Nuts are healthier than we think! They contain many nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, which are essential for good health. We used to believe that eating nuts makes us gain weight, because it contains a lot of fat and kilocalories. Nevertheless, nuts fit in everybody’s diet and here are four reasons why:

More nuts, less kilocalories

Huh, less kilocalories? That’s right. Next to kilocalories, nuts also contain unsaturated fat, protein and fibers. This gives you a fuller feeling when eating nuts. Because eating nuts can be filling, therefor you won’t put much food on your plate. As a result, you aren’t putting on weight that fast and you don’t have that hungry feeling.

Would you like to know which nuts contain which nutrients? Click here!

My heart beats for nuts

Hm, eating a handful of nuts everyday? Don’t mind if I do! It’s delicious, but also healthy for the heart. Nuts contain unsaturated fat, fats from vegetable products. By eating products with unsaturated fats, your cholesterol level will drop. This decrease reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Saturated fats increase cholesterol levels. You can find saturated fats in animal products like meat and full-cream milk, but also in cake and snacks.

Smarter eating

Some nuts contain omega-3-fatty acids, these are unsaturated fats. These fatty acids are important for brain communication. The myelin layer of the axons is maintained by the omega-3-fatty acids. Myelin is responsible for quick communication. Too little omega-3-fatty acids can lead to cognitive problems, such as forgetfulness or a reduced concentration. In unsalted nuts contain a lot of omega-3-fatty acids. But you also can find it in fatty fish, such as mackerel.

Chewing to a better concentration

Scientist are still researching how chewing influences your brain. Chewing causes blood flow in different areas. Chewing influences the memory and your concentration. However, chewing during a task can have a negative influence on your concentration, you can get distracted by your own chewing. Therefore it’s best to eat a handful of nuts prior to a task, so you can chew to full concentration.  

NiceDay: Plan a moment in your Daily Planner to eat some nuts. Did it improve your concentration level?