Avoid going nuts by eating nuts
The uncertainty and the need to adapt to a rapidly evolving situation is putting a strain on our mental wellness.
COVID-19 is driving everyone nuts. So how do we avoid going nuts? Experts suggest: Eat nuts.
Yes, you heard that right. Avoid going nuts by eating nuts.
Enhancing Nutrients
Nuts are not just tasty, protein-filled snacks: they contain powerful, health-enhancing nutrients that may keep us from, well, going nutty.
Cashews may be a natural solution for depression and anxiety and do not carry the price tag or side effects of Prozac.
These contain mood-stabilizing vitamins: B6, magnesium, niacin, and even tryptophan. B6 helps convert the tryptophan into serotonin and helps magnesium penetrate the body’s cells. It is the synergy of these nutrients that helps with depression.
Cashews are a good source of vitamin E. Some research has shown that low levels of vitamin E may lead to depression in some people.
Researchers claim that if you eat two or more handfuls of cashews per day, you will get enough tryptophan to alter and improve your mood.
What Else Are Cashews Good For?
With all of their goodness, some might think these tiny-moon-shaped nuts were heaven-sent. But many are unaware of all the benefits they offer:
Weight Loss: Cashews contain heart-healthy fats. They are also high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Limited data suggest that routine nut consumption is associated with a higher expenditure of energy while resting. Cashews help maintain a healthy weight. They do this by helping a person feel full and contributing to thermogenesis, which is the production of heat in the body. That can help boost metabolism. If you can eat cashews even just twice a week, it can help slow weight gain.
The Heart: Because cashews are low in cholesterol, they are easy on your heart and vessels. They also contain antioxidants and oleic acid, a common monounsaturated fat in the human diet. Oleic acid is associated with decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Blood pressure: Cashews contain magnesium, which helps lower your blood pressure and prevent hypertension. One study shows that those who consume 368 milligrams (mg) of magnesium per day for an average of three months had overall reductions in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. You can get this amount of magnesium by eating about 4 ounces, or a little more than half a cup, of cashews a day.
Gums and Teeth: Cashews contain copper and magnesium, essential for the development and maintenance of skin, bones, connective tissue, and organs.
With insufficient copper, the body cannot replace damaged connective tissue or the collagen that makes up the scaffolding for bone. The magnesium in cashews is also vital for bone formation as it helps with the assimilation of calcium into the bone.
Gallbladder: According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, frequent nut consumption is linked to a reduced risk of needing surgery to remove the gallbladder. The study shows that women who eat at least 1 ounce of cashew nuts or peanut butter each week have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones.
Disease Prevention: Cashews are rich in antioxidants that fight off toxins and diseases like cancer. Cashews are also rich in vitamins like riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, and niacin that help prevent medical conditions like sideroblastic anemia and pellagra.
Storing Cashews
If stored properly, cashews will keep for a few months at room temperature, a year in the refrigerator, or 2 years in the freezer.
Besides their antidepressant effects, cashews are jam-packed with vitamins, minerals, and fats that help benefit many body parts, organs, and systems. In a nutshell, cashews are beneficial for your mind and body.
Don’t go nuts. Eat nuts.
Could Be Toxic: Raw cashews are not safe to eat, as they contain a substance known as urushiol, found in poison ivy. Urushiol is toxic, and contact with it can trigger a skin reaction in some people.
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