But if you are watching your weight, dry fruits should be eaten in moderation as they are nutrient dense in sugars too, and thus calories. Limit the intake to about 20 grams total of mixed nuts and dry fruits and avoid snacking straight from a bag. It leads to overeating.

Raisins, pistachios and dates will come next on the list. These dry fruits are rich in vitamins and proteins; they also boost immunity and prevent lifestyle diseases such as cholesterol and diabetes. Most dry fruits are rich in minerals, proteins, fibre and vitamins add to that they are tasty and delicious too.

Moreover, dry fruits can also help people who have low metabolisms. This is because certain kinds of dry fruits can boost your metabolism, which is very helpful for losing weight.

In short, the answer is yes, we should eat them, and no, they won’t make us gain weight if eaten in moderate amounts. The fats in nuts are mostly the “good” fats. And aside from that, our bodies don’t actually absorb all the fat found in nuts.

Peanuts are an excellent source of plant-based protein, offering 25.8 g per 100 g of peanuts, or around half of a person’s daily protein needs. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for protein in adults is: 46 g for women. 56 g for men.

1 ounce of almonds, or about 23 almond nuts, is the ideal daily portion recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. And if you’re not a big counter, think of it as a handful and snack on.

Bananas are high in potassium, convenient to eat on the go, and can fuel your body during a workout just as well as a sports drink, according to one study. As if that weren’t enough, one medium banana brings 1.3 grams of protein.

14 Easy Ways to Increase Your Protein Intake

1. Eat your protein first.
2. Snack on cheese.
3. Replace cereal with eggs.
4. Top your food with chopped almonds.
5. Choose Greek yogurt.
6. Have a protein shake for breakfast.
7. Include a high protein food with every meal.
8. Choose leaner, slightly larger cuts of meat.

According to Dr. Gargi Sharma, weight-management expert, “You should have 4 to 5 cashew nuts every day. You can add them to your salad or toss them in your chicken stir-fry.” Pistachios are said to be the slimmest of all nuts with less than four calories per nut.

Almonds contain lots of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E. The health benefits of almonds include lower blood sugar levels, reduced blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. They can also reduce hunger and promote weight loss.

Cashews are low in sugar and rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein. They’re also a good source of copper, magnesium, and manganese — nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity, and bone health.