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Get2it’s Smoked Paprika Nuts….

These days we tell people don’t eat nuts they are bad & full of fats! Yes it is true that they are fats, but they are good fats, and we need more good fats. People simply do not eat enough good fats these days.  I love to make up big batches of nuts, sometimes a lunch on the run for me consists of a few handfuls of this nut mixture. It keeps me full for ages.

Handfuls go into my kids lunchboxes everyday as well and they are a good snack to send with your kids to their sports. So next time you send your kids off to sport, get rid of the bottle of powerade and choc bars and send them with water and a bag of this nut mixture. I promise you it will help keep energy levels up for a lot longer.

When we fill ourselves full of carbohydrates like powerade we will feel good at the beginning but eventually the high will be followed by a low. So get in your good fats and protein and add carbohydrates as needed. A good rule of thumb is exercise over 90 minutes will require supplementing with carbohydrates during the event.

So here’s what I do…

Add a mixture of nuts (mix it up by trying a range of nuts) to a bowl, then add one tablespoon of coconut oil, coat all the nuts in this and then grind himalayan salt over the nuts, then sprinkle the secret spice that we love………

Smoked Paprika!!!

Stir then spread mixture on an oven tray and pop it in the oven and bake on 180C, for about 10-15 mins until the mixture lightly browns. The flavor is more effectively produced when heated gently with oil.

That’s it, but before I sign off here’s a bit about the benefits of paprika….

Paprika’s comes from the ‘Capsicum annuum’ pepper plant family. This plant family is loaded with a very important chemical compound called Capsaicin.

Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers and cause their heat. Capsaicin has many health benefits that are found in paprika, along with other peppers in this family. The health benefits include:

  1.  Antibacterial:

Paprika has antibacterial properties in it that help naturally control bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. It does not necessarily stop these bacteria, but it does slow down their growth.

2.   Anti-inflammatory:

The anti-inflammatory properties of capsaicin can help ease arthritis and joint pain. This is one of paprika’s strongest properties.

3.     Antioxidant:

Paprika is high in antioxidants because it is rich in vitamins A and E (see below). Antioxidants counteract or neutralize free radicals and their destructive effects on the body.

4.      Relieves Pain:

Capsaicin is an effective pain reliever when it is applied externally. There are many ointments and creams made with capsaicin to help with things like headaches, arthritis, and psoriasis.

5.     Stimulant:

Paprika’s capsaicin properties are a stimulant in many different ways. It stimulates the production of saliva and stomach acids, which thus improves digestion. It also stimulates the cardiovascular system and thus improves blood circulation and blood pressure.

So there you go!

Happy eating xx