Health benefits of eating nuts

Small, but so mighty! Did you know that nuts are full of protein, fiber and healthy fats?

They make a great snack and are also the perfect addition to any meal and that’s why we’re nuts for nuts!

Eating nuts every day is great for your health. First of all, they are highly nutritious and loaded with antioxidants. Although nuts are considered a high calorie food they can actually help you lose weight. They are full of fiber which makes you feel full, so you’ll eat less.

Pistachios have been shown to lower triglycerides. On the other hand, almonds and hazelnuts can raise “good” HDL cholesterol while reducing total and “bad” LDL cholesterol. Macadamia nuts lower cholesterol levels as well.

Nuts are low in carbs and don’t raise blood sugar levels much, which makes them the perfect food for people with type 2 diabetes.

Adequate fiber intake benefits digestion and reduces risk of chronic disease. They are high in fiber which feeds the “good” bacteria in our digestive system. Our body can’t digest fiber, but these good bacteria can. As we already said, fiber helps us feel full and reduces the number of calories we absorb from food.

We bet you didn’t know that nuts also have anti-inflammatory properties. Almonds are rich in Vitamin E which functions as an antioxidant and protects cells from oxidative stress, which helps lower inflammation. That’s another reason to make nuts a part of your everyday diet.

They can actually improve your mood and that is thanks to omega 3-fatty acids.

Walnuts, for example, have the highest content of the short chain omega-3 essential fatty acid, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) of all edible plants.

Cashews contain healthy fats, fiber and protein, but they have more things that benefit our health. They’re also a good source of iron and they contain zinc. Iron helps deliver oxygen to all of our cells and prevents anemia, while zinc is necessary for our immune health and healthy vision. Beside this, cashews are also a good source of magnesium. Getting enough magnesium can help improve cognitive functioning in older adults and it also helps us feel less tired.

Whole, chopped or sprinkled? We are sure you’ll enjoy the full taste of nuts eating our waffles or pancakes. We’re waiting for you at Chicago Waffles!