I often get the question whether nuts are healthy. My answer to that is always yes, provided you consume the right nuts and the right amount. Unsalted nuts (and preferably also unroasted or roasted) are the healthiest. Most vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are preserved. You can eat nuts right out of hand, but you can also use them in all kinds of tasty dishes. Want to know more about what to watch out for when eating nuts? Then read on!
Which nuts do you eat?
We know that whole nuts are the healthiest, but which type of nuts are the healthiest? This depends on your goal. If you want to lose weight, for example, it is best to leave Brazil nuts, pecan nuts, macadamia nuts and pistachios. These nuts are nutritionally healthy, but they also contain a lot of calories. Walnuts, almonds and cashews contain fewer calories. These nuts also contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Walnuts, cashew nuts or buy healthy almonds is therefore the better choice when you are dieting.
How many nuts do you eat?
While nuts are very healthy, too much of anything is never good. This is no different with nuts. The nutrition center recommends eating a handful of nuts a day. Unsalted and unprocessed nuts that is. A handful of nuts is about 30 grams. This is the recommended amount per day. If you structurally eat more than that on a daily basis, it can be unhealthy.
Where do you buy nuts?
There is a world of difference between cheap private label nuts from the supermarket and nuts from a specialty store. Not only in terms of freshness, taste and structure, but also in terms of nutritional values. The cheaper nuts have often been on their way for a long time and have therefore lost nutritional values. You would therefore do well to purchase these from a nut farmer, for example by buy nuts at Tres Bien. This way you are assured of quality fresh nuts.