Winter Nuts
When it’s cold and foggy outside, people like to make themselves comfortable indoors. A crackling fire in the fireplace, a steaming cup of tea and delicious classics like gingerbread or Kletzenbrot – that’s the way to live! And then there is the little all-rounder that is involved almost everywhere where winter delights are concerned. Nuts are rich in valuable nutrients that have a positive effect not only on our brain activity, but also on the entire organism. The secret lies in their high content of unsaturated fatty acids.
A Concentrated Wealth of Nutrients
Botanically speaking, nuts are considered a fruit. However, their ingredients clearly distinguish them from other types of fruit. They not only contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, but also very little water. On the other hand, they contain more fat, protein, carbohydrates and fiber.
The list could be continued, but already now it becomes clear: The nut brings it! Enjoyed in moderation, nuts are not only a good addition to our menu at Christmas.
In addition to classics such as hazelnut, almond, peanut, pistachio or walnut, macadamia, pecan, Brazil and cashew nuts have long since won a place on the shelves. Although nuts contain a lot of calories, they are not fatteners. Due to their high nutritional value, they make us feel full faster, so we are satisfied with small amounts. Pecans are the quickest to satiate, with 692 calories per 100 grams, closely followed by macadamia nuts with 676 calories. The lowest in calories are peanuts, which contain 561 calories per 100 grams.
Nuts Like It Cool
As uncomplicated as nuts may seem at first glance, there are a few things to keep in mind when handling them. Cracked nuts should always be stored in a cool, dark place. This prevents the fatty acids from being broken down by oxygen, and the nuts retain their characteristic flavor. So put the opened package of nuts in the freezer.
Another Little Tip: If you don’t want to make cracking walnuts unnecessarily difficult, simply put the nuts in the freezer. The minus degrees change the structure of the shell, so that the nuts can be opened easily and nothing more stands in the way of healthy nibbling fun …