Nuts are often underrated as a snack because people see them as being high in fat, so in turn high in calories.

But on the plus size, raw tree nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and more, have a direct link to lower cholesterol, better heart health, weight control, and even a lower cancer risk.

Nuts contain high levels of antioxidants, which help protect your body from cellular damage contributing to heart disease, cancer, and early aging.

Almonds are especially healthy for people worried about their blood sugar. Persons who eat about 20 percent of their daily intake of calories from almonds will in short term see their cholesterol drop and insulin resistance decrease compared. This of course is in comparison to those who are not currently eating nuts as a regular part of their diet.

Nuts contain large amounts of monounsaturated fat. The ‘good fat’ lowers bad cholesterol levels (LDL) and blood pressure.

Pistachios are the lowest calories nuts containing only 4 in each one. The diet friendly nature of the Pistachio is only enhanced by the need to peel each one. In having to take time to peel the shell, you are slowed down when eating, lengthening the period of your snack, and generally resulting in you eating less overall.

Is it a surprise to learn that even with such a potentially high caloric intake, nuts may help in maintaining a healthy weight? It has come to pass that people can snack on modest amounts of nuts without gaining fat. In some cases, people will even lose body fat whilst having nuts as a high percentage of their diet.

This tends to occur as nuts help stop cravings when on calorie restricted diets. Nuts are relatively high in protein, and they are high in fiber. These are the two macronutrients most responsible for curbing hunger. Being high in unsaturated fats will also assist in stopping hunger setting in as fats tend to satisfy.

Snacking on nuts makes it likely that you will eat less later in the same day. If there is a reduction that occurs later in the day in consumption of calories, then the introduction on nuts (even though they are a high calorie snack) may result in more stable blood sugars and satiety later in the evening.

With nuts being difficult to digest, they become resistant to breaking down in the gut. This has a pleasant side affect of as much as 20% of the fat we thought we were digesting, passing through the body undigested (calories never absorbed).

But there is the down side that pops its head up again. Nuts have several to consider. Two cups of mixed nuts can pack 1,600 calories. So ensure that when eating nuts it is simply as a snack, or to help stop those cravings.

When the following cravings attack, try these foods (including nuts) to assist you in relieving your desire to devour:

Chocolate

The body needs: Magnesium.

Eat: Nuts, Seeds, Legumes

Sugary Foods / Sweets

The body needs: Chromium

Eat: Broccoli, Grapes, Cheese, Chicken

The body needs: Carbon

Eat: Fresh Fruit

The body needs: Phosphorous

Eat: Chicken, Beef, Fish, Eggs, Dairy, Nuts, Legumes, Grains

The body needs: Sulphur

Eat: Cranberries, Horseradish, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Cabbage

The body needs: Tryptophan

Eat: Cheese, Lamb, Liver, Raisins, Sweet Potato, Spinach

Bread / Toast / Pasta / Other Carbohydrates

The body needs: Nitrogen

Eat: High Protein Foods (Meat, Fish, Nuts, Beans)

Oily / Fatty Foods

The body needs: Calcium

Eat: Milk, Cheese, Yoghurt, Legumes, Broccoli, And Green Leafy Vegetables

Salty Foods

The body needs: Chloride

Eat: Fish, Goats Milk

The body needs: Silicon

Eat: Nuts and Seeds (Avoid unrefined starch such as potato and rice)