Nuts Gift, Nuts Gift Basket

Nuts are high in calories and fat. An ounce (28.3 grams) of nuts has about 160 to 200 calories and 13 - 20 grams of fat. So most of the calories provided by nuts come from fat. That is why some people are reluctant to include nuts in their diet, especially if they are trying to lose weight. However, most of the fats in nuts are unsaturated fat. Large human population studies have found that nuts are heart healthy if they are incorporated into our diet in the right amount. In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the health claim that eating 1.5 ounce per day of nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. (1.5 ounze or 42.5 gram of nuts is about a handful of nuts.) Only 7 types of nuts are approved by FDA to use this health claim, including: almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts, and walnuts.

Therefore, if you eat no more than a handful of nuts a day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, you can reduce the risk of heart disease.

In the following subsections, we look at the health benefits provided by 3 types of nuts that are on FDA's approved list, including almonds, pistachios, and peanuts.

Almonds are actually the seeds of the fruit of the almond tree, and not nuts. They offer many protection against heart disease and diabetes as shown below:

• They contain a high level of monosaturated fat, which is heart healthy.


• Eating almonds can increase the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, and decrease the level of low density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol .


• Almonds are high in potassium and low in sodium, both conditions help to lower high blood pressure.


• They are high in fibers, which help prevent constipation .


• They are rich in vitamin E, which is a fat soluble antioxidant that prevents the harmful effects of free radicals to tissues.


• They are high in phosphorus, iron, and magnesium (which relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow).


• Almonds can lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin levels after meals, providing protection from diabetes.

Similarly, pistachios provide protection against heart diesease because of the following:

• Pistachios has high fiber content.


• Pistachios are high in potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.


• They contain high level of the antioxidant lutein, which reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration.


• They contain high levels of the fat soluble antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E.


• In a published research study, participants who consumed one or two servings of pistachios a day for 4 weeks had higher serum levels of lutein, beta-carotene, and vitamin E, than participants who were on a diet with the same total calories and fat intake but no pistachios.


• Participants in the pistachio-enriched diets had lower serum oxidized LDL and LDL-cholesterol levels than participants on diet with no pistachios. Oxidized LDL can produce inflammation and plaque buildup inside blood vessels, leading to heart attack or stroke. Therefore, including pistachios in a heart healthy diet can lower bad cholesterol level and reduce the risk of heart attack.

Peanuts offer the following health benefits:

• Peanuts contain high amount of protein and fibers.


• They are a good source of niacin (vitamin B3), folate (vitamin B9), vitamin E, magnesium, and manganese.


• They contain high level of monounsaturated fats, and can lower blood cholesterol level.


• Peanuts are a good source coenzyme Q10, which plays a role in energy production in the cell, and is a fat soluble antioxidant.


• Peanuts contain high concentrations of p-coumaric acid, an antioxidant that has been shown to lower the risk of stomach cancer by inhibiting the formation of cancer causing nitrosamines.


• These nuts also contain the bioflavoboid resveratrol, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and reduces the risk of heart disease.

On the other hand, some individuals are allergic to peanuts, and should not consume these nuts.

Since nuts generally offer protection against heart disease, and each provides its specific health benefits, it makes sense to consume a combination of these nuts. Nuts gift baskets that contain an assortment of different nuts are available, as shown in the following:

Snackers Celebration Tray
$39.99

This gift contains ten sweet and savory favorite, iIncluding: smokehouse almonds, honey roasted peanuts, trail mix, butter toffee peanuts, honey sesame sticks, corn nuts, cashews, pistachios, cocoa-dusted almonds, and snacking mix. It is ideal for family gatherings, movie night, holidays, or anytime you want to send your best wishes.

Sweet N Savory Snack Tray
$34.99

This gift includes roasted salted almonds, English toffee, European chocolate bridge mix, colossal pistachios, and chocolate covered cherries. It is ideal for any gathering.

Sweet Harvest Fruit and Nut Tray
$34.99

This gift offers the benefits provided by nuts and dried fruits. Includes colossal pistachios, giant almonds, dates, dried pears, dried October sun plums, dried apricots, and prunes.

Simply Healthy Fruits and Nuts Gift Box
$59.99

A box full of fresh fruit, dried fruit and nuts - this gift is full of nutritious goodies. Gift includes a yummy combination of apples, oranges, and pears along with dried figs, dried plums, pistachios and cashews. It is a gift of good taste and health.

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