Including regular snacks in your diet is one of the best ways to achieve healthy weight loss.
Snacking not only keeps you feeling full in between meals, it also keeps your blood sugar levels stable, meaning your less likely to raid the biccy tin or fridge come 3pm.
Choosing a healthy snack can be the challenging part as many ‘convenience’ foods are devoid of the nutrients needed to sustain our energy levels and encourage weight loss.
Nuts are a fantastic option when looking for a quick and easy snack that can be prepared in minutes (seconds even) and eaten on the run.
High in protein, fibre and unsaturated fats, research is continuing to discover the hidden health benefits of different types of nuts. And there are a whole bunch!
There have been rumours swirling around for years about the fats contained in nuts and their negative impact on weight loss but we now know that many nut varieties are a great addition to a healthy diet.
The main thing you need to keep an eye on is the way the nuts are prepared. Roasted and/or salted nuts or nuts covered in a sugary coating aren’t going to provide the protein and other nutrients needed to make a healthy snack. Raw nuts on the other hand are an absolute winner.
Try adding these bite sized protein bombs to your shopping list.
Go nuts for these nuts
- Walnuts – These large brown nuts contain very high levels of polyphenol, a potent antioxidant which can help protect the body from damage and possibly even disease. Walnuts can also help inhibit the growth of ‘bad’ cholesterol. Super food indeed!
- Pecans – The humble pecan is extremely high in zinc, a compound that helps support the bodies white blood cells which fight bacteria and viruses.
- Pistachios – This green tinged nut has been shown to have higher levels of potassium than a large banana. Adding a handful to your diet can help keep blood pressure under control due to the stabilising effect potassium has on salt in the body.
- Brazil nuts – This relative new kid to the block clocks up very impressive selenium levels. Selenium helps protect the bodies cells from damage and disease with recent research finding a link between high selenium levels and reduced risk of cancers like bladder and prostate.
- Almonds – This versatile nut is one of the most nutrient dense. An excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium, almonds also have a healthy protein, fibre and potassium count.
And don’t forget to check out our current promotions and discounts page to see what specials we have on this week on our Healthy Mummy product range
