Eating nuts as a part of your daily diet has many promising health benefits. For starters, they contain antioxidants that protect your cells from free radicals, unstable particles in the body that promote the development of health problems like coronary illness and cancer.
Nuts can also help you lose weight, even if they are rich in calories, just as long as you eat the recommended portions. This is because they keep you feeling full for longer due to their high fiber content (which also helps promote better stomach and intestinal health). Nuts also release hormones in the stomach that makes you feel full.
Finally, nuts are also good for your heart. They lower the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), more commonly known as the “bad” cholesterol. LDL is one of the primary causes causes plaque build-up in the blood vessels that lead to heart attacks.
But snacking on nuts can quickly turn into a “chore” since, let’s admit it, they aren’t a very exciting kind of food. Here are fun ways to incorporate more nuts into your diet.
- Drink Your Nuts Instead
A convenient way to include nuts in your daily diet is by drinking them, especially if you don’t like eating them as is. There are plenty of high-quality nut milks to choose from. Every box of nut milk contains a type of nut that offers a specific health benefit. Pour the nut milk into your breakfast cereal, carry it with you to work, or make it a refreshing drink after an intense gym workout.
- Toss Them into Your Salads
One way to enjoy your salads more is to sprinkle different types of nuts on top of them. This way, you can experience various flavors and textures all at once. You also benefit from their unique nutritional profiles. For example, if you need more protein in your diet, use peanuts since they contain 7 grams of protein per serving. On the other hand, if you want to lose weight, almonds are a good choice since they contain more fiber.
- Add Them to Your Pasta
If you want to have that added texture in your pasta dish, you won’t go wrong with nuts. Try sprinkling some peanuts or thinly sliced almonds on top of your tomato-based pasta sauce. For some added chunky, creamy texture, not to mention an interesting flavor, try adding some chopped walnuts to a white sauce like Alfredo. Your pastas will also look more visually interesting with some nuts added into the mixture.
- Use Nuts in Your Desserts
Desserts can be an excellent opportunity to increase your intake of nuts. Mix them into your plain vanilla ice cream for some added crunch or use nuts as toppings for fat-free yogurt. You can even include a sprinkle of whole or crushed peanuts in pancakes and muffins. Walnuts and pistachios are also excellent choices to add to desserts because of their unique flavor that complement sweet tastes.
- Combine them With Other Healthy Treats
Create a trail mix of healthy treats, like raisins, blueberries, raspberries, almonds, peanuts, and dried mangoes. This way, you’re not limited to the flavors and textures of nuts, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
Eating more nuts is one of the simplest things you can do to improve your health while still enjoying delicious meals and desserts. Since you can incorporate different types of nuts into your daily diet in a variety of ways, you’re certain to find the perfect recipe for a dish or drink that you can give a nutty twist. Be adventurous and go nuts with nuts in your diet for interesting meal times.
