Health Benefits of Nuts

Are you nuts for nuts? Then you're in luck! Nuts have many nutritional benefits, making them a great addition to a healthy diet. If you're worried about gaining weight from the fat content in nuts, a new report published last week by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition will help ease your mind. The report reviews 31 different studies and found that people can add nuts into their diets without gaining weight. In fact, the study shows that people who added nuts to their diets and people who replaced other foods with nuts lost an average 1.4 pounds more than those who didn't eat any nuts at all. The nut-eaters studied also reduced their waist sizes by more than half an inch.

Nuts - and of course nut butters - contain  protein, calcium,  potassium, essential fatty acids, fiber, and phytosterols.  They are also rich in vitamins E, B6, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, selenium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Studies have shown that heath benefits from nuts include stress reduction, protection against certain cancers, a lower risk of health disease and improved brain health. A lower risk of diabetes and high blood pressure has also been seen in people who added nuts to their diets. The fiber, protein and unsaturated fats in nuts has also been known to suppress hunger.

 What a great incentive for cooking from Robin Robertson's newest book Nut Butter Universe! Just a small amount of nut butter can add great texture and flavor to your meals, and Robin has you covered with recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and even snacks. Here are just a few of Robin's mouth-watering recipes, all enriched by delicious nut and seed butters: Artichoke Walnut Butter Bisque, Roasted Tahini Cauliflower, Roasted Niçoise Salad with Cashew Goddess Dressing, Grilled Vegetables with Almond Romesco Sauce, Penne Primavera with Avocado Cashew Cream, Ginger-Walnut Scones, Chocolate Macadamia Truffles, and many more.

Nut Butter Universe is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your local independent bookstore.


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March is Nuts!

Did you know that March is National Peanut Month? Well, now you do! It first began as National Peanut Week in 1941 and then in 1974 it was expanded into a month long celebration. In fact, March kicked off with National Peanut Butter Day on the 1st. And if that weren't enough nuttiness, today is National Pecan Day.

Robin Robertson's Nut Butter Universe celebrates peanuts, pecans and more, as it's jam packed with creative ways to make delicious, protein-rich recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks - all using nuts and nut butters. Just a small amount of nut butter can add great texture, flavor, and nutrition to your meals.

Celebrate March's nuttiness with a Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie and Cranberry-Pecan Butter Muffins.

This Szechuan Stir-Fry with Fiery Peanut Sauce is full of peanutty deliciousness.

Who could say no to scrumptious home-made peanut butter cups?

This Black Bottom Peanut Butter Freeze Pie makes a for a sweet treat any time of the year!

March may almost be over, but the amazing recipes in Nut Butter Universe will have you cooking year round.  Nut Butter Universe is now available for both Kindle and Nook so you can take it with you wherever you go!


Photos by Lori Maffei.

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