For many Americans, snacking between meals is a way of life. Unfortunately, most of the foods that we choose to snack on aren't all that good for us.
Chips, crackers and candy bars may banish hunger pangs, but when it comes to satisfying our bodies' nutritional needs, they leave a lot to be desired. Most of these snack foods offer very little in the way of beneficial nutrients.
For folks in search of a snack food that not only satisfies hunger, but also contributes to good health, nuts are an excellent choice. The tasty nuggets are packed with vitamins, minerals and protein.
Ounce for ounce, nuts contain nearly as much protein as lean meat, but unlike animal sources of protein, nuts are naturally cholesterol-free and high in fiber. Twenty-four almonds contain a little more than three grams of fiber, about the same amount of roughage as an unpeeled apple.
There's no doubt that nuts are relatively high in fat, but the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in nuts are the friendly types that are known to have dozens of important health benefits. Not only do they serve as a concentrated source of energy, they also supply the body with essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins.
Although nuts may have been underappreciated in the past, recent research has elevated them to super-food status. Consuming small quantities of nuts on a regular basis has been shown to reduce the risk for a number of common ailments and chronic diseases, ranging from constipation to cancer.
