Almonds are healthy, nutritious and a great stress reliever
Today is National Nut Day, run by Liberation Foods urging us all to feel the health benefits of eating nuts.
Eating healthily all of the time can be hard work, especially if you’re not used to doing it, but small changes to your diet can make all of the difference.
October 22nd is well-established as National Nut Day in the USA and the organisers want Britain to ‘go nuts’ in the same way.
They want to focus again on switching to nuts to help the environment. If you eat less meat and highly processed veggie foods – the planet will benefit. This will keep a lid on greenhouse gasses and won’t use up the valuable land resources.
For people who already eat plenty of meat and dairy products such as most people in rich countries, nuts and ‘nutty’ legumes – like Brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts and walnuts - are a good nutritional alternative to meat says Dr Donal Murphy-Bokern, independent agri-environmental scientist and author of several studies on food system impacts.
You could also try the Snack Happy Challenge from the Almond Board, with California Almonds. The challenge encourages you to snack on a handful of almonds for 21 days to see if you feel a difference.
Almonds have a wide scope of health benefits and new research has found a more precise method of measuring calories, which means that almonds now have 20% fewer calories than originally thought. A 30g serving has just 138 calories versus the 173 calories listed on the labels.
Nutritionist Amanda Hamilton says: “Portion control is fundamental to a healthy diet I recommend eating a handful of almonds everyday as a nutritious snack.
“A natural source of protein and fibre, almonds contains 15 essential nutrients, helping you stay strong no matter what the day may bring.”
Further research also found that when women snacked on almonds they had significant reductions in craving for salty and fatty foods at their next meals, which means you’re more likely to stick to the healthy options.
Radio DJ and TV personality Zoe Ball is helping to support the campaign and encourage us all to snack a little healthier. She says:
“I like to snack in-between meals, there I’ve said it, and when I have a to-do list as long as my arm, sometimes it’s the only way to get through the day. Snacking can be good for me, if I make smart choices. I’ve learnt that not all snacks are equal in terms of the sustained burst of energy they give me and the nutrients they provide my body. So when I eat something tasty and good for me, it’s a double tick.”
Zoe continues: “As almonds have so many nutritional benefits my body has felt so much better since completing the challenge. It really is true; if you eat good foods you will feel good too. I’ve now completed the challenge but continue to snack on almonds daily as their protein and fibre content has meant I feel more energetic.”
Personal trainer Bridget Hunt is on board to help women stay in shape. She says: “Psychologically, a crunchy snack is a great stress reliever for women who are always on-the-go. Crunchy foods take longer to eat than other foods, which helps divert your attention away from the stress you are feeling. I always make sure I’ve got a handful of almonds on my office desk or in the car to help me out in stressful work situations, or to get me through those traffic jams.”
Are you going to try the snack challenge for 21 days?
Anjula Mutanda, psychologist explains: “Good habits can take a while to form. Giving yourself a goal of 21 days gives you something to work towards to keep you motivated. Try eating almonds at the same time every day, perhaps at 11am or 3pm when hunger naturally strikes, which will help you get into a daily routine. Once you form a habit it becomes a positive experience that you want to continue. Taking care of your wellbeing makes you feel good, which makes you want to keep it up.”
Tagged in Nutrition Healthy eating Healthy Snack