subject: Nuts Gift Basket - The Unexpectedly Healthy Gift [print this page] Nuts Gift Basket - The Unexpectedly Healthy Gift
If you are looking for a snack gift that is healthy, tasty, inexpensive, and convenient, a nuts gift basket will meet your criteria. Although nuts are high in calories and fat, they are actually healthy if no more than a handful a day is consumed. In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the health claim that eating 1.5 ounces (about a handful) a day of nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may lower the risk of heart disease. Only 7 types of nuts are allowed by the FDA to use this health claim, including: almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts, and walnuts. This article informs the health benefits for two of these nuts, and provides some ideas for nut gifts.
1. Almonds:
Almonds contain a high level of monosaturated fat, which is heart-healthy. Eating almonds as part of your regular diet 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. Therefore, almonds consumption can lower bad cholesterol levels. Almonds are high in potassium and low in sodium, meeting the dietary recommendation by the American Heart Association for individuals with high blood pressure. In addition, almonds are high in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. These nuts are rich in vitamin E which is an antioxidant; as well as phosphorus, iron and magnesium. Moreover, almonds lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin levels after meals, thereby offering protection from diabetes.
2. Pistachios:
Similar to almonds, pistachio has high fiber content (3 grams per ounce), rich in potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Relative to other nuts, pistachios are high in fat soluble antioxidants including: lutein (which reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration), beta-carotene and vitamin E. According to the results of a research study published in 2010, participants who consumed one or 2 servings a day of pistachios for 4 weeks as part of their diet (consisting of 30% total fat) had higher serum level of lutein, beta-carotene, and viatamin E than participants who were on a diet with same total energy and fat intake but no pistachios. Moreover, participants on both pistachio-enriched diets had lower serum oxidized LDL and related changes in LDL-cholesterol levels than participants on diet with no pistachios. These findings are significant as oxidized LDL can produce inflammation and plaque buildup inside blood vessels, leading to heart attack or stroke. Thus, a heart-healthy diet including pistachios can lower bad cholesterol level and reduce the risk of heart disease.
In summary, nuts such as almonds and pistachios are good sources of fibers, unsaturated fat, potassium, magnesium, antioxidants, and may lower the risk of heart disease. In addition, these nuts have their specific health benefits. Thus, it makes sense to consume a combination of nuts instead of only one or two. When sending a nuts gift basket to friends and family members, you can send a nuts gift with an assortment of different nuts, including almonds, pistachios, peanuts, and cashews. Your recipients can then start enjoying the health benefits these nuts offer.
Kate S. is the CEO of Giftbasketforall.com, a leading onlinegift basket store.
If you would like to browse for nuts gifts, you can click onNuts Gift Basket, andNuts Gift.
