It is hard to make a meal out of nuts, but I think I would try it if you could give me a good recipe. I might have to be satisfied with putting my nuts on salads or sneaking them into the sour cream coffee cake when I am being really bad and treating myself.
Nuts have gotten a bad reputation because they contain fat and people think they will make you gain weight. Not so true, according to a Nurse’s Health Study published by the Harvard School of Health. They found that women who consumed two or more nut servings per week had a slightly lower risk of obesity than those who ate nuts less frequently or not at all. Nuts make you feel more full, or increase what is called satiety. This makes you feel less hungry and less apt to snack in between meals.
Nuts are higher in “good” fats and calories and they are one of nature’s top food sources for protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Another health benefit of eating nuts is that they help lower the “bad” LDL cholesterol. Some nuts are better at lowering LDL, some are better at producing insulin resistance and controlling diabetes, and some are better at reducing lung cancer risk. But don’t take them off of the table. Stick to a handful of nuts on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, like I mentioned before, cooking with nuts usually only happens when you are making desserts or Christmas candies. You mix them in with cakes and chocolate covered peanut clusters. But if you are aware of the health benefits, you can find ways to mix them in with your diet by sprinkling them onto salads, putting them in your bread recipe, adding them into certain pasta dishes or using them as a garnish. Visit eatdinner4two.comfor more healthy recipes, especially if you are looking for smaller versions of meals.
Image via Wikipedia
