(NaturalHealth365)  Nuts have been an incredible and wholesome source of nutrients for thousands of years.  A longtime addition to the Mediterranean diet, nuts have only recently received the spotlight for their health benefits in Western medicine.  In fact, the American Heart Association (AMA) refers to nuts as “petite powerhouses of taste and nutrition.”

A common and misguided stereotype of nuts labeled these powerhouses as destructive to health.  This assumption originated from the knowledge that nuts are a dense source of calories and with high-fat content.  Fortunately, nuts have not only been proven healthy and wholesome but they have actually been shown to aid in weight loss efforts.  So, will you welcome nuts back into your diet?

Tree nuts contain MANY health-promoting compounds

Nuts have biologically active compounds available for the development and maintenance of a healthy body.  Examples of these compounds that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and heart-supporting properties are:

Vitamins: Examples include folate, niacin, and tocopherols – many acting as powerful antioxidants protecting the body from the damaging effects of free radicals or highly reactive oxygen atoms.

Minerals: Examples include calcium, selenium, potassium, and magnesium, which help protect bone density, boost heart health and assist blood sugar regulation.

Phytosterols: A cholesterol-like molecule that interferes with the human body’s ability to absorb cholesterol and helps lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or the “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Phenolic Compounds: Zeaxanthin and beta-carotene are examples of plant substances that provide color and protection to plants.  These compounds serve as antioxidants in the human body.  Studies suggest that plant phenols protect the body from cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and degenerative nerve diseases.

Discover the ‘good fats’ inside tree nuts

Nuts contain a rich source of polyunsaturated fats, which are contributing factors to blood vessel health and the reduction of cholesterol.  Coconuts, specifically, consist of medium-chain triglycerides compared to the more prevalent long-chain fatty acids that make up approximately 98% of our daily food consumption of meat, dairy, and vegetable oils.

The body recognizes the length of these chains of fats and breaks them down differently.  This metabolic difference is partly why fats contained in coconut are healthier for you compared to saturated fats found in animal fats like cheddar cheese and sausage.

Nutritionally speaking, these are the best nuts to eat:

• Almonds
• Brazil nuts
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Macadamia nuts
• Coconuts
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Pine nuts

Great tips on adding variety to your daily nut intake

Believe it or not, even the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Heart Association (AMA) suggest eating nuts – as part of a healthy diet.  The AMA notes a single serving size is 1.5 ounces of nuts (about 30 almonds or 11 whole walnuts) or 2 tbsp of nut butter.

If you are looking for more ways to receive your recommended daily dose of nuts and add variety, try the following techniques:

• Swap out the frequented candy bowl for pistachios
• Add sliced almonds to your salad
• Add pecan butter to your morning smoothie
• Grind brazil nuts and coat fish or poultry
• Make homemade salad dressing with pine nuts
• Replace vegetable oils with coconut oil
• Add hazelnuts, cashews, and walnuts into your trail mix with added dark chocolate and organic goji berries – it’s delicious!

Editor’s note:  When it comes to nuts – don’t overdo it!  And to make nuts more digestible, try soaking them before consumption or eating some sprouted (organic) varieties.  If you’re looking for an amazing selection of organic, raw, sprouted nuts – visit: LivingNutz – you won’t be disappointed; it’s my personal favorite.  (By the way, I am NOT being paid to endorse them – I just love their products!)

About the author: Dr. David Jockers is the creator of the website: DrJockers.com.  He is the author of “Super Charge Your Brain.”  He is also a featured speaker in many of Jonathan Landsman’s online health programs, including the Fatty Liver Docu-Class and the Stop Cancer Docu-Class.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
Mayoclinic.org
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
Coconutresearchcenter.org