SUPER Snack Sheds Weight?! (Delicious!)
Prone to snack attacks?
You’re in good company. Over 90 percent of U.S. adults reportedly eat AT LEAST one snack a day.
But if you’re trying to lose weight, watch your blood sugar, or avoid heart issues, snack time can feel like navigating landmines.
You might think you need to eat like a bird… not much, not often, and not much taste.
Well, I’m happy to report NONE of that’s true.
In fact, there’s one delicious snack that research confirms can help manage your weight, balance your blood sugar, and boost your heart health all at the same time.
If you feel like snacking, skip the chips and pop some ALMONDS instead.
It turns out these tasty nuts (technically seeds) are just as nutritious as they are filling.
It’s why they’re one of my favorite hiking snacks. They provide plenty of energy to keep me going without a lot of calories to weigh me down.
Plus, they have everything you need in one convenient package. Just one handful of almonds gives you 6 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of fiber, and 14.1 grams of healthy fat!
They’re especially high in monounsaturated fat—including oleic acid—which is the compound hailed for the health benefits of olive oil.
And even though they’re bursting with fat, almonds are GREAT for your waistline, blood sugar levels, and heart health.
The nuts contain plenty of protein, fat, and fiber, which makes them great for keeping your blood sugar balanced—especially if you pair them with a carb-rich food like fruit.
A study found that eating 1.5 to 2 ounces of almonds per day for 12 weeks actually lowers HbA1c levels (a measurement of average blood sugar over two to three months) and enhances insulin sensitivity.
BOTH are key to managing blood sugar levels.
Some folks avoid almonds because they’re high in calories. That’s a mistake. Because of their nutritional profile, they make you feel fuller, longer… which helps you eat LESS overall.
So it’s no surprise that studies show this can lead to folks who regularly snack on almonds losing weight AND fat mass.
Additional nutrients in almonds—like vitamin E and potassium—make them especially good for your heart.
Studies show that snacking on nuts is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Plus, this tasty treat has been tied to a lower risk of dying from heart disease.
But wait. Believe it or not, the benefits KEEP going…
Eating almonds can also help:
- reduce the risk of memory problems,
- support gut health,
- and boost bone density.
The bottom line is snacking DOESN’T have to be a guilty pleasure. When you choose almonds, it can be just what the doctor ordered.
P.S. Having trouble falling asleep or staying that way? It turns out almonds can help there too. CLICK HERE to find out how to get better sleep by snacking on nuts.
SOURCE:
“Nuts, Almonds,” Food Data Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Accessed 6.2023
