Most of our mothers would religiously soak almonds overnight in warm water and give it to us first thing in the morning when we were kids. Remember when dates were your parent’s favourite idea of in-between-the-meals snacks? Even as toddlers, we were served shakes which contained dry fruits. These recipes are passed on from one generation to the next as a potion for healthy weight gain and building a robust immune system. Here is a list of their health benefits which will convince you that you can’t do without them.
- Maintaining cholesterol levels and blood sugar level.
- Maintaining a beautiful waist line and radiant skin.
- Delay signs of ageing.
- Fight the deteriorating effects of free radicals.
- Have chemo-preventive properties.
1. Maintaining cholesterol levels and blood sugar level.
Almonds are a great source of monosaturated fatty acids and Vitamin E, making them one of the best dietary inclusions for keeping your heart healthy. The potassium and magnesium in almonds maintain healthy functioning of the heart and blood pressure.
If you eat almonds along with a meal, the monosaturated fatty acids slow down the release of glucose in the bloodstream. Thus, they help in keeping sudden spikes in blood sugar level at bay.
Here’s an idea: Instead of eating them on their own, you can add almonds to your dishes like salads, pasta or vegetable gravy. It will make the almonds more tempting for your taste buds, and lower down the glycemic index of the accompanying food. Sounds like a win-win, right?
2. Maintaining a beautiful waist line and radiant skin.
Are you continually trying to lose out on the extra inches but can’t stop binging and are always hungry? Trust us, a handful of almonds can be your superhero. Numerous studies have proved that those who eat almonds have a higher tendency to lose weight and excess body weight. Include almonds in your diet and get ready to flaunt a beautiful waistline!
Calcium and potassium complement each other. While calcium is essential for bone formation and development, potassium helps in its absorption, distribution and excretion by the body.
The antioxidants and Vitamin C in apricots keep the skin wrinkle-free and regular consumption of them will make your skin slow like never before. Apricots also speed up the process of cell regeneration to replace the dead skin cells.
What’s more? Apricots can be the perfect breakfast partner. Add them to your morning breakfast cereal or smoothie and watch for yourself as they make them lip-smacking delicious.
3. Delay signs of ageing
Loaded with Vitamin A and beta-carotene, apricots are well known for preventing vision loss due to age-related factors. It also strengthens the optic nerves.
If work has been getting on your nerves lately or if personal issues won’t let you sleep at nights, try walnuts for once. They have a host of neuroprotective compounds like vitamin E, Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants which enhance cognitive function, relieve stress and have an overall calming effect.
Walnuts are great for your overall brain health. Studies say that they contain a healthy amount of Vitamin E and flavonoids, which can destroy harmful dementia causing free radicals.
Generally, it is recommended to include around 5-4 walnuts in your daily meal plan. Here’s how you can do so –
- Grind them and mix them with the chapati flour.
- You can also use walnuts to thicken soups, stews and gravies.
4. Fight the deteriorating effects of free radicals.
You just need to get out of your house and roam around in a city for a couple of hours to realize how pollution has affected the world we live in. It can be easy to wash off the dust with your favourite face wash, but what about the free radicals which cause gradual but tremendous damage to your body?
Apricots are a storehouse of antioxidants and iron. Hence, they give a solid fight to the harmful effects of free radicals. Apricots also inhibit cancerous growths. If consumed regularly, the iron in apricots will keep your body functions in check and prevent diseases like anaemia.
5. Have chemo-preventive properties
Walnuts are high in ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid). The ALA and the melatonin content make walnuts one of the best preventive measures against cancerous growths. Patients suffering from colon cancer who ensure a regular intake of almonds, walnuts and cashews have a significantly lower risk of cancer recurrence and mortality.
The bottom line
Undoubtedly, dry fruits have a heap of benefits which you just can’t let go. Yet, ensure that you stay away from their candied version, which can do more harm than good. If you need any further assistance in the matter, feel free to reach out to us.
