Many people eat their almonds toasted, but there are benefits of eating them raw. Nuts in general have fat, but they’re either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats, and many nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which protect the heart and the arteries. They’re also good sources of minerals like iron, potassium and magnesium.

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Flax is usually grown for the seeds or for the fiber. Canada is the largest producer of flaxseed in the world. It was first introduced to the United States by colonists, primarily to produce fiber for clothing. Today it is grown and harvested in four States; North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Minnesota. Most brown flax is grown in Canada while the U.S. harvests both brown and golden flax. Brown or golden the benefits are so similar it’s almost a matter of personal preference.

For such a small piece, the flax seed has a similar vitamin and mineral profile and is high in fiber and antioxidants like grain. Research suggests flax can provide health benefits like reducing heart disease and cancer risks. Ground flax seed is better for digestion and more of the nutrition benefits are retained. Ground flax seed can be mixed with sandwich condiments, hot or cold cereal, breakfast shakes and an excellent addition to many baked goods like breads, muffins and cookies. When you’re adding some fruit to your yogurt add some ground flax seed too. If you purchase whole flax seed and need it ground once you get it to the kitchen a coffee grinder works great for this.

Tropical Foods has Brown, Golden and ground Flax for its wholesale customers.

Last month we put together a contest to see who had the best ideas to use our line of Dipping Chocolates.

We had some incredible entries, but in the end, our panel of judges chose the best.

First place went to The Chocolate Bottle for Green Tea Filled Oreo Cookies

A very close second place went to MommyB Knows Best for Valentines Day Treats

And third place was Dip, Baby, Dip! from Grocery Lane

Thank you to all the entries for making this a great contest!

Just when you thought sugar was sugar.  There are a number of products in retail that may be described as sugar free, no sugar added or reduced sugar, but what does it all mean?  Here is a basic explanation.

Strict rules are in place by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where sugars are defined. A product with less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving is considered “Sugar Free”. A product can be listed as “No Sugar Added” if no sugar is added in processing. “Reduced Sugar” can be listed if a product is produced with at least 25% less sugar than a relevant reference food.

A sugar free lifestyle can be beneficial or even necessary if you’re watching caloric intake, are diabetic or have any other health concerns. A sugar free lifestyle can include fruits, vegetables and proteins, which contain natural sugars the body needs to function. Sugar free doesn’t mean that desserts and candy are off the menu. Cookies, cakes, pies, even chocolate with no sugar or a sugar substitute can be a very sweet option.

Tropical Foods has a number of items with varying sugar claims, please ask you sales rep for more details.

Nuts are one of those wonder foods that are really tasty and really good for you. However, when buying bulk nuts, they can become rancid quickly by not storing them correctly. If stored properly, nuts can last up to a year.  This is because of the high fat content, especially when exposed to heat.

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Want to skip the fruit but need to get some fiber in your diet? Pistachios provide three grams of fiber per serving, more than many types of whole fruit. That’s a healthy alternative worth smiling about. In Iran the pistachio is known as “the smiling nut”. Though the pistachio is native to the Middle East, California currently produces about 98% of the domestic crop.

The pistachio’s high nutritional value and long storage life makes it great travel snack. Pair pistachios with low-fat cheese, apple slices, sprinkled over plain yogurt or mix with dried fruit and dark chocolate pieces for a healthy snack option. Snack options as healthy and flavorful as these make it simple to understand why, inChina, the pistachio is known as “the happy nut”.

Learn more about the wholesale bulk nuts Tropical Nut & Fruit can provide your business HERE

Type 2 diabetes results when the body fails to break down sugars in foods into energy for cells through the production of insulin. Keeping your blood sugar in control is essential in preventing type 2 diabetes. Some foods, including nuts lowers the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. In particular, including moderate portions of peanuts (which are actually legumes, but considered nuts by most people) and peanut butter in your daily diet can help you control your blood sugar levels.

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Have you ever sat down with a bag of mixed nut or Grabeez, and half an hour later you  realized they are gone?  Nuts are such an addicting snack and wouldn’t it be nice if they were good for you too? Well the good news is that they are, as shown by many studies. Statistics show that eating nuts on a regular basis can reduce the risk of heart attack up to 60%. Why are nuts so good for your health?

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What are your favorite foods to dip in chocolate? Maybe it’s fresh, ripe strawberries or another delicious fruit?

Or maybe you’ve got a “too good not to share” dipping chocolate idea. Whatever it is, tell us your favorite foods to dip in chocolate.

Enter the Tropical Foods “Dipping Chocolate Deliciousness” Blogger Contest, and you could receive a prize of:

• One of ten (10) dipping chocolate gift baskets from Tropical Foods
• A $100 Visa gift card

To enter, write a 200-250 word blog post about your five favorite snacks for dipping in chocolate. Be sure to mention the Tropical Foods “Dipping Chocolates” Contest and include a link to www.dippingchocolates.com.

Go to www.dippingchocolates.com to enter!

Greetings from Tropical!

By Sheila Neisler

Whatever the occasion, there’s no better greeting than a selection of tropical nuts and fruits, by themselves or in freshly baked goods or healthy snack mixes, from Tropical Nut & Fruit Co., headquartered right here in Charlotte……….

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