Go Nuts!

No! I am not asking you to go crazy. I am just excited to share what I have confirmed regarding the health benefits of including nuts in your regular diet. Yes! You heard it loud, clear and right. Loading your daily diet with this “hard” fruit can actually help put your health in better shape.

Do you believe that? Come join me and let us learn from this…

Researchers found that people who eat nuts regularly have lower risks of heart disease.

In 1996, the Iowa Women's Healthy Study found that women who ate nuts more than 4 times a week were 40% less likely to die of heart disease [1].

A past Harvard study, reported in the September 2006 issue of Longevity, found that women who ate at least 142g of nuts a week, were 35% less likely to have a heart attack than those who ate less than 28g a month [2].

In the U.S. Physicians Study, Harvard researchers discovered that men who consumed nuts 2 or more times per week were 47% less likely to die from heart attack and had a 30% reduction in risk for heart disease [3].

Surely, nuts are fatty, but these fats are the “good” kind - mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3) which have all been shown to lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).

Nuts, likewise, are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are also rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Preliminary studies show they may even help prevent certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes.

So grab a handful as a snack, toss some in your salads or work them into your meals.

Hmmm… Before I forget, eating a broad range of nuts is best as they each have specific health benefits. Try the raw and unsalted ones and be very careful as you might be one of the unlucky folks who are allergic to nuts.

I told you… It is not so crazy to eat nuts after all.