Saturday, September 25, 2010

Go Nuts!

You already know that they're heart healthy and that eating a small handful daily may improve your cholesterol, but that's not all they do.  Here are some of my favorites and their benefits:

Almonds  Just 1/4 cup has almost as much calcium as 1/4 cup of milk, so they may help to lower your risk of osteoporosis.  Tasty tip:  Mix almond slivers into oatmeal for crunch and flavor.

Pistachios  They are loaded with almost 310 mg of potassium per ounce.  That's more then what is in a small banana.  Potassium is crucial for nerve control and muscle function.  Tasty tip:  Add to salads for a tasty crunch.

Walnuts  Loaded with omega-3s (1/4 cup has 91 percent of the daily value) they may help boost brain function and lower your risk of inflammatory diseases like arthrtis and psoriasis.  Tasty tip:  Add to baked apples for a healthy fall treat. 
 
Soy Nuts  While technically not a nut, rosated soybeans have a similar salty crunch and healthy qualtities.  They're rich in isoflavones that may help protect your bones and heart.  Tasty tip:  Toss into homemade trail mix.

1 comment:

  1. Hey Rose! What's the info on pine nuts? I like to toss them (toasted) with spinach, raisins and baked salmon in a lemon-vinegar dressing.

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