Every time I say nuts my children giggle. But nuts are not a laughing matter if you are serious about releasing the fat on your body. Nuts used to get some bad press because they are known to be high
in fat. But these little gems can work in your favour.
4 Reasons you should turn to nuts for weight loss
1. Nuts are a snack that will fill you up for longer
Nuts are mostly made up of unsaturated fats and many studies have reported that eating nuts have reduced people’s cholesterol. Because of the fat content, your tummy feels fuller for longer which means you don’t need the same amount of food in a day. So, ditch the plastic-wrapped processed alternative snack and pop a small container of nuts in your bag for when you
get hungry.
2. Nuts are a good source of fibre
If eaten in whole food form (not ground up), some of the nut and therefore the calorie content will pass through your gut undigested into the bowels and pass out of the body. Fibre is a key contributor to good gut health.
3. Nuts have good health benefits
Nuts may reduce chances of heart disease, inflammation, diabetes, cancer and more. An interesting study found that diabetes patients who consumed a palmful of nuts a day reduced their blood sugar levels after a meal. If you are a regular reader of my blogs, you will know that when blood sugar is high in your body, your body goes into fat storage mode. So, reducing the blood sugar levels after a meal is helpful to enable the body to access current fat stores on the body for fuel.
4. Nuts taste so good!
Your weight loss journey does not need to be one where you feel restricted and deprived. Once you find your favourite nuts, it is a guilt-free treat to look forward to each day. I love having mine at the end of lunch.
How to eat nuts for weight loss
Going nuts about nuts? Like anything nuts should be consumed in moderation and the golden rule is to have 28g or a palmful (much easier measure!). There is sometimes an urge to have some more, and this generally does not come from hunger. When I am cold or restless, I find that my mouth quite likes the entertainment of nibbling on nuts to either warm me up or to use up some of my restless energy. My strategy for this is to put a hot water bottle on my knee, a cup of green tea, or for the restless energy … channel it into a task.
What are good nuts for weight loss?
Each nut has its great qualities. The following nuts have a range of weight loss benefits including higher antioxidants, lower saturated fats, and great sources of protein and fat that prevent you from overeating.
They also improve your overall heart health with just a palm-full a day.
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Brazil nuts
- Cashew nuts
- Pistachio nuts
The best way to eat nuts is in their raw form. That means unsalted and not roasted. Roasting nuts makes them more brittle. They will break down further compared to their raw counterparts. More of the nut is
absorbed by the body. This means less of the caloric content is ‘flushed out’ at the other end of the eating process.
So, don’t be afraid to grab that handful of nuts each day. Nuts in weight loss are a definite thumbs up. Now for the hard part, naming your favourite nut.
If you are ready to commit to losing weight and want all the tools to say goodbye to emotional eating and hello to a happier healthier you, then schedule a discovery call here.
In this call, we chat about your challenges and see if weight coaching is the right fit for you.
Have a beautiful day
