Disclaimer: Food allergies affect about 5% to 10% of people. Nuts, such as walnuts, peanuts and almonds, are common causes of allergies. If you have a severe allergy, even if a food has touched the nuts it can cause swelling, vomiting and diarrhoea. If you notice any symptoms from eating nuts, contact your doctor directly.
But now let’s look at some of the health benefits of eating nuts:
Weight control
It’s true that nuts are high in fat, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid them. Their high protein and fiber content makes you feel full and energized. This could help you eat fewer calories and lose weight gradually. In particular, nuts can help your body burn more energy, even when you are resting. In fact, if you are on a diet, you are more likely to stick to it when your diet includes nuts. Just don’t overdo it.
Nuts contain good fats
Most of the fat in nuts is unsaturated, which is better than the saturated kind of fat found in meat or the trans fats found in many processed foods. Eating good fats can help stabilise blood sugar and insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the body.
Source of nutrients
It’s not just the high protein, fibre and healthy, good fats in nuts that strengthen the body. Nuts, such as walnuts, also have many nutrients, including vitamins E and B6, folic acid, niacin, magnesium, zinc, copper and potassium. Just be aware of the product packaging labels, as some may contain added salt, sugar or preservatives that could do more harm than good.
