Dried fruits are often considered a healthy snack, but not all options are equal. According to Dr. Amreen Sheikh, Chief Dietitian of KIMS Hospital, when it comes to heart health and blood pressure control, not all dry fruits are equally beneficial. Consuming them in the right quantity and method of processing determines their health benefits, all these things have a direct impact on your health. Therefore, for heart health, they should be consumed wisely and in the right quantity.

Dry fruits beneficial for heart

According to dietitian Shaikh, heart patients should consume nuts rich in unsaturated fat, fiber and antioxidants like almonds, walnuts and pistachios. Which keeps cholesterol under control. Apart from this, taking limited quantities of raisins and dried fruits like figs are also good sources of fiber and micronutrients.

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Why stay away from processed dry fruits

However, they need to be careful with processed dry fruits. Dry fruits that are too sweet, syrupy or salty should be avoided. These can increase the amount of sodium and sugar in the body, which can harm blood pressure and heart health. Therefore, one should always eat plain and unprocessed dry fruits.

Important precautions for diabetic patients

Dry fruits contain high amount of natural sugar, which can be harmful for diabetes patients. Especially people with diabetes or sugar related problems should eat them carefully. To prevent sudden increase in blood sugar, dry fruits should be eaten with nuts or after meals instead of eating them on an empty stomach. In such a situation, blood sugar does not increase suddenly.

Pay special attention to the correct quantity

It is most important to take care of quantity. Eating a small handful i.e. about 5 to 10 nuts or 1 to 2 teaspoons of dry fruits daily is sufficient. Eating too much increases the amount of calories in the body, which can lead to weight gain. And weight gain is considered a major cause of heart diseases.

Also read: Diabetes is turning your liver into ‘stone’, one out of every 4 patients is at risk of fibrosis.

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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