Nuts seeds and weight loss
I often hear from my client that they worry about eating nuts and seeds when I suggest it as a healthy snack to stop their hunger way before their dinner. And the main worry is about the fat content of nuts. Well I was trying to see if there are any connection or studies to proof that the nuts are not a problem regarding fat and weight gain. From my experience not one person that had problems with weight was eating nuts regularly. On the contrary when put on a healthy nuts snack they were amazed that they lost weight. From my research, I found that many studies have shown that people with weight problem did not gain any extra weight but lost weight when added between 26 to 67 g of healthy tree nuts a day. The 67g portion had the benefit of also reducing the bad cholesterol and improving vascular reactivity. This was especially found with the walnuts studies. Walnut contain a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid (the good fat), phenolic acid (ellaic acid, which is an anti-oxidant), especially in the little skin of the walnut, also it contains L-arginine, an amino acid that is also an anti-inflammatory and good for man fertility, high fiber content like any other nuts which helps with any elimination problems, phytosterols which have shown to reduce bad cholesterol and finally walnuts, as well as the other healthy nuts, release the sugar level in the blood slowly therefore people are less luckily to feel hungry or low in energy. Almonds are another good healthy snack, they are high in absorbable calcium and fibres and again very good for snacking when hungry (needs to be soaked for a better absorption of calcium or grounded). Pumpkins also are a very healthy snack and high in zinc, together with the Brazil nuts are very good for men as Brazil nuts contains selenium which is important for the fertility again. Pecan nuts also very beneficial similar to walnuts. In all in many of the research that I read and seen mostly were mentioning the benefits of eating healthy snacks, and not many connected eating nuts with increase in weight on the contrary few connected the eating healthy snacks with loosing weight. I would recommend to have also a general healthy diet for the best benefit of eating nuts. But in all adding nuts and seeds into your breakfast or snacks can be very beneficial and maybe even lose weight (no guarantee unless connected to a healthy diet but good to try). Also nuts and seeds are not for everybody as some kids and adults can be intolerant or dangerously allergic to them therefore not be very beneficial. But if you are ok with them enjoy them unsalted and plain. (please remember to store them in a tight air container or in the fridge as nuts and seeds can go rancid or mouldy after they are out of the packet and therefore lose their benefit and cause problems as well).
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