What Are The Best Nuts To Eat?

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What Are The Best Nuts To Eat

Nuts are a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

They’re also one of the best sources of fat and heart-healthy fats! Nuts contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids that provide many different health benefits.

This article will talk about what nuts you should eat to stay healthy so you can find out what your favorite nut is and eat more nuts in general!

Let’s first address the elephant in the room:

Don’t nuts have a lot of fat? Basically, will eating nuts make you gain weight?

Before we share the best nuts to eat, let’s tackle this question so you read about nuts without a guilty conscience!

Health Benefits Of Nuts (In General)

Did you know eating nuts can reduce your risk of metabolic syndromes such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels?

A study showed that people on Mediterranean diets that included at least thirty grams of nuts a day had lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Here’s a list of just some of the amazing health benefits you get when eating nuts:

  • Eating nuts can help lower your risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • Nuts are one of the best sources for protein, vitamins, minerals, fat, polyunsaturated fats (which helps prevent heart disease), antioxidants and omega-three fatty acids!
  • Including more nuts in your diet can decrease inflammation as well as joint swelling from arthritis or other illness.
  • Nuts keep you full and satisfied and help prevent mindless snacking on foods you regret later on

But Don’t Nuts Contain A Lot Of Fat?

Nuts contain a lot of fat, but what’s important to know is that the fats in nuts are healthy.

These heart healthy fats can reduce your risk for many different diseases and illnesses. We’re talking about monounsaturated fatty acids!

They generally have less saturated fat than other foods which means you’ll get fewer calories from these good sources of protein.

Some people think eating too much fat will make them gain weight or be at higher risk for clogged arteries, but this isn’t true if you eat the right kind of fats (especially ones with omega-fatty acid). 

Here’s what you need to know about what kinds of fats are in nuts.

The 2 Types Of Fats In Nuts

There are two basic types of fat: saturated and unsaturated.

The main difference between them is that one type of fat (saturated) can’t be broken down by the liver while another type (unsaturated) needs to be broken down first before it’s processed through your system, meaning they’re less likely to cause clogged arteries or weight gain.

Basically if you are worried about the fat content of nuts – don’t worry. Nuts have the unsaturated fat which is the ‘good’ healthy fat so to speak.

What Are The Best Nuts To Eat?

Yummy—Almonds!

almonds

Almonds are in the tree nut family, and they have many reasons to be at the top of this list.

  • Can improve your health in many ways, including lowering cholesterol levels.
  • Reduce inflammation, and they can even promote the growth of good gut bacteria.

Almonds are one of the best nuts to eat, especially if you’re looking for high protein and a good source of fats.

How to get more almonds into your daily diet:

  • Make almond butter at home. There are many benefits to making it yourself, and it’s easy! Here’s how:
  • Grab a bag of raw almonds (don’t worry if they’re not blanched or roasted)
  • Place them in the food processor with a few tablespoons of oil, honey or sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract – then let it run until you have a smooth paste
  • Add nuts to your cereal! You can eat breakfast cereals such as coco puff cereal for example by adding some almonds on top!

What do almonds taste like?

Almonds have a slightly earthy and nutty taste that is more on the less sweet side.

They’re also crunchy and are used in deserts like almond cookies or even pastries with honey, lemon, butter, cinnamon, ginger etc., which

Almond butter, which you can make at home, tastes like almonds because it uses ground-up almonds as its main ingredients!

Delicious—Pistachios!

Yes, pistachios might be good in the form of an iced latte, but eating them raw is best.

Pistachios are probably the most consumed nut because of their high levels of fiber.

They can also help with cholesterol levels, just like almonds, and particularly with oxidative cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease.

How to get more Pistachios into your daily diet:

  • Add pistachios to your morning yogurt or oatmeal bowl, they’re really good with banana and honey!
  • Cut up some fresh fruit such as apples for a snack. Add the nuts on top, sprinkle them over a salad, put them in an egg dish before it’s cooked.

What do Pistachios taste like?

Pistachio nuts are a wonderfully tasty, crunchy snack. They aren’t quite as high in fiber that almonds are but they still have a ridiculous amount of it. And the taste?

Well generally pistachios are more sweet than other nuts so you’ll get that sensation more when eating them (that’s what a lot of people really enjoy).

You can always buy some roasted and salted because then you’re good to go instantly for snacking or just adding to your normal diet!

Yay, Walnuts!

The second most-eaten nut that people often consume daily is the walnut.

Walnuts taste best when you know they’re helping you live a healthier life! A serving will fight heart disease risks due to the nut’s high content of ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) and various nutrients.

Eating walnuts can improve heart health and help your blood flow better. Walnuts can also reduce inflammation, which plays a factor in chronic diseases.

How to get more Walnuts into your daily diet?

If you’re looking for a new, yummy snack idea then what about walnut butter cups?

Grab some chocolate shells and fill them with this delicious nutty mixture. Then enjoy!

Of course you could be like me and put walnuts on EVERYTHING!

  • Salads
  • Oatmeal
  • Ice cream

What do Walnuts taste like?

The unique thing about walnuts is that they have an earthy, woodsy flavor while other nuts might be more sweet or sour tasting.

For many people though the taste of walnuts can depend on how it’s used in food items such as cookies or desserts because when mixed with sugar etc., tastes are amplified.

Many chefs love to use walnuts during cooking/baking because of their rich flavors–so if you’ve never tried one before now may just be your chance! 🙂

Go, Cashews!

Priscila Zambotto/Getty Images

Cashews are members of the tree nut family and include many benefits similar to those of the other nuts above.

Studies have shown that diets that contain a high volume of cashews can improve the blood pressure of people with metabolic syndrome. Cashews increase antioxidant levels for this diet.

How to get more Cashews into your daily diet?

Cashews are a great topping for your salad, what about adding some to an apple pie or other desserts?

You can also add cashew butter into coffee and have it with fruit as it is a good way to get the benefits of this nut!

What do Cashews taste like?

It’s hard to really pin down what they actually taste like because so many people say something different.

For me I think that it tastes mainly of sweetness but then again when you mix them in food items such as cookies or if used on salads etc., then their true flavors start coming out more.

In any case what matters most is that they’re delicious and contain lots of health benefits including antioxidants which will help your body fight off disease

Delectable—Pecans!

Pecans are another popular nut that’s found in many desserts, but many people think they taste best by themselves.

These nuts offer many amazing health benefits, including the ability to lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in people who exhibit harmful levels.

Pecans also contain polyphenols, which are compounds that act as antioxidants. Many people who eat these nuts show improved calorie intake levels.

How to get more Pecans into your daily diet?

Pecans are a great addition to oatmeal, what about adding them to your favorite dish of ice cream?

You can also add pecans into your favorite pastry or pie crusts as they’re delicious in everything!

Toasting the nuts before eating is a good way to get their true flavors out. If you choose not to, then that’s fine because they still taste great and offer all these health benefits just like if you toast it first 🙂

What do Pecans taste like?

Just know that these nuts have an earthy flavor but when combined with other foods such as desserts etc., its nutty goodness starts coming out more.

What Are Best Nuts To Eat – Final Thoughts

These are the nuts you should be eating every day, not only because they all taste good but also because of the added antioxidants and fiber you’ll receive. No matter which nut you like the most, each one will benefit you greatly.

About the Author

Jared Levenson is a former binge eating wrestler turned Zen Buddhist Monk, Internal Family Systems counselor and nutrition wellness coach. He's helped hundreds of people through universal meal principles and internal family systems to make peace with food, stop binge eating, and find true health and wholeness.

@jared_levenson

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