NUTS A TREKKER SHOULD / SHOULDN'T BE EATING.

 

NUTS A TREKKER SHOULD / SHOULDN'T BE EATING.

You are out hitting the trail, pushing steadily upward, and suddenly, fatigue starts creeping up through the soles of your feet. As you turn the corner on what seems like the thousandth switchback, you become hyper-aware of the burning in your thighs and the layer of sweat gluing your shirt  to your back. As you force one languid step after another, the summit / destination begins to feel elusive, almost miles away.

It is at times like these that proper fuel (and hydration, of course) can give you that extra kick you need to power through those last few miles. When it comes to trekking and backpacking foods, which require a blend of carbohydrates and protein, all  while being dense in calories and light in weight, few nutrition sources can pack a punch like good, old-fashioned nuts and seeds. They are backpacker's best friend, because their high fat content and caloric density provide sustained energy for steady-state cardio activities.

Nuts are an important source of food for backpackers. Nuts promote a healthy immune system by restoring nutrients and calories that are lost through the trek. Nuts also make a delicious snack food and add  a crunchy texture to freeze-dried backpacking meals. 

                                     

When it comes to caloric density, nuts are king. After pure fats and oils, nuts are the richest source of foods we eat, Averaging 600 calories per 100 grams (3.5 oz, about 1 cup). Besides supplying us with energy, fats help us and feel our best by maintaining body warmth and keeping the joints lubricated. Fats also allows nutrients from food (such as the lipid-soluble vitamins A,D,E and K) to be absorbed in our small intestine.  A trekker, while on a trail or during off season, should regularly consume nuts. Just have to regulate on the amount of nuts he consumes during trekking and during off season.

You like eating nuts during your trek to keep you filling and energised ?

To prepare, here are a few types of nuts and seeds worth bringing along the next time you head off to the hills.

Nuts are considered a healthy snacks filled with great nutrients. But, only some nuts, there are definitely some that you should eat lesser. In my today's blog you will learn few nuts that you should eat and few that you should not . The categorization has been done on two aspects - HEALTH and ENVIRONMENT.

Should you eat hazelnuts, or dump them ? What about almonds, chest nuts or acorns ? Which side of the list will walnuts be ? 

NUTS YOU SHOULD EAT

1. HAZLENUTS : 

You can eat hazelnuts because they are both delicious and healthy. These provide you a good deal of Vitamins & dietary fiber. It helps to lower bad cholesterol. By eating Hazelnuts you are doing both favour to environment and your body. Hazel nuts are drought resistant and require minimal upkeep, This high yielding plant can survive easily harsh weather conditions. It can survive on harsh soils where other plants don't . This plant supports sustainable agriculture. You can eat them on their own, add them in your coffee, ice cream, cookies, or cakes. 

2. WALNUTS : 

Walnuts are amazing, they give so much of Vitamin E and omega fatty acids. Eating walnuts regularly and specially during your trek helps your body thrive. It lowers your blood cholesterol levels, boost your heart and brain health, also helps to recover from mood of depression. Omega 3 oil in walnuts boost the level of serotonin in your brain. This is responsible for keeping you upbeat and happy during your treks on  rough terrains. They also offers antioxidants which helps in slowing down ageing by fighting harmful free radicals . Antioxidants will protect your heart, brain and body from premature ageing caused when trekking under harsh climatic conditions, high altitude , low availability of oxygen level, less water intake and hard treks for long hours in a day. You can eat them on their own, sprinkle them on your salad, cornflakes or add to your smoothie.

3. ACORNS :

Humans have been eating acorns for centuries, this due to their nutrients and good taste. Many skip eating acorns because they hate to prepare-  remove them from their shells and remove the toxic tannins by soaking them, but it's worth taking the pain. Acorns have healthy fats, protein phosphorus and vitamin C.

4. PECANS : 

These nuts are actually under dogs in the nut world, under rated and under utilised. This nut has wonderful health benefits, they are heart healthy as they lower your cholesterol, they offer about 19 types of vitamins and minerals, you can get folic acid, potassium, phosphorus, and Vitamin - A, B, & E from pecans. Pecans offer Vitamin E anti-oxidant supplement preventing age related cell damage. This nut can prevent you from age related degenerated diseases, and even help you to manage your weight. Pecans are sodium free.

5. CHESTNUTS : 

You need to sneak this nutritious nut into your daily diet all the year. This nut is different from other nuts science they are not loaded with fats, this means you should help yourself to a generous amount of chestnuts. Mentioning of nutrient, chestnuts are as good as whole grains, but they are more delicious, thanks to its sweet subtle flavour they have. Chestnuts offer plenty of protein, Vitamin E and dietary fibre. These delicious nuts are the only nuts that offer a sizeable amount of Vitamin C , as they have Vitamin C to offer, you should be very careful of how you store them. Other types of nuts are pretty sturdy, but chest nuts go bad very easily. Always store them in a fridge in an air tight container. 

6. PISTACHIOS : 

These could easily be the king of nut world. Have you ever tried pistachio saffron milk ? It tastes delicious. Soak a few stands of saffrons in a tablespoon of milk and then mash them, add them to boiling milk along with little sugar and date syrup, top it with pistachios shavings. So, what makes pistachios so special ? Is it the taste ? No. It is a power house of nutrition, they offer protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants and potassium. Pistachios lower your blood sugar levels, blood cholesterol levels , and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

NUTS YOU SHOULD NOT EAT 

1. ALMONDS :

Almonds are healthy for your body, but are enemies of the environment. Almonds are totally opposite of sustainable farming, they require huge amount of resources like water to grow them. A single almond require about a gallon of water to grow. 80% of world's almonds come from California, and you must have heard about the drought, water shortages and wild fires plaguing the state. There are many numbers of alternatives to get the nutrients that almonds have. 

2. CASHEWS :

These nuts are delicious and healthy, but sadly these come at a price that is way more than it's benefits. The heavy price is paid by people who harvest cashews. Cashew-apple grows under several thick layers, workers need to shuck these layers which releases toxic. The majority of cashews come from Vietnam and India. Those who harvest are under paid and under fed , many workers have suffered permanent health damage caused by the toxic liquid that they come in contact with. 

3. HORSE CHESTNUTS :

These are bad for your health. They contain toxins that makes you vomit. Consuming in significant quantity may even cause paralysis. Stay miles away from horse chestnuts. 

4. MACADAMIA NUTS :

These are delicious, but they are not that healthy. Their biggest problem is their super high in calories. You can eat twice the amount of your calories by consuming just handful of these nuts. One cup of macadamia nuts are almost a thousand calories, 88% of which is almost fat. If you are watching your weight, then avoid taking macadamia nuts. 

5. PINE NUTS :

Several recipes call for pine nuts to provide the finishing touch. There is something you need to know, pine nuts can cause an unexplained temporary thing called pine nut syndrome , or PINE MOUTH. This condition usually happens after 48 hours you have eaten pine nuts. It causes a bad taste in your mouth that can sometimes last for months, everything will taste like metal. 

6. PEANUTS :

Peanuts are most popular of the nuts among trekkers . They offer so many nutrients, as well as protein and fibre, then whats bad ? Peanuts are loaded with calories, just half a cup of peanuts will give calories equal to one fifth of your daily calorie intake. One ounce of peanuts gives you 160 to 200 calories, 80% of which is from fat. Weight watchers should definitely stay away from peanuts. During your trek you may consume peanuts to compensate your calorie and fat loss, but keep a watch on what portion you consume.

In addition to the above mentioned nuts that you should consume during trekking, Brazil nuts are a solid option and have many of the same nutrients. One of the best thing about nuts is that you do not have to eat them alone to reap their benefits. You can mix them with other ingredients to make all kinds of delicious trail mixes, such as M&M's, dark chocolate, raisins, dried fruit, grains, cereals, and marshmallows - the possibilities are infinite. 

When trail food supplies are running low, nuts make the difference. Their high fat content take the edge off hunger. Next time the trail begins to seem endless, or you feel yourself start to bonk, take a breather and make sure you have some of these classic trekking staples handy.

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