Go Nuts!

Kelly Gonzalez
Busy Bodies Health and Fitness
Date Published: March 11, 2009

Go Nuts!

I’ve always been a fan of trail mix, although, I’ve always been a picky health conscious eater as well. The general trail mixes sold at convenience stores are not necessarily what I’m looking for. I run into problems finding premade trail mixes that are unsalted, have the nuts and seeds I’m after, don’t contain a ton of chocolate and dried fruit, offer smaller portion sizes, the list goes on and on. This is why I was so happy to find an organic store here in Australia that sells everything from all kinds of nuts and seeds and dried fruit to protein powders and organic seasonings in bulk.

Whenever I’m running errands in town and need a quick snack to keep me energized or preparing for a trip to another part of the country and need something small and filling for the plane ride I stop into Zenergy and visit the owner Jules Stark. Jules is only 26 years old, but has owned the successful store for nearly 5 years along with her mother and sister.
Zenergy’s motto is “buy as little or as much as you want.” The concept is that too often consumers pay too much for expensive packaging. Jules says, at Zenergy, “you help save the earth and your pocket.” Everything is organic and locally grown, which is a huge attraction for health minded people. Plus, you get the amount that you want, whether it’s a handful of almonds as a snack or a container of granola for the family’s daily breakfast.

The store is like a natural and healthy candy store. You have the option to grab a bag and make your own trail mixes. You can mix anything from antioxidant rich goji berries, selenium packed Brazil nuts, to heart disease fighting dark chocolate.
Nuts are Zenergy’s best- seller. Nuts are packed with fiber, protein, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Nuts are high in fat, but they contain the healthy fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which help brain function, supports healthy joints, and prevent heart disease.

The greatest thing about forming your own trail mix is that you can get the health benefits of different nuts. Walnuts are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This can help support healthy brain function and keep you energized and focused. Cashews are a good source of iron and magnesium, which aids in proper muscle function and the absorption of calcium to support healthy bones and teeth. Almonds are an excellent source of protein, vitamin E, potassium and calcium. Studies have shown that eating a handful of almonds a day can help lower bad LDL cholesterol.

Unfortunately, the most common nut, the peanut is not the best option. Peanuts are rich in vitamin E, and do provide healthy fats, and B vitamins, but when compared to other nuts, they don’t offer as much nutritionally.

Adding dried fruit to your trail mix is an excellent way to add antioxidants to your diet, and years to your life. At Zenergy I
prefer the dried blueberries. Blueberries rank as one of the highest sources of antioxidants. Other dried fruit choices that I recommend are cranberries, banana slices, and raisins. Dried fruit offers the same health benefits as the fruit itself, besides the water content. Therefore, you can eat more dried fruit (add a lot more calories and sugar to your diet) then you would if you ate the fruit in its natural form.

For a more filling snack combine a handful of nuts with a piece of whole fruit or raw vegetables and dip. Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit make a fantastic addition to meals. Add more protein fiber, and antioxidants to your breakfast cereal, salads, and baking recipes.

To make your own trail mix I recommend visiting your local grocery store and buying the ingredients in bulk and then mixing the ingredients in portion control sized bags or containers. Opt for raw nuts over salted. Since nuts are high in calories and nutrients, and you don’t need generous amounts to reap the health benefits, the recommended amount is about a handful of nuts per day.

Happy mixing and healthy snacking. Go nuts!

If you would like to visit Zenergy’s website to learn more about their goods and services please go to www. Zenergybulkfoods.com.au