Go Ahead – Get Nutty!

Appetizer

Eat MORE nuts. People who eat a handful of peanuts or mixed nuts daily are more likely to keep weight off than others who don’t include the high-fat snacks. This theory was proven in a study at Harvard University.

When you think of how many nuts make up a daily serving, think of the little bag that you get on an airplane, not the big bag that comes in a vending machine. It’s fine to get a bag out of the vending machine, but only eat ½ of it. Save the other half for the next day.

If maintaining weight loss is not a good enough reason for you to “get nutty,” how about this: According to the FDA, “Scientific research suggests that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Main Course

I already know what you’re thinking…Aren’t nuts high in fat? Yes, most nuts are relatively high in fat, but most of that fat is unsaturated as opposed to the saturated fat in junk food.

Looking at the type of fat you consume is just as important as paying attention to how much fat you take in. Both kinds of fat will make you…well…fat, but unsaturated fats (like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) can reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in our bodies. Saturated fats have the opposite effect.

If you’re looking for new ways to go nutty, here are some tips from NutHealth.org:
Go Meatless – nuts are a great source of protein. Toss some into stir-fries, salads and pasta.
Top with Nuts – Sprinkle chopped nuts on top of a bowl of soup, veggie dish or your favorite casserole.
Start Your Day With Nuts – Experiment with different tree nuts in your favorite muffin or pancake recipe. Sprinkle nuts on top of yogurt or oatmeal.
Nuts Are Great With Cheese – Add your favorite nuts to cheese and cracker platters to serve as an appetizer or a special dessert.

Dessert

I seriously could eat nuts all day long because they just taste so yummy to me. I always try to restrain myself, but I’m going to have to think twice about it because my friend Theresa eats peanuts ALL THE TIME, and she has an awesome body. Maybe I should follow in her footsteps...


This is her pic from MySpace…Hope she won’t mind that I put it up here!

About Cafe Physique:
The mission of Café Physique is to help clients reach and exceed their personal fitness and nutrition goals. If you’re in need of an a nutritionist in Atlanta or an Atlanta personal trainer – Café Physique is the perfect solution. We offer Atlanta yoga instruction, Atlanta prenatal workouts, and Atlanta personal training. We also have private sessions of pilates that Atlanta residents are raving about. We invite you to let a member of our Atlanta registered dietitian staff or personal training team develop and implement a realistic and healthy lifestyle plan to meet your personal goals.