Best And Worst Nuts For Your Health

By Amanda MacMillan

Nuts are nature's way of showing us that good things come in small packages. These bite-size nutritional powerhouses are packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Here's a look at the pros and cons of different nuts, as well as the best and worst products on supermarket shelves today. Of course, you can get too much of these good things: Nuts are high in fat and calories, so while a handful can hold you over until dinner, a few more handfuls can ruin your appetite altogether. And although nuts are a healthy choice by themselves, they'll quickly become detrimental to any diet when paired with sugary or salty toppings or mixes.

For more on diet and nutrition, click here.

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Comments

[OlegB]

04:49 PM on 10/30/2012

Easy to Eat Nuts for Anyone. Enjoy healthy nuts or simply add them to food regardless of your dental issues. Check it out at: www.EasyToEatNuts.com

[jenelbannrl]

08:27 AM on 07/29/2012

Very good article about walnuts, I enjoyed reading. When searching earlier I also found an interesting guide that answered the question are walnuts good for you. I am going to start eating these every day now.

[Loren Woirhaye]

04:44 AM on 05/05/2012

Mostly nonsense promoting corporate products. Best nuts come in the shell, eg, not packaged with a branding label. Nuts are concentrated. Peanuts are not nuts, are frequently loaded with fungus, and are legumes. Both nuts and legumes are a little hard to digest and best eaten in small amounts. I eat nuts often and highly recommend them, but this slideshow is second-rate information.

[Lynette Setzkorn]

08:19 AM on 05/03/2012

A family member has taken to eating walnuts daily because she accidentally discovered that helped with arthritis pain.

[omgomghaxx]

12:39 AM on 05/02/2012

what do you call nuts on the wall? wall nuts..
what do you call nuts on your chest? Chest nuts
what do you call nuts on your chin?

[revko]

06:37 AM on 05/05/2012

Teabaggers?

[No1 ILoveLucyFan]

10:37 PM on 05/05/2012

Mah huban caw ih uh gooh niht

[EvolveorPerish]

08:28 PM on 05/01/2012

All nuts are good nuts, as long as they are raw and organic, otherwise they have been irradiated and their DNA has gone mutagenic. To each his own, but you are what you eat. To be a mutant or to not be a mutant? It's not like cancer comes out of thin air.

If you are not eating organic, you do not know what they have done to your food, or what weird things may be in it. And its not like they are going to TELL you on the label, dear citizen.

And peanuts should not even be included in this article.

http://www.rense.com/general18/fo.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/398636-are-organic-nuts-healthier/

http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/files/RA_37_Safety_of_Irradiated_Food_final.pdf

And help California get GMO's labeled on the label!

http://www.labelgmos.org/

[omgomghaxx]

12:31 AM on 05/02/2012

cancer comes from your body. Your body has defects. It has cancer right now. Though, not on the level that one would consider it a risk. Certain foods weaken tumorous growth, thus allowing your body to flush it out...

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

08:28 PM on 05/03/2012

Nuts can be irradiated. Not are. Most aren't. If they are they need to be labeled and have a radura symbol.

[EvolveorPerish]

12:06 PM on 05/04/2012

The symbol is a little green plant with a broken circle around it (makes you think it's a green product) and it can as small as your pinky nail, so look sharp. Nothing about the symbol warns you of radiation, it is a green plant.

Processed foods that have irradiated ingredients do not need to be labeled. A package of mixed nuts where the only irradiated nut is almonds would not have to be labeled. Reconstituted foods or food that is reprocessed (like apple sauce) do not need to be labeled. Food served in restaurants, bars, delis, nursing homes, schools, etc, do not have to be labeled. Spices and tea do not have to be labeled.

But . . . certified organic food, can in no way, be irradiated. So to be sure, eat organic. Should we talk about GMO's? Hint: there's no labeling whatsoever.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/Irrad/LabelingStatus.cfm

[charon]

07:20 PM on 05/01/2012

Is this article planted by the "American Nut Advisory Board" or some such nut booster organization? It sure sounds suspiciously one-sided.

[Liban CZ]

06:20 PM on 05/01/2012

I eat, and therefor I am n--s....

[Jerilyn Jund]

06:01 PM on 05/01/2012

Three of my favorite nuts are good for my diet. Nice! Some good news for a change.

[David I]

05:41 PM on 05/01/2012

You know that some of the information, especially regarding anti-oxidants is way out of date? But they the HuffPo isn't known for utilizing current science.

[kegworker13]

12:41 PM on 05/01/2012

How 'bout desenuts right here? cupping self...

[janmB]

10:28 AM on 05/01/2012

It is important to regularly cleanse the body to get acid/alkaline under control..., we have to support the body nutritionally to build new cells and we are in an era of malnutrition because of the lack of minerals available in the soils where our foods are grown. Consider monitoring the body pH level on at least a weekly basis. Monitor daily if you so desire. It is a good practice to be aware of the Alkaline/Acid condition of your body. The pH is measured by a urine or saliva test … which is very simple to do and requires less than a minute of your time. Find Hydrion pH Testing Strips which are available through most drug stores and some health food stores
http://www.envirohealthtech.com/ph.htm

[David I]

05:46 PM on 05/01/2012

That is a load of hogwash. The acid base balance in your body is self-regulating unless you purposely throw it out of whack by poisoning yourself. Urine is always acidic and only changes based on how many hydrogen molecules are being pushed out of your system (by way of the kidney's self-regulating function) That link is 50% science and 50% silliness.

[janmB]

06:42 PM on 05/01/2012

We do poison ourselves ...young folks can get away with much....but ask any one over 50+ and they'll tell you that with aging they need to pay more attention to nutrients and some with aging heart problems, palatations, hi blood pressure ey need to balance salt with potassium....need magnesium. A doctor will read a lab test and it's in one's best interest to pay attention.

[Tomtom2]

10:23 AM on 05/01/2012

I love and eat walnuts all the time but come on:

"The authors of this study, funded in part by the California Walnut Commission, recommended eating around eight walnuts a day to achieve similar benefits."

[sunestate]

08:55 AM on 05/01/2012

This is just nuts, and I love it. Freezing my nuts makes them taste better. Try it!

[cbbarker]

08:59 AM on 05/01/2012

Well, I froze my nuts, rather painful, but the pecans still taste about the same.

[Jerilyn Jund]

06:04 PM on 05/01/2012

LOL! Thanks for the tip by the way!

[meko02]

08:22 AM on 05/01/2012

regularity, yes i am on a long term pain medication and a big side effect is constapation ( not sure of the spelling ) but there were time's when i would not go for six day's,and was living on M.O.M. and Exlax or any other's that might help, then i started eating regular un-salted peanut's and the whole thing changed i am now very regular and go every day and with-out all the other shelf products plus i feel alot better not forcing myself to go. GOD love the little peanut.......

[Jerilyn Jund]

06:05 PM on 05/01/2012

I agree with you, but a peanut isn't a true nut. Dry roasted for me. Yum!