Go Nuts! Which nuts are best for your health?

Scientists prove that nuts are one of the healthiest snacks for a person.

Choosing a healthy snack can sometimes be an issue. Modern times require us to always be on the go, and sometimes it's difficult to incorporate the task of choosing quickly what type of food can be beneficial for us.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - People, on an average basis, consume at least two snacks every day. Most of the time, people choose snacks that are more or less considered "junk food," with high levels of artery-clogging saturated fat. However, according to recent statistics, the sales of nuts, which are considered supersnacks, rose by 6.6 percent, while the sales of crisps fell by 1.7 percent.

It is important to know that nuts are as high in calories as other snacks, but this does not mean that nuts are more likely to trigger weight gain. Studies have shown that creeping weight gain is most likely caused by crisps (chips).

According to obesity expert Dr. Xavier Pi-Sunyer of New York's St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Centre, "Crisps are very tasty and have a very good texture," and "People generally don't take one or two: they have a whole bag."

It is also a fact that nuts contain high protein content; this brings a positive effect on people's appetite by curbing hunger and making people feel fuller.

Nuts also don't cause blood sugar to rise like crisps do. Nuts are also high in fibre. In fact, nuts may actually help in weight loss. In 31 different trials, it was found that people whose diets included nuts or substituted for other foods, lost 1.4 lbs and half an inch from their waists.

So, what type of nuts should people actually be consuming? There is no question that Pistachios are the most popular nut; it has been confirmed in a recent consumer poll.

The poll also showed that cashews, almonds, peanuts walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamias and chestnuts are among the list of popular nuts.

These are some of the supersnacks you should be eating:

1. Almonds - They are good for lowering blood pressure and their calcium content is good for bone health.They are also rich in Vitamin E and magnesium.

2. Hazelnuts - It has good effects on heart health and it can decrease the risk of birth defects.

3. Brazil Nuts - They may boost a woman's fertility, by helping healthy follicles grow in the ovaries.

4. Macadamias - A study by the University of Hawaii found that people who added macadamia nuts to their diet for one month reduced levels of blood cholesterol, because they contain chemicals which counteract the artery-blocking build-up.

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