Life is fast-paced, and people are increasingly looking for and adopting healthy and balanced dietary choices. Nuts, sought after for their rich nutritional value, contain high-quality proteins, healthy fats, multivitamins and precious minerals.
1. Nuts are natural treasures, rich in nutrients, and bring many health benefits.
Walnuts, almonds, cashews and other nuts are the nutritional leaders in the plant kingdom and are constantly praised. These nuts are rich in rare unsaturated fats, especially linoleic acid and linolenic acid, which are essential for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. The dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals in nuts also help maintain normal physiological functions in the body. Moderate intake of nuts can not only enhance memory, improve mood, but also protect against cardiovascular diseases, and help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol.
2. The potential risk of excessive consumption of nuts
Just as there are two sides to everything, there are certain health risks associated with excessive consumption of nuts. First of all, nuts are high in fat, and excessive intake can lead to excess calories, which in turn can lead to obesity. In addition, the ingredients in certain nuts may have negative effects on certain populations, such as allergic reactions or digestive problems. While enjoying the delicious and nutritious nature of nuts, we also need to pay attention to their potential risks.
3. Eat two kinds of nuts with caution
Moldy nuts
Moldy nuts are nuts that have been contaminated with mold and have gone bad. Nuts are susceptible to high humidity and heat during storage and transportation, which can breed mold and even toxins. Moldy nuts usually have a dark brown or black appearance and a pungent musty smell. Once moldy nuts are ingested, the human body may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other poisoning symptoms, and in severe cases, it may even be life-threatening.
Mr. Li is a nut-loving eater, and he often buys a variety of nuts as snacks in the supermarket. One day, when he ate the walnuts he bought, he noticed that something was not right, but he insisted on eating them anyway because he was reluctant to throw them away. Soon after, Mr. Li suddenly suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting, and his condition was seriously affected and he was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Upon examination, it was found that the walnuts ingested by Mr. Li had become mouldy and produced a large amount of aflatoxin. Fortunately, Mr. Li was treated in time, and Mr. Li was finally out of danger.
Aflatoxin is a strong carcinogen that can damage the body's liver and kidney function. Once a nut is found to be moldy, it should be discarded immediately and never eaten. When purchasing and storing nuts, it is advisable to choose those that are dry and odorless, and avoid long-term storage.
Under high temperature frying, the nuts are brown and attractive
Over-heat or over-frying, the nuts will appear charred and black. Nuts are bitter and can harbor poisons, such as acrylamide. Long-term intake of burnt nuts may increase the risk of cancer.
Ms. Wang is a housewife who often stir-fries various nuts at home as snacks for her family. One day, she was stir-frying the almonds with too much heat, causing them to burn. In order not to affect the taste, Ms. Wang picked out the charred almonds and continued to eat. Soon after, Ms. Wang's family fell ill one after another, and stomach discomfort appeared. Medical examination showed that the cause was caused by long-term consumption of fried burnt nuts.
Acrylamide is a clear carcinogen that harms the health of the human nervous and digestive systems. When frying nuts, attention should be paid to controlling the heat and time to avoid scorching. When eating nuts, if you feel bitter or abnormal color, you should abandon them immediately to prevent accidents.
Fourth, the healthy way to eat nuts
Moderate consumption: According to the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents, adults should control the amount of nuts consumed to about 30 grams per day. Excessive intake leads to excess calories and easy accumulation of fat.
Choose fresh nuts: When buying, be sure to choose something that is dry, odorless, clean and mold-free. At the same time, the shelf life and production date are strictly checked to ensure food safety.
Diversified and mixed enjoyment: Different nuts have their own nutritional value, and it is recommended to eat them in a variety of combinations to fully meet the multi-nutritional needs of the human body.
Choose your cooking method carefully: Deep-fried salt-baked nuts are delicious, but they are also high in calories and salt, so they should be eaten sparingly. Prefer plain, lightly processed nuts to reduce extra calorie and salt intake.
Pay attention to special populations: For people with allergies, patients with gastrointestinal diseases and other special populations, you should consult a doctor or dietitian before eating nuts to avoid unnecessary health risks.
Nuts have many health benefits as a nutritious food. Excessive or inadvertent consumption of nuts may pose a potential health hazard. Therefore, we need to pay attention to the amount and quality of nuts consumed, choose fresh and moderate nuts as part of our daily diet, and follow scientific eating methods to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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