Health Benefits of Eating Walnuts

Photo credit: taken from yahoo.com

Have you ever wondered why a walnut looks like a very tiny-scale model of human brain? Here's the wonder of nature coming in; walnuts are brain food. It is rich in omega-fatty acid that is a good nutrient for the brain. It helps boost memory and cognitive function.

Aside from being a good brain food, it is also rich in plant-based protein and other vitamins and minerals which are all good for our body.

Walnuts also help in lowering bad cholesterol because of the presence of omega-fatty acids. It helps in heart health and also is rich in fibre so if you are into weight management, eating walnuts help you feel fuller. And the fibre also aids in your digestive tract.

Selenium, zinc and biotin are also present in walnuts so it helps in promoting healthy, shiny hair.

So, start infusing walnuts in your meal plans. You can use walnut oils in your salads or dressings to ensure you get the health benefits of walnuts. You can also snack on it rather than buying processed treats which are full of calories with no good nutrients to provide your system. Choose walnuts instead!

Nuts and Seeds That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure

If you are one of the millions of people who have hypertension, you are probably into your maintenance or rigid diet to maintain your pressure stable or else you will have complications. Eating the right food can help stabilise your blood pressure. Medication also helps but would it be nice to enjoy good food that actually help reduce your blood pressure rather than limit your intake to bland food and very less sodium?

Here are some nuts and seeds that you can add to your meals or even snack on them for healthier reasons than grabbing the chips and sodas you can see. These nuts and seeds are not only tasty, they are also packed with vitamins and nutrients that help your arteries and blood pressure. Add them on your salad, sandwich spreads and even on oats!

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin E, the fat soluble vitamin which aids in the absorption of Vitamin K that helps in the production of red blood cells.

Pumpkin seeds

These green seeds contain high amounts of magnesium. Magnesium helps in relaxing blood vessels and it is also responsible in balancing the levels of sodium and calcium in our body.

Cashew nuts

Cashew has lower fat content than other nuts. It contains oleic acid which is the good monounsaturated fat similarly found in olive oils that helps improve heart conditions.

Almond nuts

Almonds protect artery walls. It helps lower bad cholesterol levels and improves heart conditions.



(Photos not mine. Credit to the owners)

Health Nut - Healthy Snacks

I love eating snack. Sometimes, I even eat the wrong ones like chips and cakes. However, most of the time, I try my best to stick with healthy and filling snacks.

If you are like me who loves to snack but would like to stick with the healthy variety, try to choose snacks that will work wonders for your health. Examples of healthy snacks are:

baby carrots or carrot sticks
cucumber slices
Digestive crackers/biscuits
almonds, sunflower seeds, cashew (unsalted)
cut apples with skin, banana, pineapple cubes, melon
steamed veggies like broccoli and cauliflower
pita crackers
unsalted popcorn and pretzels

Health Nut - On Almonds

An ounce of almonds contains 160 calories, only a gram of saturated fat and no cholesterol. So instead of grabbing a bag of chips loaded with trans fats, sugar and salt, just munch on these healthy nuts.

Health Nut - Walnuts

Walnuts are one of the super foods. Walnuts are rich in fibre and this fibre stimulates the production of bile which draws out unwanted cholesterol in the liver. Walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids which are vital in the making of the positive type of cholesterol. This positive cholesterol aids in breaking down the bad cholesterol in our system.

Three oz. of walnuts a day can lessen the bad cholesterol. However, people with normal cholesterol level can take only as much as a handful the day before they plan to have a rich meal. Reason for that is because the fibre helps prevent the saturated fat from turning into unwanted cholesterol.