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it generates significant amounts of nitric acid, the 1998 Nobel Prize for medicine was won by three pharmacologist who discovered "nitric acid as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system."

Nuts are also high in antioxidants. Brazil nuts in particular are high in the antioxidant mineral selenium. In fact just 2 brazil nuts provide your entire RDI of selenium. A study at the University of Illinois suggests that Brazils may be vital in preventing breast cancer. Selenium also helps to prevent lung, bowel and prostate cancer as well as helping to prevent heart disease.

Another antioxidant is Vitamin E, it is said that a 30g serve of mixed nuts will provide 20% RDI of vitamin E. However, if you were to just eat hazelnuts you would be getting more as they are one of the richest sources of Vitamin E.

Nuts also provide plant sterols, pistachios, cashews, almonds and pecans in particular are a good source of these. Plant sterols help us because they can reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed from our gut.

Cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios and walnuts also contain folate. Folate is a B vitamin essential for producing and maintaining new cell growth.

A 30g serve of brazils, almonds or cashews would provide you with 75% of the RDI for magnesium.

Nuts are also and excellent source of fibre which is probably why they are so filling.

Basically eating nuts is a nutritional no brainer, the question should be why wouldn't you eat nuts? Whether your choice is Almond or Macadamia a healthier snack choice would be hard to find.

Learn more about this author, Louanne Cox.
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