Eat nuts and seeds to fight off disease: Healthy snacks should be added to ... trends now
Nuts and seeds should be added to the '5-a-day' guidelines, a report suggests today.
The nutritional benefits of nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, and seeds including flax and poppy, are comparable to fruit and vegetables, it states.
But failure to promote them in public health campaigns means they are often 'overlooked' as a healthy food source.
Experts suggest incorporating them into the well-known '5-a-day' mantra would increase the nation's fibre intake, boosting overall health.
Studies have increasingly linked a daily handful of nuts and seeds to everything from lower chances of heart disease to cancer.
The nutritional benefits of nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, and seeds including flax and poppy, are comparable to fruit and vegetables, a report states
Experts suggest incorporating them into the well-known '5-a-day' mantra would increase the nation's fibre intake, boosting overall health
Studies have increasingly linked a daily handful of nuts and seeds to everything from lower chances of heart disease to cancer
While dried fruit is already counts, NHS guidelines state it 'should be eaten at mealtimes, not as a between-meal snack, to reduce the risk of tooth decay' and nuts and seeds do not feature.
Nutritionists argue this is overlooking the potential health benefits and out of step with other national dietary recommendations such as Denmark, Belgium and Germany.
They argue people should be encouraged to eat these ahead of other snacks, typically high in salt, fats and sugar, to reduce obesity and other disease.
Dr Max Gowland, biochemist and founder of the Prime Fifty range of nutritional health supplements and who authored the report, said the state of the nation's health is in 'dire need of improvement'.
He said: 'The scientific data regarding the nutritional profiles of nuts, seeds and dried fruits is highly compelling.
'It is entirely reasonable to assert that we should not only aim to increase our intake of nuts, seeds and dried fruits, but also explore ways to enhance the promotion of these products.
Dr Max Gowland (pictured), biochemist and founder of the Prime Fifty range of nutritional health supplements and who authored the report, said the state of the nation's health is in 'dire need of improvement'
Dr Gowland said: 'The scientific data regarding the nutritional profiles of nuts, seeds and dried fruits is highly compelling'
Nutritionists argue people should be encouraged to eat nuts and seeds ahead of other snacks, typically high in salt, fats and sugar, to reduce obesity and other disease
'This increased consumption would undoubtedly result in an enhanced intake of essential micronutrients, beneficial saturated fats
