Are Nuts Good for You?

For a long time nuts have been shunned by the health conscience for their high fat content. But recently, another look is being taken at the benefits of nuts such as protein, fiber, monounsaturated fats, vitamins and more. In this article we will discuss nutritional information about nuts, what nuts are good for you, and health tips for eating nuts.

Nuts about nutrition

Once upon a time cholesterol was bad. But then we discovered that bad cholesterol had a good doppleganger. Well, bad cholesterol’s doppleganger, good cholesterol, can be found in your favorite nuts. Monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats both help lower bad cholesterol, too.

Another popular element that can be found in nuts is Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is well known for helping the heart by preventing heart attacks. Fish are most well known for swimming with Omega-3 fatty acids, but now nuts are being recognized as one the best sources for Omega-3’s among plants.

Fiber is very prevalent in nuts. Of course, fiber is good for your digestive system and keeping your colon clean. Nuts can help keep your arteries clean, too, with all the vitamin E bundled up inside.

Nuts that are good for you

Here are some nuts good for you eat:

1) Walnuts – excellent source of Omega-3.

2) Heart healthy nuts include:

3) Peanuts (which are actually a legume)

4) Brazil nuts

5) Chestnuts

6) Pistachios

How to handle your nuts in a healthy way

The two most important things to remember when making nuts a regular part of your daily diet are 1) moderation and 2) pure.

All things in moderation. Nuts are high in fats, and this does offset their many benefits. So include nuts in your diet in moderate amounts. Some great ways to do this are to include them as a condiment over your salad, cereal, yogurt, vegetables, or entree. You can eat them simply by the handful, but be careful to limit your snacking in order to avoid too much of the fats contained in nuts. Te doctors say that about a handful a day is enough. That translates to one or one and a half ounces per day.

Keep them pure and clean. Processed nuts, added sugars, salts, and oils will all decimate the health benefits of the nuts you add to your diet. Party nuts, and mixed nuts don’t count! While you can buy nuts pre-shelled, shelled nuts retain their freshness longer.

Nuts are a great resource for protein, fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, monounsaturated fats, vitamins, and antioxidants. They are proven to help lower cholesterol when taken in moderation. But too many nuts can actually backfire on you because they are high in fats and calories. So when making nuts a new part of your diet, do so by replacing saturated fats and other less healthy fats. This way, you can gain benefits of nuts without worrying about increasing your fat and calorie intake. So not that you know the truth about nuts, grab a pair and enjoy!

Related posts:

  1. Are Almonds Good for You?
  2. Are Pistachios Good for You?
  3. The Nuts and Bolts of a Healthy Porridge Diet
  4. Are Olives Good for You?
  5. Cashews Health Benefits


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