National Nut Day is observed annually on October 22. This day is NOT about the neighbor that lives down the street or the crazy friend; it is a food holiday that celebrates a healthy and nutritious snack.
Nuts are a highly prized food and energy source and are an important source of nutrients for both humans and wildlife. Many of them are used in cooking, eaten raw, sprouted or roasted as a snack food and pressed for oil that is used in cookery and cosmetics.
The fats found in nuts, for the most part, are unsaturated fats including monounsaturated fats.
Many nuts are good sources of vitamins E and B2. They are also rich in protein, folate fiber and essential minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and selenium.
Nuts are important to animals, especially those in temperate climates, as they store acorns and other nuts during the autumn months to keep from starving during late autumn, all winter and early spring.
Several studies have shown that those who consume nuts on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease (CHD). It was in 1993 that nuts were first linked to protections against CHD. Since that time, many clinical trials have found that consumption of various nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, can lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations.
One study has shown that people who ate nuts lived two to three years longer than those who did not. The results of the longer life may be due to the fact that, because they were eating more nuts, they were eating less junk food.
But Chose Carefully – For Example:
We should all know by now how healthy almonds are for us, this superfood is high in “good fats” and vitamin E – which is good for our skin.
But constant crunching on almonds can damage our teeth, how you ask? Because whole almonds are hard, and they can actually chip or fracture teeth when vigorously chomping away on these healthy nuts. Choose the sliced variety instead and skip the potential tooth trauma.
