As the clock hits mid-afternoon and your stomach starts rumbling, it’s snack time to maintain your energy levels. Amidst the plethora of snack options available, you might be pondering on the best choice that not only satiates your cravings but also confers health advantages, particularly in combating chronic inflammation.
It’s crucial to clarify that inflammation isn’t entirely detrimental. Acute inflammation, in fact, is essential to fend off external threats. However, when inflammation lingers for extended periods, it transforms into chronic inflammation. This sustained inflammation is a key culprit behind chronic ailments like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your daily meals and snacks can potentially curtail the risk or delay the onset of these conditions.
Whether you’re a regular Walmart shopper who habitually stocks up on groceries or an occasional visitor who grabs a few items, we’ve got a snack recommendation for you. Read on to discover this intriguing snack.
Contains Minimal Added Sugars Excessive sugar intake in your diet can amplify the risk of inflammation, consequently elevating the likelihood of developing diabetes and heart disease.
Interestingly, sugar comes under various aliases, such as sucrose, cane sugar, and corn syrup. Always scrutinize the ingredients list and the nutrition facts table to gauge the grams of added sugar per serving.
Keep in mind that added sugars can creep in from unexpected sources, even ones you wouldn’t suspect, like pre-packaged soups and condiments. The American Heart Association recommends capping added sugar intake at 6 teaspoons (25 grams) for women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men daily. If you’re consuming added sugars from other sources, opting for a snack with one teaspoon (4 grams) of added sugar or less is the optimal choice. However, if you’re managing your sugar intake throughout the day, a snack with up to 8 grams can still align with your goals.
Prefer a snack with minimal to no added sugar due to your sweet tooth? Look for snacks enriched with naturally sweeter fruits like cherries, dates, and freeze-dried fruits, offering inherent sweetness without extra sugar.
Contains a Minimum of 3 Grams of Fiber Fiber serves not only to maintain gut health but also to stabilize blood sugar levels, regulate cholesterol, and mitigate inflammation.
Given that the gut serves as a primary defense mechanism, consuming fiber nourishes gut bacteria, fostering a diverse and abundant population of beneficial microbes while restraining harmful ones.
Opting for fiber-rich snacks contributes to your overall fiber consumption. As per the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you require around 28 to 34 grams of fiber daily. Distributing fiber intake across the day aids in achieving this target. Choosing a snack that furnishes at least a tenth of your daily fiber quota serves as a commendable starting point—every gram matters!
Low in Sodium Sodium is a vital nutrient that regulates fluid balance, upholds blood pressure, and supports nervous and muscular functions. However, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that a staggering 90% of Americans exceed the recommended salt intake. On average, individuals in the US consume roughly 3,400 milligrams of sodium daily, surpassing the recommended 2,300 mg. For added health benefits, the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests limiting sodium intake to 1,500 mg. Excessive salt consumption can trigger various health issues, including heightened inflammation, notably through elevated blood pressure.
Nutrient-rich snacks like nuts constitute excellent options, laden with protein and wholesome fats to fuel energy levels or bridge the gap between meals. Nonetheless, many of these options may contain added salt.
Thus, seek out snacks with reduced-sodium or salt-free variations to maintain a healthy sodium intake. When evaluating nutrition facts labels, opt for snacks that contribute 10% or less of the daily recommended value (DV) of sodium.
The Finest Anti-Inflammatory Snack at Walmart Considering the aforementioned factors, our preferred anti-inflammatory snack available at Walmart is the Cashew Cookie Date & Nut Bars.
Why It’s Exceptional This date and nut bar consists of just two nutrient-dense ingredients: cashews and dates—devoid of added salt, sugar, or fat.
Cashews boast plant-based protein accompanied by fiber and nourishing fats, promoting prolonged satiety. Research from 2023 published in Nutrients highlights nuts’ potential to positively influence inflammatory markers and combat oxidative stress.
In tandem with cashews, dates contribute to the bar’s overall fiber content. A 2020 study in Science of The Total Environment underscores the antioxidant potency of dates. The natural sugars within dates also render the bar a delectably sweet and nutritious choice for individuals with diabetes.
This fruit and nut bar adheres to the recommendations outlined earlier—it delivers at least 3 grams of fiber, contains no added sugar, and maintains minimal sodium content at 5 milligrams.
Both cashews and dates serve as sources of iron, further enhancing the product’s value by offering one-tenth of the daily iron requirement—a notable bonus!
Last but not least, this fruit and nut bar stands as an economical and convenient snack option, satiating your hunger and pleasing your palate.
In Summary The next time you find yourself at Walmart, perusing groceries or essential items, make a detour to the snack aisle and pick up a couple of boxes of their in-house Cashew Cookie Date & Nut Bar. This distinctive fruit and nut bar incorporates only two ingredients, both of which confer anti-inflammatory advantages. Moreover, the bar remains free from added sugars or extra
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digest Pulse journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
