Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, life has not been the same for many of us. Many people underwent self-isolation, people lost jobs and other business prospects, while sadly, many others had to deal with the illness and even lost the loved ones.
Hence, the focus on healthy lifestyle and in order to achieve or maintain the same, one such measure is to diversify your diet and live a clean lifestyle that will reduce vulnerability and improve immunity and allow you to grow in all circumstances. And that includes adding seeds and nuts to your diet as that is a perfect place to start, especially as it doesn’t require a lot of effort in terms of planning and preparation.
A Nut is a fruit that is filled with only one seed, that also has a hard outer shell that typically doesn’t split, or fall off, when the nut ripens. Nuts, are nowadays essential part of diet as they are a powerhouse of nutrients that provides a number of health benefits including protein, fiber and unsaturated fats. For example, almonds are rich in calcium and vitamin E; walnuts have vitamin E, and alpha-linoleic acid (ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid).
Culinary seeds come from vegetables such as pumpkins, flowers such as sunflowers, or crops grown for a variety of uses such as flax or hemp, and have mostly healthy fats, protein and fiber. Seeds especially flax seeds and chia seeds are also good source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, with two or three times that of walnuts.
Nuts and seeds are an excellent addition to your routine and it is very simple to do so. One just have to use them within the serving guidelines of an ounce or two per day, and eat the ones, you like. You can sprinkle a few into salads, sauces, vegetables, or whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice. They can also be added to hot cereals, stir-fry, yogurt or baking recipes, not to mention smoothies, etc. No matter the way you consume them, you’ll end up with extra flavor and texture in meals and the added benefits of nutrition.
