Slimming down with nuts? Or scrap that morsel? Tip of the week 14
Slimming down with nuts? Do they fit into your menu at all if you want to lose weight? Or are nuts actually fattening. Yes and no. Besides the fact that nuts are very healthy, they also contain a lot of fats, making many people think they are true calorie bombs.
And it does. On the other hand, nuts are also high in fibre, vitamins and minerals including:
- vitamin B1
- vitamin B2,
- vitamin B6
- vitamin E
- folic acid
- magnesium
- selenium
- iron
- phosphorus
- copper
- calcium
- potassium
- zinc
Interestingly, research has shown that eating nuts can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and even obesity!
Slimming with nuts
Nuts may contain a lot of fats, but... here goes healthy unsaturated fatty acids which lower cholesterol, are easily digestible and not fattening. So nuts are great to eat if you want to lose weight.
Provided you don't eat too much of it or exercise too little with it, note: balance!
This combined with the amount of dietary fibre and protein that nuts possess, nuts fit nicely into a healthy diet!
So don't be put off by the amount of calories nuts contain. They are absolutely healthy, and can even contribute to weight loss. Besides, they are nutritious and provide a 'satiated' feeling for longer periods of time, preventing cravings in between meals.
Because nuts contain a good amount of protein, they are good for building our muscles.
Meanwhile, we know that more muscle mass increases metabolism which means we also burn more calories at rest.
So two to three times a week, especially if you exercise a lot, a five-pack of nuts is not only 'permissible', it is even recommended! Choose the unsalted varieties though; salt retains moisture!
Dried tropical fruit
Dried tropical fruits are low in fat but are high in carbohydrates, so they too are unfairly labelled as 'fattening'. However, these are the good (slow) carbohydrates. They also contain a lot of fibre. In addition, they are rich in:
- vitamin B1
- vitamin B6
- folic acid
- magnesium
- copper
- potassium
Dried southern fruits are:
- dates
- figs
- sultanas
- currants
- dried plums
- dried apricots
So don't just focus on fats and carbohydrates. One calorie is not the other!
This week you may also weigh yourself! Click >HERE for handy weighing and measuring tips.
The above text previously appeared in the Balance book. The book is now sold out, but may still be available to order second-hand via the link below.
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