What makes pretzels healthy

Danielle Daly. How are pretzels made, exactly? Hard pretzels, 1 ounce serving Calories: Protein: 2. Related Stories. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Positive Pretzels amazon. Cauliflower Pretzels. From the Ground Up amazon. Unique Pretzels, Unsalted Splits Pretzels. Unique Pretzels amazon. The use of various plants and herbs known as phytotherapy and herbalism Read More.

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Most Popular Nutrition. Let's Be Friends. Keep in mind that a wheat allergy is not the same as a gluten intolerance , which may be a symptom of celiac disease and requires a diagnosis by a board-certified gastroenterologist, not an allergist. Pretzels contain milligrams of sodium, or 23 percent of the ideal daily limit. The daily limit for sodium is no more than 2, milligrams, with an ideal limit of no more than 1, milligrams daily for most adults especially those with high blood pressure , per the American Heart Association.

It's especially important to be mindful of your pretzel consumption, since packaged, processed foods are the largest source of sodium in our diets. That, in turn, increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. High sodium intake is also associated with several other diseases, including osteoporosis, cancer and chronic kidney disease, per the Harvard T.

Chan School of Public Health. In fact, people with chronic kidney disease who had high sodium intakes of greater than 4, milligrams per day were more likely to experience progression of the disease compared to those who consumed less, per a review in the American Journal of Hypertension.

Low-sodium or unsalted pretzel varieties are available at many supermarkets. You may also be able to scrape visible salt off packaged pretzels to lower their sodium content, per the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. Because pretzels are typically made with refined flour, which is stripped of its nutrients and fiber for a more stable shelf life, they are more quickly digested by your body.

This can lead you to overeat and gain weight as a result. This can lead to an energy spike followed by a crash. It's important to pair pretzels with healthy fats or protein, so your brain receives signals that you're full and satisfied.

This will lower the likelihood of you reaching for more than the serving size. There are currently no known drug interactions. Be sure to discuss any medication and food interactions with your health professional. When eaten in moderation, pretzels can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. Follow these tips to get the most value out of your pretzel snack.

Use pretzels as a base for healthy foods: Pretzels come in traditional twisted shapes and also flatter crisps that are particularly handy for scooping or holding healthy staples. Look for healthier pretzels : In addition to low-sodium varieties, pretzels made with an ingredient other than refined flour may be a better choice than traditional pretzel snacks.

First, though, a couple of quick things: For starters, pretzels are, at a baseline level, not exactly healthy per se. They do tend to have fewer calories than fried snacks, like potato chips, but those calories are mostly devoid of nutrients , and pretzels are often sprinkled with large amounts of salt, which could contribute to your heart not feeling so great.

Furthermore, if you decide to dip your pretzel into something else , you could be adding unhealthy fats and extra calories. We covered various dips in our previous ranking of Super Bowl snacks , but generally speaking, hummus is an okay choice, while artichoke dips, onion dips and cheese dips are all pretty awful for you.