fried. All of our nuts are dry roasted by our skilled team in our modern facility. Dry roasting not only protects the integrity and nutritional value of the nut, it also boosts the antioxidant power and brings out their rich flavours and textures.
We can all benefit from a little heart health too. According to the Mayo Clinic, the largest non-profit medical research practice in the world, “walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts – you name it – almost every type of nut has a lot of nutrition packed into a tiny package. If you have heart disease, eating nuts instead of a less healthy snack can help you to more easily follow a heart-healthy diet.”
“People who eat nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet can lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol level in their blood. High LDL is one of the primary causes of heart disease. Eating nuts may reduce your risk of developing blood clots that can cause a fatal heart attack. Nuts also appear to improve the health of the lining of your arteries.”
source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/nuts/art-20046635
What else can you find in nuts?
- Omega-3 fatty acids. Many nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3’s are a healthy form of fatty acids that seem to help your heart by, among other things, preventing dangerous hearty rhythms that can lead to heart attacks. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in many kinds of fish, but nuts are one of the best plant-based sources of omera-3 fatty acids.
- Fiber. All nuts contain fiber, which helps lower your cholesterol. Fiber makes you feel full, so you eat less. Fiber is also thought to play a role in preventing diabetes.
- Vitamin E. Vitamin E may help stop the development of plaque in your arteries, which can narrow them. Plaque development in your arteries can lead to chest pain, coronary artery disease or a heart attack.
- Plant Sterols. Some nuts contain plant sterols, a substance that can lower your cholesterol. Plant sterols are often added to products like margarine and orange juice for additional health benefits, but sterols occur naturally in nuts.
- L-arginine. Nuts are also a source of l-arginine, which is a substance that may help improve the health of your artery walls by making them more flexible and less prone to blood clots that can block blood flow.
Still not convinced? Many of our products are made with almonds. Did you know that 1/4 cup (30g) of almonds contains 12% of our necessary daily protein? Or that almonds are a rich source of vitamin E, vitamin B and essential minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium? Or that Salicin, found in almonds is an anti-inflammatory agent? Eating a handful of almonds can reduce and/or prevent headaches due to stress and anxiety.