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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Nuts are now dietary divas, touted for health benefits, appetite satisfaction and even weight control. How did this happen? As the fat and phtyochemical stories evolved, researchers realized nuts had a lot to offer – healthy fats with a rich complement of phytochemicals. Experts are recommending a daily intake of 3 tablespoons or 1.5 ounces. As long as you keep your intake to a handful, not a canful, nuts are a great addition to a healthy diet.
Virginia Cocktail Peanuts offer a selection of Virginia peanuts available as Sea Salt, Unsalted, Cajun, Jalapeno, Toffee, and Milk Chocolate. Who doesn’t like a peanut coated in chocolate? A 1-ounce serving (about 28 peanuts) of the plain and lightly flavored varieties has 170 calories and 85 milligrams of sodium. Unsalted has no sodium. Toffee has 210 calories for a 1-ounce serving and 20 milligrams of sodium. A 1-ounce serving of Milk Chocolate has 230 calories and 55 milligrams of sodium. All the varieties are very crispy and crunchy due to careful processing of the peanuts which prevents too much oil absorption. This is a quality peanut product definitely worth a try.
All peanuts are rich in protein because they are actually a member of the bean family. They are also rich in resveratrol, the same health-promoting substance found in red wine.
Planters continues to expand its snack nut selection. New in 2012 are Dry Roasted and Salted Almonds, Dry Roasted In-Shell Pistachios, Sea Salt and Black Pepper In-Shell Pistachios, Pistachio Blend, and Nut-rition Men’s Health.
A 1-ounce serving of Dry Roasted Almonds (about 25 pieces) has 170 calories, 14 grams of fat (9 grams are heart healthy monounsaturated fat, 3.5 grams are polyunsaturated fat and 1 gram is saturated fat), 90 milligrams of sodium and 210 milligrams of potassium.
Almonds have a low glycemic index which means they can help to regulate blood sugar levels. A recent study from Temple University that added a daily reasonable serving of almonds into a weight loss program not only improved weight loss but had a positive effect on heart disease risk factors. Almonds are also rich in vitamin E and fiber.
A 1-ounce serving of both varieties of In-Shell Pistachios (about 46 in-shell pieces) has 160 calories, 12 grams of fat ((7 grams are heart healthy monounsaturated fat, 4 grams are polyunsaturated fat and 1.5 grams are saturated fat), 180 milligrams of sodium (190 for Sea Salt & Black Pepper) and 290 milligrams of potassium. Pistachios are rich in antioxidants.
A recent study from Louisiana State University showed people who ate a small serving of nuts daily including almonds, cashews and pistachios had a lower body weight, smaller waist circumference, and an overall better diet. A 1-ounce serving of Planters Pistachio Blend fits this recommendation because it is made up of pistachios plus peanuts, almonds and cashews. A serving has 160 calories (about 28 pieces), 13 grams of fat (7 grams are heart healthy monounsaturated fat, 3.5 grams are polyunsaturated fat and 1.5 grams are saturated fat), 80 milligrams of sodium and 220 milligrams of potassium.
Nut-rition Men’s Health (endorsed by Men’s Health magazine) is also a nut blend of almonds, peanuts and pistachios. A serving has 170 calories (about 28 pieces), 15 grams of fat (8 grams are heart healthy monounsaturated fat, 4 grams are polyunsaturated fat and 1.5 grams are saturated fat), 50 milligrams of sodium and 210 milligrams of potassium. It is available in 10.25-ounce cans or in 1.5-ounce snack packs.
All the Planters nut products are kosher certified (OU).
As a bonus all nuts contain fiber and are cholesterol free.
For more information go to: Virginia Cocktail Peanuts, https://www.mvsbest.com and Planters, www.Planters.com.
For more information on the Louisiana State University study, go to: http://healthmad.com/nutrition/tree-nut-consumption-associated-with-better-diet-quality-in-children-and-adults/.
For more information on the Temple University study, go to: http://www.ajcn.org/content/early/2012/06/26/ajcn.112.037895.full.pdf+html.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of the nutrition counter series for Pocket Books with sales of more than 8.5 million books.
Look for:
The Complete Food Counter, 4th ed., 2012
The Diabetes Counter, 4th Ed., 2011
The Protein Counter, 3rd Ed., 2011
The Calorie Counter, 5th Ed., 2010
The Ultimate Carbohydrate Counter, 3rd Ed., 2010
The Fat Counter, 7th ed., 2009
The Healthy Wholefoods Counter, 2008
The Cholesterol Counter, 7th Ed., 2008
Your Complete Food Counter App: ClickHere
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: TheNutritionExperts
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