Nuts are packed with all the essential nutrients which not only give you energy but also reduce the risk of many deadly conditions – including heart disease and inflammation.
While you may generally like to consume them at any time of the day, eating nuts at a specific time, according to experts, can be super beneficial.
When should you ideally consume nuts?
Doctors say there is no clinical evidence that supports the best time to eat nuts, but it depends on what part of your health you want to target. According to studies, consuming nuts in the morning or mid-afternoon is better, as they also give you energy.
In a few cases, eating tree nuts before bed also improves sleep patterns, as they are packed with high levels of tryptophan – a molecule that helps increase melatonin production, which aids in sleep. However, if you wish to consume nuts for your heart health, you can have them at any time of the day.
How do nuts benefit your heart health?
According to experts, eating nuts helps reduce your risk of developing various types of heart issues and diseases, which include coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and even sudden cardiac death. Studies have also found that it improves cholesterol and levels of triglycerides, both of which also trigger cardiac disease. Nuts like almonds and pecans are particularly beneficial in reducing bad or LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Nuts also help lower inflammation levels, which is your body’s response to injury or infection. However, when you are not injured or ill, and inflammation persists, it can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Nuts help reduce inflammation, which is another heart-healthy benefit.
How to add nuts to your diet?
While nuts are super easy to incorporate into your daily diet, they can be added to your meals or even eaten as snacks.
Nuts pair well with vegetables when sautéed, chopped in salads, or cooked with squash or sweet potatoes. They also work great for savoury and sweet foods – and can be added to sweeter foods, including yogurt. However, it is also important to note that even though nuts are healthy and rich in nutrients, you must take care not to overeat them due to their high calories.
If you are worried about weight gain, adding nuts can still benefit your health, so long as you keep track of how many you eat at a time. For your heart health, regularly add nuts like:
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews