Don't let calorie concerns keep you from enjoying healthy nuts

by Tony Isaacs

(The Best Years in Life) Wholesome nuts offer a world of health benefits, but many people avoid them due to concerns that the extra calories in nuts are potentially fattening. Such concerns could easily be addressed by substituting nuts for another menu item or else cutting down on other menu item portions. Cutting back on other food items may be easier than you think: recent studies have found that eating nuts actually helps curb appetite due to nuts increasing serotonin levels. Nuts also have plenty of fiber which makes you feel fuller.

Nuts are an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and more and they offer a wide variety of health benefits, particularly for the heart and cardiovascular system. The plentiful fiber found in nuts is heart healthy and is thought to play a role in preventing diabetes. Nuts are also rich in heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and they contain vitamin E, which may help stop the development of plaque in the arteries. Arterial plaque can lead to chest pain, coronary artery disease, or a heart attack.

Nuts are also a source of l-arginine, a substance that improves artery walls by making them more flexible and less prone to blood clots. Some nuts also contain healthy plant sterols.

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