All About Living With Life: I am going nuts over nuts and dried fruits

Friday, March 2, 2012

I am going nuts over nuts and dried fruits

I am a great lover of nuts and dried fruits and I eat every day. It is the healthiest snack food in the world. During the last Chinese New Year, I was very happy to receive many cans of nuts and dried fruits from friends and relatives. Do you know Pistachio is an essential item during Chinese New Year? It is auspicious to eat pistachio. In Chinese, it is called 开心果 (kai xin guo) or happiness fruit, because the shell is half-cracked or opened 开 (kai) and you can see the nut or 心 (xin) heart inside. Dried fruits are tasty and just as sweet if not sweeter than candy or chocolate.

Here is a list of nuts and dried fruits I enjoy tremendously:

· Cashew nuts: Cashews are high in calories and rich in “heart-friendly” monounsaturated fatty acids. They are also rich in minerals and essential vitamins.

· Almonds: Almonds are rich in vitamins and minerals that help build a healthy heart.

· Pistachios: Consumption of pistachios reduces the risk of heart disease.

· Walnuts: Walnuts contain the highest level of antioxidants compared to other nuts.

· Macadamia nuts: Macadamias are high energy food and contain no cholesterol. The natural oils in macadamias contain 78 per cent monounsaturated fats, the highest of any oil including olive oil.

· Chestnuts: They are a good source of dietary fiber and minerals

· Peanuts: They are rich in antioxidants and other chemicals that may provide health benefits.

· Figs: Figs are good for the treatment of sexual weakness, constipation, indigestion, piles, diabetes, cough, bronchitis, and asthma.

· Dates: They are an excellent source of energy and they improve the digestive system.

· Prunes: They have the ability to relieve constipation, provide antioxidant protection, prevent premature ageing, promote cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of cancer and osteoporosis.