So we all know nuts and seeds are healthy because they are full of good fats. But you might not really know much more, and that's what I'm here for today!! But we're also going to discuss how to make them taste way better. Oven-roasting nuts and seeds is going to be the key to you eating way more of them, trust me!
So first off, the health factor. I can sit here all day and say that nuts and seeds have essential omega-3 fats, and that's why you should be eating a half a cup a day, or whatever…But that doesn't mean much if I don't explain it further.
You see, there are multiple types of omega-3 fats and each one has its own health benefits.
There's EPA, which actually produces its own special chemicals called eicosanoids that reduce inflammation. Inflammation, which, as you remember, isn't only the cause of painful joints and stuff like that, but also the main cause of all disease!
Then, there's DHA, which accounts for almost 10% of the weight of your brain.
You want your brain to be nice and heavy, right?? (Well, I guess not too heavy.)
On a serious note, DHA is essential to brain health and has even been speculated to prevent Alzheimer's. You will also want to consume a lot of DHA while pregnant, for the baby's growing brain!!
Last but not least, there's ALA, which gets converted in your body to either EPA or DHA. I only mentioned that one because you'll see it on product labels like on your fish oil pills, and be wondering what that means…Just "a good fat that gets converted into other good fats"!
And as you probably already knew about all the omega-3s, the best thing about them is that they have been known to reduce cholesterol, prevent heart attacks, and even reduce depression and anxiety!!
There are even a couple of studies proving that omega-3 pills alone help reduce the fat around your midsection!
That's all well and good, but especially seeing as the holidays are coming up, I think you can do better than a PILL. I myself love oven-roasting nuts and seeds. A healthy, warm, cozy snack.
Perfect for the holidays! Especially if you are hosting and running out of ideas…
So which nuts and seeds are the best when it comes to omega-3 count? Walnuts, chia seeds, and flax seeds have the highest amounts by far, but almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts are good for your heart too.
Now, I know that if you're not the biggest fan of nuts, the idea of eating them raw is it very appealing, and the idea of dumping them on a baking tray and eating them hot isn't much better. That's why I'm sharing my favorite holiday oven roasted nuts and seeds recipe, where we're going to SWEETEN the deal!
Anja Cass from "Cooking With Plants" has the awesome oven-roasting nuts and seeds recipe above! All you have to do is mix 2 cups of the nuts and seeds of your choice, add 2 tbs of maple syrup, sprinkle on ginger and other spices of choice…then spread on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes!
Comments are closed.