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Go a Little Nuts at Holiday Parties This Year
Go a Little Nuts at Holiday Parties This Year
Whether you’re a health nut or just a nut lover, you've probably heard that these hard-shelled seeds help keep your weight and cholesterol down, cancer at bay, and your heart, well, hardy. But do you know your filberts from your macadamias, your walnuts from your almonds -- healthwise, that is? Just in time for all those nut bowls and party platters, here are the specific benefits of each. Think small handfuls, though, not mindless munching. As nutritious as they are, nuts pack 160 to 200 calories per ounce!
1. Coping with holiday stress? Reach for the almonds. Crunching down 24 of them will give you 35% of your daily value of vitamin E, which is quickly depleted when you're under pressure. (Eat 'em with the skin on to get the biggest dose!) You'll also score some calcium, magnesium, and riboflavin.
2. Need an excuse to go for the macadamia nuts? They win the prize for having the most monounsaturated fats -- the good ones, which lower bad LDL cholesterol. Just one ounce (10 to 12 of these creamy white treats) has 17 grams of the heart-healthy stuff. Plus, they're a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin that helps keep your muscles, nerves, and GI system humming.
3. Not crazy about Brazil nuts? Eat one anyway. That's all it takes -- one a day -- to completely meet your body's need for the antioxidant mineral selenium. You'll also be munching down some complete protein (Brazil nuts have all the essential amino acids in one neat package) and zinc (think immunity boosting, and more stress relief) while minimizing its one drawback: saturated fat (5 grams in 6 to 8 of these big nuts).
4. What's with the buzz around walnuts? Omega-3 fatty acids is what. You can meet your daily value for these hard-to-get health protectors in about 14 halves (1 ounce). Walnuts are also stuffed with disease-fighting antioxidants: In a study of nearly 100 plant foods, they ranked #2 in antioxidant content (rosehips -- hardly party fare -- came in first).
5. Feeling moody? Hunt out the filberts -- aka hazelnuts. These slightly smoky, buttery nuts are packed with mood-stabilizing tryptophan; 20% of the RDA is in every ounce (about 20 hazelnuts).
6. Peanuts? Okay, smarty pants, you're right: Peanuts aren't really nuts. They’re legumes (bio-cousins to peas, lentils, and beans). Never mind. They're rich in three key B vitamins -- folate, niacin, and riboflavin -- so you can lose the guilt at happy hour. And ounce for ounce, they pack the same protein punch as beef (7 grams), minus the saturated fat. Wow.
Who would think you could leave a party healthier than you came. But it could happen, if you're nuts about most nuts. Because eating a diet low in saturated and trans fats can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.
Here are a few ways to healthy-up three popular party dips.
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: Comments (29)
Comments
From directorym.net:
Reams of studies have been made and all agreed and came to conclude that pecans are low in carbohydrates, contain polysaturated fats that help reduce LDL cholesterol levels, rich in pyridoxine, Vitamin B6 that is important for the regeneration of cells in the heart, zinc, thiamin, potassium, iron, minerals, and Vitamin E.
The basic info is repeated at many sites. Posted by: Frank | May 16, 2009 at 05:21 AM
are cashews bad for your kidneys.??
any other things that some nuts might be bad fo??? Posted by: SHELDON J.GOODMAN | December 09, 2008 at 11:00 AM
regarding ground nuts how rich they are in nutrisians and special in contest of fat & protin content as well as minerals & vitamins Posted by: Kamal maru | December 08, 2008 at 06:09 AM
What about pecans and cashews? Is it true about cashews being bad for your kidneys? Posted by: Criston | December 07, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Beer nuts are for bar flies.
Commercial peanut butter is full of: "Real" Hydrogenated Oil. (Beware) Sugar (Beware) and High Fructose Corn Syrup, HFCS--(BEWARE)---If you want to be thinner. Posted by: B.R. | December 06, 2008 at 10:09 PM
What about beer nuts? Posted by: Big Chuck | December 06, 2008 at 04:42 AM
So, are pecans awful? Posted by: Babs | December 05, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Food Bites Blog:
Oh, it IS late--when I first saw that, I read it like "man bites dog," instead of the subject of a discussion! Think I'll go have a handful of nuts before retiring! Posted by: PH | December 05, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Trish,the health benefits of pecans can be found online, just enter..."what are the health benefits of pecans". Raw Pecans are my favorite, I usually eat a pound a week.
Posted by: Ms.CTS | December 05, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Because I find nothing good about pecans, I've turned to almonds and English walnuts, but I like pecans
best. What is their value? Posted by: Laura Laflin | December 05, 2008 at 03:57 PM
do you realize that the comment posted by webcam girls is a link to a porno site? this is not good! Posted by: hal | December 05, 2008 at 01:50 PM
What about pecans? What is their nutritional value? Posted by: trish | December 05, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Trans fats come from adding hydrogen to vegetable oils. The simple roasting of nuts will not cause trans fats. However if the nuts are roasted in a hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, this can introduce trans fats. Look for nuts roasted not roasted in oil.
Posted by: Diane_RealAge | December 05, 2008 at 09:09 AM
How about coconuts and there milk?? Posted by: James Waldrop | December 05, 2008 at 07:33 AM
The article doesn't mention almonds and cashews. Are they also healthy? You don't mention fiber. Do some nuts have more fiber? On Weight Watchers the fiber content is important. Posted by: Marian Shapiro | December 05, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Thanhks for sending along regularly useful information with regard to physical and mental healths. Posted by: Lucien Loh | December 05, 2008 at 06:41 AM
xox Posted by: Linda | December 05, 2008 at 06:08 AM
Aloha
I eat Jiff extra crunchy peanut butter every morning on multi grain toast along with Quaker oats,banana, papaya, raisens, honey, 0fat milk, multi, after exercise, 70,feel great, also One Act of Random Kindness at a Time
Health and happiness to All Posted by: KOTO Keeper of the ocean | December 05, 2008 at 05:44 AM
Are cashews really bad for kidneys or for health in general? I have heard that hazelnuts have a lot of LDL? Is that true?
Khalid Posted by: Khalid Mahmood | December 05, 2008 at 05:43 AM
Roasting the nuts does not cause Trans Fats. It's the hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil that nuts are often roasted in that introduces cholesterol-raising trans fats. Dry-roasted varieties are fine. Posted by: stfuqua | December 05, 2008 at 05:33 AM
NEVER roast your nuts, you will change the good fats into very damaging and unhealthy trans fats. Always eat nuts in their raw state. Posted by: Joy | December 05, 2008 at 05:10 AM
About nuts. Yes to the lady who asked about raw! I soak my raw nuts overnight, rinse well, then put in a dehydrater until they are crisp.....then to the freezer for further use. That is the best way for nuts. Heat destroyed enzymes plus most roasted nuts have the wrong kind of salt added. Go to RadicalHealth.com to learn more about that. Posted by: Lenore7 | December 05, 2008 at 03:53 AM
All nuts eaten with moderation are really good.So far as Cashews are concerened,be careful.Oil in them known to damage ur kidneys,if eaten in large quantity.Test,try eating a large fistful,if ur kidneys r weak,in an hours time u'll pass very little urine,many times with difficulty. Posted by: sandra | December 05, 2008 at 03:32 AM
Walnuts will help your cholesterol. My mother was advised to eat a serving daily by her doctor.
Nuts are good for you and full of the healthy fats. They satisfy appetite and are a great addition to your child's diet. My son has autism and we give him a wide variety of nuts for the nutritional value, the ease of carrying around, and the ability to have a healthy treat without it being processed. Posted by: Corinne | December 05, 2008 at 03:01 AM
I thought roasted nuts were tabu? Aren't we supposed to eat only raw nuts? Please advise . . . Posted by: Janice Ring | December 05, 2008 at 02:49 AM
I buy a variety of nuts & seed, i. e. walnuts, cashews, pistaschios, pecans, almonds, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, etc. I mix them in a large bowl, add extra virgin oil, the amt depends on how many nuts you have. Mix well and place in a large oven proof pan. Bake for 1 hr at 250, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and stir in a small amt of seasoned salt. Mix well, cool and store in a large container.Add 1/4 cup to your morning cereal. Posted by: Al Novello | December 05, 2008 at 02:36 AM
Looks a fine idea But is it OK for people having diabetes and how is it on cholostrol and how is it on young kids? Posted by: Col K Vijayaraghavan | December 05, 2008 at 02:35 AM
Peanuts are really booster foods! Posted by: Berwin | December 05, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Cashews are full of magnesium, oleic acid and copper. Magnesium is great for bones and teeth, the heart, asthma and blood pressure. Oleic acid is great for the heart and diabetes. Copper is great for the skin, hair, bones, joints and arthritis. Add some cashews to your cereal in the morning! Posted by: Webcam Girls | December 04, 2008 at 08:31 PM
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