Nuts that don't drive you nuts Nuts are nutrient-packed edible seed kernels encased in a hard shell and include almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, cashew nuts, pine nuts, pecan, macadamia and brazil nuts. They make a healthy snack offering a wide range of health benefits. Peanuts are legumes like peas and beans because they are edible seeds that grow in pods.  Almond s : Packed with heart-friendly monounsaturated fat, fibre and vitamin E almonds have the highest calcium content, so required for our bones, nerves and muscles. Almonds with skin promote gut health and have antioxidant benefits. Almond flour works very well as a replacement and gluten-free flour for refined flour in cakes.  Brazil nuts : Brazil nuts are native to a tree in the Amazon and are one of the richest sources of selenium,a mineral that supports immunity, acts as an antioxidant and helps wounds heal. .1to 3 Brazil nuts a day is enough because we require very small quantities of the mineral. Brazil nuts are ri...

  Oil from the well of good health .  I grew up on Postman refined oil and continued to use refined oils until 4 years ago when in the course of a health care programme that I was taking, I was asked to switch to cold-pressed oils. Why the healthier alternative?  The oils that we use to cook our foods are extracted from seeds, nuts and vegetables. When the oil is extracted through the cold-pressed method, it is done without applying extreme heat and therefore the oil retains much of its nutritive value.  How are cold-pressed oils manufactured? Cold-pressed oils are obtained by simply crushing seeds and nuts in huge cylinders using minimum heat.  The seeds and nuts are placed in a huge cylinder where they are rotated and crushed until all the oil is extracted. The temperature of the heat released does not exceed 49 degrees centigrade.  Oils extracted in this way are totally free from hazardous chemicals and preservatives. They are naturally aromatic, flavour...