Receta California Walnuts | For a Healthy 2015 & a Fitter You
Its the season for resolutions. After the festive season and especially on New Year it has become a trend to make resolutions and break them as the year goes by. Most of the times it will be related to good health and nutritious food especially after the rich, calorie loaded festive food. But sticking to the plan and leading a healthy life looks dicey as the year moves forward.
Now if you are one of those trendy people who has promised themselves a healthy body and active mind by following a nutritious diet then this article is for you.
You must have also heard of nuts being good for health.You must have also wondered how much nutrition is stored in the tiny nuts and also must have been put off by some nuts as well. Before you think its all bullshit and go nuts on me read ahead.
Its definitely true that nuts play an important role in providing protein, fibre and essential fats. Especially the king of nuts - Walnuts.
Walnuts are known to be heart friendly as they help in reducing cholestrol.
They are richer than any other dry fruit in folic acid and Vitamin E. So they help your skin too.
They are known to raise melatonin levels about 3 times and thus help reduce sleeplessness or insomnia.
This makes the walnuts the ultimate superfood.
Look onto the walnut closely and you can see it resembles a brain.
Its also called "brain food" or the King of nuts.
I was invited to attend the California Walnut Italian MasterClass conducted at Hilton Bangalore courtesy BBCGoodFood Magazine in association with FBAI & Hilton. The event which was well attended also included expert nutritionist Geetu Amarnani who enlightened the audience about the health benefits of walnuts and also helped clear doubts on diets, cholestrols and nutrition in general.
The masterclass by Chef Roshan Mendonsa saw dishes like Ajo Blanco with walnut and Anchovies Tostada, tagliatelle with walnut pesto and also scrumptious walnut & cranberry torte.
The chef also gave helpul hints on cooking- especially with nuts- while he whipped up the excellent food.
Did you know
a)Walnut on sitting exposed to air can turn bitter?
In other words, the fat in walnut are oxidised when exposed to air. This makes it bitter or rancid.
b)A walnut can be shelled/ peeled like an almond?!.
Its a tedious work but thats what the chefs do in restaurant while turning it into soups especially.This gives final dish a lighter colour or "less brownish". The ajo blanco or the Spanish white (almond ) soup made with shelled walnuts looked and tasted superb.
Studies have shown that around 1.5 oz of walnuts a day help in reducing the risk of coronary heart diseases.
An ounce of walnut provides 18g of total fat including the 2.5g of alpha linolenic acid common known as omega3.
Omega3: Omega 3 fatty acids are needed for the brain to continue functioning normally. Low omega3 can lead to depression and cognitive degeneration.
The brain shaped nuts which originated in Persia have the strongest anti oxidant properties among dry fruits.
They are naturally sodium, cholestrol and gluten free.
They provide around 11% of daily needed magnesium and phosphorus
What are you waiting for?
Now you can definitely stick to your plan for a healthy 2015 and be a fitter you at the end.