Actually, whether it's a holiday or a normal leisure day, many people like to have some nuts on hand as snacks. Nuts are the essence of plants, generally rich in nutrients, containing high levels of protein, oil, minerals, and vitamins, and have excellent effects on human growth and development, strengthening the body, and preventing diseases. But these nuts that you can't stop eating, do you really know how to eat them properly?
1. Walnut — The "King" of Antioxidants
Effects and Precautions: The American Dietetic Association suggests that people should eat walnuts two to three times a week, especially middle-aged and elderly people and postmenopausal women, because the arginine, oleic acid, and antioxidants contained in walnuts are very beneficial for protecting the cardiovascular system and preventing coronary heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. Don't eat too much at once, otherwise it will affect digestion. Some people like to peel off the thin brown skin on the walnut surface, which will cause a loss of some nutrients, so do not remove this skin.
2. Chestnut — "The Fruit of the Kidney"
Effects and Precautions: Because chestnuts are rich in soft dietary fiber, diabetic patients can also have a moderate amount. However, raw chestnuts are difficult to digest, and cooked ones can easily cause bloating, so they should not be eaten in large quantities at once. It is best to eat chestnuts as a snack between meals or incorporate them into dishes, rather than eating a large amount after a meal, to avoid excessive calorie intake and to help maintain body weight.
Fresh chestnuts are prone to mold and spoilage. Eating moldy chestnuts can cause poisoning, so spoiled chestnuts should not be eaten.
3. Sunflower Seeds — The Elite Among Melon Seeds
Effects and Precautions: Eating a handful of sunflower seeds daily can meet the human body's daily requirement of vitamin E. The protein in sunflower seeds can rival that of various meats, especially as it contains arginine, which is essential for sperm production. Regularly eating sunflower seeds can help prevent coronary heart disease, stroke, lower blood pressure, and protect vascular elasticity. Medical experts believe that sunflower seeds can treat insomnia, enhance memory, and have certain effects in preventing cancer, high blood pressure, and neurasthenia.
4. Pistachio — The Heart's Friend
It mainly contains monounsaturated fatty acids, so pistachios, unlike other nuts, are not prone to rancidity and can lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Effects and Precautions: Eating 10 pistachios at once is equivalent to consuming 1.5 grams of monounsaturated fatty acids. Pistachios that have been stored for too long should not be eaten. Pistachios are high in calories and contain a relatively high amount of fat, so people who are afraid of gaining weight or have high blood lipids should eat them in moderation.
5. Sweet Almond — "The Cancer-Fighting Fruit"
Sweet almonds contain 50% fat, 25% protein, 10% carbohydrates, and elements such as vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, boron, and potassium.
Effects and Precautions: Coronary heart disease patients who regularly eat almonds have a 50% lower chance of developing angina pectoris compared to those who don't. Almonds can regulate insulin and blood sugar levels and are also one of the dietary therapies for impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes. The boron and calcium rich in almonds are also beneficial for preventing osteoporosis.
6. Hazelnut — "The King of Nuts"
Hazelnuts are rich in nutrients, containing all eight essential amino acids required by the human body, with a much higher content than walnuts.
Effects and Precautions: The calcium, phosphorus, and iron content in hazelnuts is also higher than in other nuts. Because of their rich nutrition and delicious taste, people have regarded them as a precious fruit since ancient times. Hazelnuts are neutral in nature and sweet in taste, and have effects such as tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, improving eyesight, and expelling parasites.
7. Pumpkin Seeds — "The Man's Friend"
Effects and Precautions: American research has found that eating about 50 grams of pumpkin seeds daily can be quite effective in preventing prostate diseases and prostate cancer. Pumpkin seeds are rich in pantothenic acid, which can relieve stable angina and has a blood pressure-lowering effect. However, it should be noted not to eat too much at once, as there have been reports of dizziness caused by excessive consumption of pumpkin seeds. They are most suitable for patients with high blood pressure; patients with stomach heat should eat less, otherwise they may feel bloated and stuffy.
8. Peanut — "The Little Nutrition Expert"
Effects and Precautions: It plays a very important role in adjusting the nutritional balance of people, especially children. Recent scientific discoveries have found that peanuts contain a large amount of arginine and resveratrol. The former has a potential anti-tuberculosis effect, while the latter can inhibit the infiltration and spread of cancer cells, making them a very good dietary therapy for tuberculosis patients and tumor patients. However, the peanut skin has the effect of increasing platelet count and anti-fibrinolysis, so people with high blood viscosity should eat them without the skin. Peanuts have a low rate of digestion and absorption, and excessive consumption can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, which needs attention.
9. Pine Nut — "The Longevity Fruit"
Effects and Precautions: Pine nuts contain protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Most of the fat they contain are beneficial essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid. They are also rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients. Regular consumption can nourish and strengthen the body. They should not be eaten if they have been stored for a long time and have a rancid taste. People with poor gallbladder function should be cautious about eating them.
10. Cashew — "The Little Peanut"
Effects and Precautions: The protein content in cashews is twice that of common grain crops, and the types of amino acids they contain are complementary to those in grains. Compared to other nuts, cashews have a slightly higher content of unhealthy saturated fatty acids, accounting for about 20%. Therefore, they should not be eaten in excessive amounts. In addition, cashews contain multiple allergens, which may cause allergic reactions in people with allergies. Therefore, people eating cashews for the first time should not eat too many. They can try one or two first, wait for ten minutes, and only continue eating if no allergic reaction occurs.