Every one loves a delicious treat. You can use today 25 February, World Chocolate-covered Nut Day, as an excuse to indulge in a sweet treat.
Nuts have been a staple of the human diet for many centuries. People also once believed that chocolate had divine properties. To put the two together is only natural and a heavenly combination that should feature in everyone’s diet. Here are five nut facts and five chocolate facts to wet your appetite.
1. One can’t find cashews sold in the shell because their shells are harmful, as cashews come from the same family as poison ivy and poison sumac.
2. Walnuts are the only nuts that contain omega-3 fatty acids.
3. Peanuts are not nuts at all, they’re legumes. They come from the same family as beans and lentils.
4. Most macadamia nuts fall to the ground when they are ripe and ready for consumption. In this way they tell us when they are ready to eat.
5. Brazil nuts are high in selenium, a mineral found to effectively help fight prostate cancer.
1. Dark chocolate is considered healthier than other types of chocolate as it is higher in cocoa, lower in sugar and contains lots of antioxidants.
2. Flavonoids, found in cocoa products, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effects on the body that can reduce the risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity.
3. The first users of cocoa mixed the bean with pepper to make a chocolate drink.
4. The smell of chocolate increases brain waves which trigger relaxation.
5. Chocolate can cause headaches and is not recommended in high dosages for those who suffer from migraines or chronic headaches.
What is your favourite nut to dip in chocolate?
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