What are the Health Benefits of Dry Fruits and Nuts

Every diet regime that you have heard of includes the ever present ‘handful of dry fruits every day’. We know that Dry Fruits are nuts and dried out fruits and that they have a lot of health benefits but most of us are unaware of exactly what qualities these have. Many of us even think twice before we buy them owing to their being expensive. But after reading this you may prefer to cut down on those monthly outings for a few dry fruits in your diet.

Specific benefits of some dry fruits\nuts:

Almonds (Badaam)

The next time your mom forces a few badaams into your hand as you leave the house in a rush, don’t crib, eat them! They are known to help your body prevent cancer!

Body organs - Almonds help in the creation of new blood cells, hemoglobin and help in proper functioning of vital organs of the body.

Cancer and Tumor - Studies carried out by the World Cancer Research Fund have revealed that almonds have several substances which could be useful in the prevention of cancer. Almonds are also found to be strong suppressors of lung and prostate tumor growth in the studies at Pennsylvania State University.

Breast cancer - Flavonoids found in almonds also suppress breast cancer cell growth when these cells have been exposed to cancer-causing agents.

Other health benefits – Almonds also help in weight loss, lowering blood pressure, reduction in risk of recurrent coronary heart disease, solving constipation, preventing loss of sexual vigor, etc.

Not just oral benefits - Few leaves of the wild almond powdered with water applied to affected parts helps cure many skin diseases, especially eczema. Almond paste with milk cream and fresh paste of rose bud applied regularly over the face is known to make the skin soft and fair while almond oil applied on the scalp helps to cure several hair problems.

Raisins (Kishmish)

You simply love these sweet dried grapes but for some reason forget to eat them every day. Well, every time you have digestionRaisins problems, acidity or constipation think of the one very useful household remedy of kishmish!

Constipation - When ingested, raisins swell as the fiber present in them absorbs water. This helps giving relief for constipation.

Weight Gain - Raisins are very good for gaining weight, as they are full of fructose and glucose and give a lot of energy. Thus, they form an ideal part of the diet for athletes or body builders who need a lot of energy.

Acidosis - Acidosis is a state of increased acidity of the blood (also known as toxicity of the blood), the source being our stomach acid. Raisins are good source of potassium and magnesium which neutralize the acids and help check acidosis.

Anemia - Raisins contain considerable amount of iron which directly helps treating anemia.

Libido - Raisins are known to stimulate libido and induce arousal.

Bone Health – Raisins have calcium and is one of the best sources of Boron, which is necessary for proper bone formation and absorption of calcium. Boron is particularly helpful in preventing osteoporosis induced by menopause in women and is very beneficial for bones and joints.

Eye Care - Raisins have anti oxidant properties that are very good for eye health, as they protect eyes from macular degeneration, age related weakening of vision, cataract, etc. In addition, raisins contain a very good amount of vitamin A.

Dental Care - Raisins play a crucial role in protecting your teeth against tooth decay, cavities, brittleness of teeth, etc. It is rich in calcium that is very good for promoting dental health.

Cashew Nut (Kaaju)

Don’t you simply love them in your kheers and in your chikkis? Well you might as well pop one or two raw. They help keep you energetic and maintain your body weight!

Protein - Cashew nuts provide protein and fiber to body.

Heart – Cashews have no cholesterol. Cashews contain healthy monounsaturated fat that promotes good cardiovascular health.

Cancer - Cashews are rich in antioxidants that help in the elimination of free radicals which are one of the causes of cancer.

Bones and teeth – Cashews are a good source of magnesium; this works with calcium to support healthy muscles and bones in the body. The combination also helps maintain healthy gums and teeth.

Energy food - Cashews have high copper content and is vital in energy production, greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints. It is an energizing food.

Weight management – The high energy density and high amount of dietary fiber in Cashews both are attributes to a beneficial effect on weight management.

Menopause - Cashews contain magnesium, which helps the body cope with stress, helping promote normal sleep patterns in menopausal women

Pistachios (Pista)

Pista flavor is definitely yummy. Be it pista ice-cream or halwa, or chopped up raw on our pedhas, we love pistas! But we must, especially diabetics must, make a point of eating them raw everyday as it helps stabilize blood sugar and protects the heart.

Eye Health - Pistachios contain a wide variety of nutrients called carotenoids that are beneficial to eye health.

Stable Blood Sugar - The University of Toronto performed a study that showed that pistachios may stabilize blood sugar levels and can be a good snack item for diabetics.

Digestion - Pistachios contain fiber, which helps people feel fuller for longer periods of time. Fiber helps keep the digestive system operating normally and prevents constipation.

Heart - The nut contains good fats that can help lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease. Pistachios also provide with a healthy dose of vitamin B6 that helps prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Protein - Pistachio nuts are an excellent source of vegetable protein. Pistachios eaten with grains, vegetables, and fruits, can help you add complete protein to your diet

Fiber - Pistachios contain higher amounts of fiber that helps keep the digestive system operating normally and prevents constipation.

Walnut (Akhrot)

They may look weird and are difficult to break but crack them in a door hinge and eat the brain like nut inside to help just that – your Brain!

Omega 3 - Walnuts are the only nuts that have omega-3 fatty acids in high amounts. These nutrients provide anti-inflammatory benefits in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and psoriasis.

Brain food - Nearly 60% of our brain structure is fats which are primarily omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts are also called the 'brain food' because they provide plenty of omega-3..

Sleep – Melatonin present in walnuts is a powerful antioxidant that induces a good night's sleep.

Heart - Omega-3 fatty acids prevents erratic heart rhythms and regulates plaque formation in blood vessels, and the essential amino acid l-arginine in walnuts improves the elasticity of blood vessels improving cardiovascular health.

Protein - Walnuts are an excellent source of a proteins, fiber, B vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and manganese.

Laxative - These nuts are helpful in easing constipation due to their laxative effects.

Cancer - Its anticancer properties also help in fighting the dreaded disease.

Alzheimer’s disease – Research indicates that walnuts may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by arresting the formation of the amyloid plaques that are found in the brains of patients who suffer from this disease.

Black walnuts - Black walnuts prevent heartburn, high blood pressure and various skin disorders. It gets rid of intestinal parasites and tapeworms and helps in ensuring proper functioning of the thyroid gland.

Dates (Khajoor)

You hear of this fruit often and associate it to the deserts and the Arabs but have you ever wondered how the Arabs manage to survive simply on dates? That’s because dates are high on calories and energy. Need weight gain? Look no further…

Constipation – To get the laxative effect from dates, you need to soak dates for one full night in water and consume these soaked dates in the morning like syrup.

Intestinal disorders - Continuous intake of dates helps to maintain a check on the growth of the pathological organisms and thus, helps in the rise of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

Weight Gain – Dates consist of sugar, fats, proteins as well as many essential vitamins. One date has 20 calories (equals to one spoon of sugar but healthier). 1kg of dates = 3000 calories.

Healthy Heart -Israeli researchers have discovered that eating dates daily can protect against atherosclerosis, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes Hence dates are helpful in maintaining your heart’s health.

Sexual Weakness - Dates are beneficial for increasing sexual stamina. A handful of dates, when soaked in fresh goat's milk for the night and then grinned in the same milk with cardamom powder and honey, becomes a very useful tonic for increasing sex stamina.

Diarrhea - Ripe dates contain potassium that is beneficial for controlling diarrhea.

Intoxication - Dates are known as an excellent remedy for alcoholic intoxication.

Now, other than in your meals and sweets, eat these dry fruits\nuts raw for their full benefits!