Aside from the fact they’re just very tasty (he writes, casually nomming on a dark chocolate-coated macadamia), nuts are actually a powerhouse of nutrition. In fact, a recent study, led by researchers from the Imperial College London and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, has shown that these little nuggets of crunchy goodness punch well above their weight when it comes to health benefits.
The study showed that people eating at least 20 grams of nuts a day cut their risk of coronary heart disease by almost a whopping 30%, premature death by 22% and cancer by 15%. That’s quite something for only 20g of nuts!
What’s in a nut?
These health benefits undoubtedly stem from their nutritional value; nuts and peanuts (which aren’t actually nuts at all, they’re legumes) are high in fibre, magnesium and polyunsaturated fats, all of which can contribute to reducing cholesterol levels and the risk of cardivascular disease. Walnuts, pecans, pistachios and brazils are also high in antioxidants which may reduce the risk of cancer. With this in mind, the table below summarises what each of our top nuts have to offer nutritionally for a small handful (28g), nut by crunchy nut.
Source: healthline.com The Top 9 Nuts to Eat for Better Health
Worth grabbing a handful next time you’re in, don’t you think?
