When it comes to healthy snacks, fruit and nuts go hand in hand. When you consume these two things as a regular part of your diet, you should begin to notice numerous positive changes in the way you feel and look. Fruit and nuts are two of the most natural, healthy snacks you can consume and they each have a plethora of benefits. When eaten together, they can seriously give your health a boost! Giving up processed junk and unhealthy snacks for these two superfoods will be one of the best things you ever do. If you’re not yet convinced of the insane benefits you can enjoy, here are 5:

1. You’ll Live Much Longer

Who doesn’t want to live a long, healthy life? Living in the now is important, but don’t forget to consider your future. In spite of what many people think, ‘getting old’ doesn't have to mean becoming unhealthy and immobile. By living a healthy lifestyle, you can continue to live a high quality of life into old age. With these two snacks at hand, you can make it easy.

Eating nuts regularly has been proven to reduce your chance of death by ANY cause anywhere from 15-26%. You’ll be fighting off things like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke just by eating a tasty snack. If you eat just a small amount of nuts every day, you will lengthen your life. You can’t say that about crisps or chocolate!

When it comes to fruit, there isn’t a saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ for no reason. In studies around the world, the more apples a person ate, the lower their risk of things like heart disease and diabetes. Apples have a very high antioxidant content, and this is the thing that experts feel makes the difference. Don’t worry if you just love snacking on tasty dried fruit; they still contain many antioxidants so you can enjoy the same amazing benefits.

2. You’ll Be Less Tempted To Snack On Bad Foods And Overeat

Studies have also shown that those who eat nuts reduce the amount of calories they eat in their other meals. This is probably down to the vitamins, nutrients, fibre, and protein that nuts contain. Fibre helps the body to feel fuller for longer, as does protein. As they contain all of this goodness, they stop you from reaching for crisps and going in for seconds. You only need around 30g, a small handful, when you feel like a snack to reap the benefits of nuts. They are perfect for the snacker with a savoury tooth too.

Fruit is a sweet snack, which makes it perfect for the ‘sweet snacker’ who usually likes to gorge on things like ice cream and chocolate. You can make all kinds of amazing things with fruit, from fruit salad to simply eating fruit frozen for a different texture. If you’re on the go, a bag of dried fruit won’t go mushy and gross in your bag so you can eat it whenever you please!

Both nuts and fruit contain high amounts of fibre, so you’ll feel fuller for longer with both of them. Aiming for 25-30 grams of fibre per day is a good idea!

3. You’ll Weigh Less In The Long Run

Many studies have shown that those who ate healthier foods in general, including fruit and nuts, weighed less over a period of time than those who snacked on things like cookies and crisps. Although calories in vs. calories out can be important, it appears that eating natural foods like fruit and nuts will make you weigh less regardless of the calories you eat! In fact, people who go in for a second helping of fruits, nuts, and vegetables may weigh less over a period of time. 

The researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health believe that this is because nuts and fruit leave less room in the body for fatty foods. You can find the study in The New England Journal of Medicine, where participants were studied over a period of 20 years.

4. You’re More Likely To Stick To A Diet/Health Plan

In some crazy diet plans, fruit and nuts aren't permitted. One of these may not be permitted, or both. This can be for a number of reasons, such as the high calorie content in nuts or the energy in fruit (some say it’s too much, we say rubbish!).

However, because of all of the goodness in nuts, studies showed that people on a diet plan were more likely to stick to it when they included them. Fruit is a great source of vitamins and minerals, and can make you feel like you’re eating a naughty treat. They can both work together to make diet plans much easier to stick to! If your goal is to lose weight/fat or simply stay as healthy as possible, eating these two things will satisfy you.

5. You’ll Get A Healthy Dose Of Protein, Fats, And Carbs

Protein, fats, and carbs are all important for a healthy, balanced diet. Fruit is mostly carbs, so it’s perfect to eat with your breakfast in the morning, or before/after a workout. It can give you the energy you need to get through a tough day/session, or replenish your energy levels after you’ve just gone to town in the gym. Nuts are high in healthy unsaturated fats and usually contain quite a bit of protein too, although this can vary depending on the type you go for.

In fact, eating protein, nuts, and fruit for your breakfast is said to be one of the healthiest things you can do for your body. Some people worry about the sugar in fruit, but it’s a natural sugar. Don’t worry about it, but make sure you stick to around 2-3 servings of fruit per day for the best results!

Bear in mind that none of this means you should eat unlimited amounts of fruit and nuts. Enjoying them in moderation with a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle is really important if you’d like to enjoy the benefits!