HEALTH IS A LIFESTYLE DIRECTION

NUTS ABOUT THIS...

Nuts are gradually becoming a norm for healthy individuals. Whether incorporated into a crunchy salad or eating as a staple snack. They help improve digestion, increase energy levels, boost your brain, reduce your risk of developing heart disease, and so much more. Find included, a little breakdown of 3 popular buts and why they are good for you.

CASHEWS

These rich-flavoured nuts are technically the seed of a tropical evergreen tree called Anacardium occidentale, which is native to Brazil, though cashews were also exported to India in the 1550’s. The cashew seed is surrounded by a shell that contain anarcadic acid a skin irritant related to urushiol, which is found in poison ivy. However, no need to panic–it is only the shell that is toxic! Once roasted or heated, as all commercially sold cashews have been (even the ones labelled “raw”), this nut is perfectly safe to eat. Cashews are an excellent source of copper and just 1/4 a cup contains roughly 30% of the DRA of magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.

Cashews:  Live Strong

ALMONDS

These nutrient-packed nuts grow on a tree (botanically speaking they are seeds, not nuts, and are related to peaches and plums) and are said to have originated in Central Asia after which they soon spread to the Mediterranean region. They were referenced in both Ancient Egyptian and Roman culture and were given to newlyweds as a sign of fertility. In the 1700s they were imported to California by the Spaniards where they are now part of a thriving almond industry. Nutritionally speaking, almonds contain very many nutrients including Vitamin E, fiber and a lot of protein. They also reduce the risk of heart diseases. They make a perfect portable snack, whether roasted, raw, chopped, or ground into some delicious almond butter.

Almonds: LiveStrong

WALNUTS

If you take a close look at this nut (as in the above photo), you’ll see that it closely resembles the cerebral cortex of the brain! Mother Nature works in mysterious ways, given that this nut is well-known for contributing to brain health. Walnuts date to as far back as 7000 B.C. and were called Juglans Regia (Jupiter's royal acorn).  There are two main types: The Persian (or English) walnut, which originated in Persia, and the black walnut, which is native to the United States.  Walnuts are an excellent source of fatty acids and Omega-3 which assist in the creation of new neurons in the brain, and also may work as a mood booster. They also improve cardiovascular health and help cleanse the digestive system due to their high fiber content.

Walnuts: Organic health