Pecans

Due to hectic lifestyles including sitting jobs for more than eight hours, travelling in cars and least priority to exercises, yoga and other fitness regimes, people are just glued to their laptops, TVs or smart phones. So, to provide a healthy future to ourselves and our future generations, it is very important to start working towards the cause now.

Pecans in their shell

Along with inculcating healthy eating habits like inclusion of fruits, curd and proteins in our diet, we should also add dry fruits. Mostly all dry fruits are rich in anti oxidants and help in one or the other system of our body. Through recent research, scientists have discovered many positive benefits of Pecans.

Pecans care relished tree-nuts by American natives since centuries. They provide strong nutrient value like minerals and vitamins. Pecans are regarded as highest amongst all nuts. They are one of the highest provider of anti oxidants thus helping in reducing the risk of cancer, coronary heart disease and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Apart from good buttery taste, Pecans are blessed with below crucial health benefiting properties

1. Pecans have the highest antioxidant content of any nut.Presence of Oleic acid and Phenolic antioxidants helps in reduction of coronary strokes and other artery related diseases.

2. Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Colic acid, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, several B Vitamins and Zinc.

3. Pecans are cholesterol free and naturally sodium free and can add to the total cholesterol reduction by 16%

4. Just one ounce of pecans has more zinc- an important nutrient for proper growth and strong immunity – than a 5 ounce piece of skinless chicken (typically a good source of zinc)

5. They can be frozen and refrozen for at least two years without loss of flavor or texture.

The US produces nearly 80-95% of the world’s pecan crop.

Pecans

Where can we use Pecans in our daily meals?

1. They can be used in salads to give a crunchy texture and a nutty taste.

2. They can also be used in baking, such as muffins, cakes and bread for starters. They have a wonderful variety of uses in cooking such as in cereal as a topping, ice cream topping for kids.

Add a hand full of pecan nuts in your diet to keep your diet meter complete with sufficient levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein.

You can find Pecans in Nature’s Basket.

Pecans used as toppings on cake

Wow, with so many healthy benefits and flavourful buttery taste, I am super curious to taste Pecans! Are you?

Nidhi KM

Content and photographs credit USA Pecans

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