Best Snacks with Healthy Low Calorie Foods - Walnuts

Walnuts are a tasty and highly nutrient dense food to snack on and can add flavor and crunch to a meal. They are an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids and are also rich in vitamins and minerals that help us to stay healthy. Walnuts are high in poly and monounsaturated fats and especially linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid. Those two acids cannot be synthesized by our body and must be provided daily. They are called essential fatty acids. They are involved in the manufacture of certain hormones, part of the cell's membrane and they regulate the cholesterol. 5 walnuts (28 g) supply our daily needs in those acids.

Health Benefits
Walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anticancer properties. Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acids. This family of acids has an anti-inflammatory action. Walnuts are therefore useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and itchy skin conditions. (Dry skin is usually the first sign of an essential fatty acid deficiency).

Heart Healthy
The high amount of unsaturated fats in the walnut helps us keep our blood cholesterol down. Walnuts lower blood cholesterol with a rise in HDL (called "good" cholesterol) and a drop in LDL (called "bad" cholesterol). Therefore, walnuts may reduce heart disease risks. Studies suggest that people who eat walnuts are less likely to develop coronary heart diseases and heart attacks.

Nutrient Dense
Walnuts are also a good source of protein. They contain 15.23 grams of protein per 100 grams, which is equivalent to 100 grams of chicken. Walnuts are rich in calories. They can help people with small appetites, such as elderly and convalescents, to meet their daily calories requirements. Walnuts are also a very good source of the manganese and a good source of copper. In addition, walnuts contain the antioxidant phytochemical, ellagic acid.

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