nuts – EcoSalon

8 Different Nuts and What to Do With Them

Anna Brones — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 08:00:01 +0000

Looking to incorporate more nuts into your diet? Look no further.

Nuts are pretty much the simplest snack there is. But if you think nuts are restricted to being served in a small bowl at a bar or party, think again. Nuts can be the base for many a recipe, and particularly for those cooking vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free they make for endless options. Here are 8 types of nuts and a few ideas of what to do with them.

1. Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts are a common nut in biscotti, and while we’re on the Italian theme, let’s not forget that you can make your own (healthy) Nutella with them. Chop them up an add them to vegetarian quinoa cakes. They’re also great to grind up and use as flour, which makes for good crusts for sweet tarts and pies. You can also track down hazelnut oil if you’re looking to add some different flavor to your salads and cooking.

2. Almonds

A fairly common nut, almonds make their way into many things from your more basic trail mix to fancier things like marzipan. You can use them to make your own almond milk at home, and even your own almond butter. Ground into a flour, almonds are good for recipes like these gluten-free Chewy Spice Cookies, Coconut Almond Bars or decadent brownies.

3. Cashews

Cashews are the best friend of anyone incorporating a more plant-based regimen into their lifestyle. Soaked and ground, they get a creamy texture, perfect for vegan alfredo sauce, a cream frosting for raw cheescake and even in a soup. Cashews can also be made into cashew butter, a good replacement for peanut butter if you’re looking to change things up.

4. Walnuts

You can candy walnuts with brown sugar and rosemary, use them to make gluten-free crackers, or even make a raw walnut butter that essentially tastes like cookie dough. Walnuts are also a good base for gluten-free and raw pie crusts.

5. Pistachios

The bright green color of pistachios makes them a fun addition to any dish. How about chopped up and on vegan dark chocolate truffles? Or in a batch of granola bars with cranberries and white chocolate? They completely change a cinnamon roll recipe, and paired with Meyer lemon they make for the most decadent cheesecake ever.

6. Pine Nuts

The base of many a pesto recipe, pine nuts are also great toasted and tossed on a salad, or on top of sauteed greens. With roasted beets and tahini they make for a compelling side dish and paired with rosemary, they give you a creative twist on classic shortbread.

7. Pecans

For crusts, pecans are an excellent choice, even better if you’re making a pecan pie. Pecan milk? Yup, you can do that. And can you make pecan butter? Of course you can. Even tastier if you add a little cinnamon to it.

8. Chestnuts

Beyond eating a roasted version at the holidays, chestnuts aren’t so common in our usual list of culinary staples. They’re easy to roast and peel at home, and after that you can use them in cookies, or together with fennel in a creamy soup. Churn into a chestnut butter with a bit of honey, or make it into a puree, which can be used in a variety of desserts.

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Ignite Your Brainpower with the 20 Smartest Foods on Earth

Sara Ost — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 19:06:23 +0000

Simply put, your brain likes to eat. And it likes powerful fuel: quality fats, antioxidants, and small, steady amounts of the best carbs.

On a deadline? Need to rally? Avoid the soda, vending machine snacks and tempting Starbucks pastries and go for these powerful brain boosters instead. The path to a bigger, better brain is loaded with Omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and fiber. Give your brain a kick start: eat the following foods on a daily or weekly basis for results you will notice.

20 foods that will supercharge your brain:

1. Avocado

Start each day with a mix of high-quality protein and beneficial fats to build the foundation for an energized day. Avocado with scrambled eggs provides both, and the monounsaturated fat helps blood circulate better, which is essential for optimal brain function. Worst alternative: a trans-fat-filled, sugar-laden cream cheese Danish.

Green it: you don’t need to buy an organic avocado – conventional is fine. But make sure your supplementary protein is free range, cage free, or organic.

2. Blueberries

These delicious berries are one of the best foods for you, period, but they’re very good for your brain as well. Since they’re high in fiber and low on the glycemic index, they are safe for diabetics and they do not spike blood sugar. Blueberries are possibly the best brain food on earth: they have been linked to reduced risk for Alzheimer’s, shown to improve learning ability and motor skills in rats, and they are one of the most powerful anti-stress foods you can eat. Avoid: dried, sweetened blueberries.

Green it: buy local and organic, and be mindful of seasonality. When blueberries are out of season, opt for cranberries, grapes, goji berries, blackberries or cherries to get your brain boost.

3. Wild Salmon

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for your brain. These beneficial fats are linked to improved cognition and alertness, reduced risk of degenerative mental disease (such as dementia), improved memory, improved mood, and reduced depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. Wild salmon is a premium source, but we’ll highlight a few other sources on this list for vegetarians and people who just don’t like salmon. Avoid farmed (read: sea lice infested) salmon.

Green it: the California salmon stock is threatened, so choose wild Alaskan salmon only, and eat small portions no more than twice a week.

4. Nuts

Nuts contain protein, high amounts of fiber, and they are rich in beneficial fats. For getting an immediate energy boost that won’t turn into a spike later, you can’t do better than nuts. The complex carbs will perk you up while the fat and protein will sustain you. Nuts also contain plenty of vitamin E, which is essential to cognitive function. You don’t have to eat raw, plain, unsalted nuts, but do avoid the ones with a lot of sweetening or seasoning blends. Filberts, hazelnuts, cashews, and walnuts are great choices, with almonds being the king of nuts.

For those avoiding carbs, macadamia nuts are much higher in fat than most nuts. By the way, peanuts just aren’t ideal. Aside from the fact that many people are allergic, peanuts have less healthy fat than many other types of nuts…maybe that’s because peanuts are not actually a nut! They’re still much better than a candy bar, however.

Green it: try to choose organic, raw nuts, and if you can’t get those, at least avoid the tins of heavily-seasoned, preservative-laden nuts that may have taken many food miles to get to your mouth.

5. Seeds

Try sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seed, and tahini (a tangy, nutty sesame butter that tastes great in replacement of mayo and salad dressing). Seeds contain a lot of protein, beneficial fat, and vitamin E, as well as stress-fighting antioxidants and important brain-boosting minerals like magnesium.

Green it: Again, just look for organic and try to avoid the highly-seasoned, processed options. In general, things like fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts are pretty low-impact, environmentally speaking, in comparison to meats and cheeses.

6. Coffee

Thine eyes do not deceive (even if you are in the midst of a sugar crash). Coffee is good for your brain. Did you know coffee actually contains fiber? That’s going to help your cardiovascular system. Coffee also exerts some noted benefit to your brain in addition to providing you with a detectable energy boost.

The trick is not to have more than a few cups. But you can safely enjoy 2-4 cups daily – we are talking about supercharging here. Just please don’t go ruining a good thing by loading it up with sugar! Espresso beans are actually a phenomenally healthy snack, by the way.

Green it: brew yourself some fair-trade organic coffee to benefit both the planet and the workers who grow your beans. Use a thermos instead of a throwaway cup.

7. Oatmeal

Nature’s scrub brush is one of the best foods for cardiovascular health, which translates to brain health. Additionally, oatmeal is packed with fiber, a reasonable amount of protein, and even a small amount of Omega-3’s. It’s a good grain that will sustain you throughout the morning so you aren’t prone to irritability or an energy crash.

Green it: the healthiest oatmeal is the real, steel-cut deal. Steer clear of those little microwavable packets that are loaded with sugar. All that packaging isn’t very green.

8. Beans

One more for carb-lovers. (The brain uses about 20% of your carbohydrate intake and it likes a consistent supply.) Beans are truly an amazing food that is sadly overlooked. They’re humble, but very smart. Not only are they loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein, they’re ridiculously cheap. An entire bag of beans usually costs only a few dollars and will provide many meals. Beans provide a steady, slow release of glucose to your brain – which means energy all day without the sugar crash. Don’t go eating a whole platter of frijoles, though – just 1/4 of a cup is fine.

Green it: look for heirloom beans that are raised sustainably, like those from Rancho Gordo.

9. Pomegranate

Opt for the fruit over the juice so you get more fiber. Pomegranates contain blueberry-like levels of antioxidants, which are essential for a healthy brain. Your brain is the first organ to feel the effects of stress, so anything you can do to offset stress is a smart choice.

Green it: pomegranates are seasonal and not generally local for most of us, so enjoy sparingly and rely on other berries like acai, grapes and cherries when you can’t get this fruit.

10. Brown Rice

Brown rice is a low-glycemic complex carbohydrate that is excellent for people sensitive to gluten who still want to maintain cardiovascular health. The better your circulation, the sharper your brain.

Green it: don’t buy the excessively-packaged “boil in a bag” rice packets. Just make up a big batch of brown rice in a rice cooker on Sunday so you have it on hand for easy lunches all week.

11. Tea

You have to brew tea fresh or you won’t get the benefits of all those catechines (antioxidants) that boost your brain. Because tea has caffeine, don’t have more than 2-3 cups daily.

Green it: buy organic, fair trade loose leaf or packets to support sustainable business practices.

12. Chocolate

Things are looking increasingly better for chocolate. It’s got brain-boosting compounds, it’s loaded with antioxidants, and it has just the right amount of caffeine. Chocolate sends your serotonin through the roof, so you’ll feel happy in short order. Dark chocolate is also rich in fiber. (Remember, fiber = healthy cardiovascular system = healthy brain.)

Green it: go for super dark, fair-trade, pure organic chocolate, not the sugary, processed milk chocolate candy bars.

13. Oysters

Oysters are rich in selenium, magnesium, protein and several other nutrients vital to brain health. In one study researchers found that men who ate oysters reported significantly improved cognition and mood! Not all shellfish are good for you but oysters are a sure bet.

Green it: oysters are actually one of the most eco-friendly seafood options, so eat up!

14. Olive Oil

Though we know the brain does need a small, steady supply of glucose, don’t overlook fat. Studies have consistently shown that a low-fat diet is not the health boon we hoped it would be (remember the 90s low-fat craze?). In fact, avoiding fat can increase foggy thinking, mood swings, and insomnia. A diet rich in healthy fats is essential to clear thinking, good memory, and a balanced mood. Your brain is made of fat, after all.

One study of men found that those who relied on the processed vegetable fats found in salad dressings, snacks and prepared foods had 75% higher rates of mental degradation (dementia, memory loss) than men who ate healthy fats. Most processed foods and fast foods use corn oil, palm oil, soybean oil and other Omega-6 fats. You don’t want Omega 6 fats. Even saturated fat is safer than Omega 6’s.

Choose healthy fats such as those present in olive oil, nut butters, nuts and seeds, flax, oily fish, and avocados. Avoid processed fats found in pastries, chips, candy bars, snacks, junk food, fried foods and prepared foods. Eating the wrong fat can literally alter your brain’s communication pathways.

Green it: look for organic, local, or farmers’ market options when it comes to your food. You should also explore herbal remedies for mood swings and brain health.

15. Tuna

In addition to being another rich source of Omega-3’s, tuna, particularly yellowfin, has the highest level of vitamin B6 of any food. Studies have shown that B6 is directly linked to memory, cognition and long term brain health. Generally, the B vitamins are among the most important for balancing your mood. B6 in particular influences dopamine receptors (dopamine is one of your “feel good” hormones along with serotonin).

My personal cocktail: SAMe (nature’s happiness molecule) and a mega-dose of B-complex keeps me humming even when I’ve got a mountain of work to do. Which, like you, is all the time.

Green it: only eat tuna from sustainable fisheries, and if you’re looking for a B6 source that is vegetarian, opt for a banana, which contains a third of your day’s requirement (tuna offers nearly 60%).

16. Garlic

Garlic – the fresher the better – is one of the most potent nutritional weapons in your arsenal. Eat it as much as your significant other can stand. Not only is it fabulous for reducing bad cholesterol and strengthening your cardiovascular system, it exerts a protective antioxidant effect on the brain.

Avoid: I know it makes life easier, but don’t even think about buying the chopped or peeled garlic. Nutritional benefits = zero.

Green it: just choose organic, and go for local if you can get it.

17. Eggs

Eggs contain protein and fat to provide energy to your brain for hours, and the selenium in organic eggs is proven to help your mood. You really needn’t worry about the overblown cholesterol fears. (I have quite a bit to say on this topic but I’ll restrain myself for once.)

Green it: choose organic, free range, vegetarian fed eggs.

18. Green Leafy Vegetables

Spinach, kale, chard, romaine, arugula, lolla rossa – whatever green you like, eat it daily. Green, leafy vegetables are high in iron (slightly less “green” iron sources include beef, pork and lamb). Americans tend to be deficient in iron, which is too bad, because the deficiency is linked to restless leg syndrome, fatigue, poor mood, foggy thinking, and other cognition issues.

Green it: choose organic, and shop at your farmers’ market or order from a local CSA. Leave out the red meat a few days a week and rely on a big, well-seasoned green stir fry or salad.

19. Tomatoes

Go figure, but tomatoes don’t usually make the brain-boosting food lists. (Thank goodness I found the one that did so I’m not the only one.) Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that is particularly good for your brain – it even helps prevent dementia. You have to cook tomatoes to get the lycopene – take that, raw foodies! Just kidding. But this does mean that ketchup is good for your brain. Although because of the sugar in it, you should look to other sources for most of your lycopene intake, such as fresh tomato sauce.

Green it: try to eat tomatoes that are local and get your lycopene in vitamin form when tomatoes aren’t in season. You’ll know when that is – the tomatoes will be pale, tasteless, and pithy.

20. Cacao nibs

That’s right, I’m putting chocolate on this list twice. My boyfriend knows I need it. I eat chocolate or cacao nibs daily and I think you might want to consider it, too. Cacao nibs are among the top five most powerful brain foods, right next to wild salmon and blueberries. My girlfriends and I like to mix cacao nibs with frozen blueberries and a generous splash of organic heavy cream while we watch really bad television on Sunday nights.

Green it: as long as it’s fair trade and organic, it’s green.

Things that drain your brain:

Alcohol kills your brain cells outright! Alcohol also interferes with dopamine production. Moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly resveratrol-rich red wine, can help improve your health, but anything beyond a glass or two of wine daily is a recipe for reduced brain function and energy loss.

Corn Syrup and Sugar lead to health problems like diabetes and obesity, and they’re terrible for your brain. Don’t eat sugar except on special occasions or as an infrequent treat. If you can’t cut back that much, try to limit yourself to just two bites of whatever tempts you daily.

Nicotine constricts blood flow to the brain, so while it may “soothe” jittery nerves, smoking will actally reduce your brain function severely – and the effects are cumulative.

A high carbohydrate lunch will make you sleepy and sluggish. Opt for a light meal with some quality protein, such as a salad with grilled chicken breast or vegetables and hummus or wild American shrimp and avocado.

Vita Search
Public Library of Science
PubMed

– with additional reporting by Sarah Irani

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. The original post can be found here.

Image: haydnseek

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The Junk Food Jones: Retraining Your Palate with 12 Real Food Alternatives

Heather Brubaker — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:06:33 +0000

While I may strive to eat healthy, it isn’t always easy. I still have sudden cravings for Fritos or frozen pizza, as buried taste memories re-surge from my heedless junk food days. I still have my moments of devouring a bag of potato chips or a recent favorite, corn nuts, but overall, I try hard to avoid such snacks. Still, we all sometimes need a snack. Question is: what should we be snacking on?

Here are 12 real food alternatives to falling prey to the “junk food jones.” Some of these may seem high in fat, and they are, such as olives, nuts or cheese. However, the idea is quality not quantity. Enjoy the good things in life, but within reason, and you’ll find you are more than satisfied.

The trick is to keep real food snacks around, or bring them with you, so you’re not tempted with impulse buys near the register when you’re filling up at the gas station or buying office supplies. It’s all about retraining your palette and your habits.

1. Nuts: Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews

I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a bag of roasted almonds in my bag at all times. Yum!

2. Fresh Fruit

I’ve been really enjoying oranges recently, especially tangerines. Other easy fresh fruit snacks are grapes, apples or pears.

3. Dried fruit

Great on the go.

4. Vegetables with hummus

An excellent source of fiber all around.

5. Rice cakes with natural peanut butter or almond butter

Or celery with peanut butter. Remember the old days of “ants-on-a-log?”

6. Cheese

Yes. Really. But good cheese! I’m still a believer that a few slices of cheese are better than eating a bag of potato chips. Try eating with rye crackers, thinly sliced, toasted pain au levain bread or simply on its own. My current favorites are aged gouda or goat gouda, gruyere, and manchego.

7. Olives

Greek olives are nice to have on hand, especially when you’re eating cheese. You may need to shop around a bit to find your favorite style and olives can vary in quality depending on where you buy them from.

8. Roasted vegetables

I’m a big fan of sweet potato fries. Mind you, when I say sweet potato fries, I don’t mean the ones at the pub down the street. Oven roast your own with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme. Delicious! Asparagus, which is currently in season, is another great option. Eat the spears like fries. Or, make a roasted beet salad to have on hand with onions and feta cheese.

9. Straight up avocado

With salt. What’s not to love.

10. Natural granola or fruit bars

Try 18 Rabbits or Larabars.

11. The combination. Plain yogurt with granola, fruit and nuts

This is like dessert! Try experimenting with different fruit combinations or adding shredded coconut or a dusting of ground flax seed.

12. Dark chocolate

Instead of reaching for cookies, try this alternative. A few squares of dark chocolate are inimitably satisfying.

Images: inside_man, minianna.com, givingitatry, aggleton, prakhar, Sashertootie, JC handmade, mwhammer, MGF Lady Disdain, aSILVA, CaseyJ

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The Junk Food Jones: Retraining Your Palate with 12 Real Food Alternatives

Heather Brubaker — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:49:46 +0000

1. Nuts: Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews

I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a bag of roasted almonds in my bag at all times. Yum!

2. Fresh Fruit

I’ve been really enjoying oranges recently, especially tangerines. Other easy fresh fruit snacks are grapes, apples or pears.

3. Dried fruit

Great on the go.

4. Vegetables with hummus

An excellent source of fiber all around.

5. Rice cakes with natural peanut butter or almond butter

Or celery with peanut butter. Remember the old days of “ants-on-a-log?”

6. Cheese

7. Olives

8. Roasted vegetables

9. Straight up avocado

With salt. What’s not to love.

10. Natural granola or fruit bars

Try 18 Rabbits or Larabars.

11. The combination. Plain yogurt with granola, fruit and nuts

This is like dessert! Try experimenting with different fruit combinations or adding shredded coconut or a dusting of ground flax seed.

12. Dark chocolate

Instead of reaching for cookies, try this alternative. A few squares of dark chocolate are inimitably satisfying.

Images: inside_man, minianna.com, givingitatry, aggleton, prakhar, Sashertootie, JC handmade, mwhammer, MGF Lady Disdain, aSILVA, CaseyJ

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Ecosalon Recipes: Oatmeal Harvest Cookies

Vanessa Barrington — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:45 +0000

I recently read somewhere that chocolate chip cookies are the top cookies in America. Now, I used to be in the “It’s not a cookie unless it’s a chocolate chip cookie” camp, but I’ve come around.

Oatmeal cookies are so much healthier and they have such a nice combination of chewiness and crunchiness. You can substitute any type of dried fruit you like in the quantities given below. (If you’re using large pieces, chop first and then measure.) And if you just can’t help yourself, you could even throw in some chocolate chips.

Oatmeal Harvest Cookies

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3/4 cup almonds, chopped
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup currents
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and salt. Whisk to combine.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the butter and both sugars together until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined.

With a wooden spoon, stir the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture until just combined. Fold in the almonds, oats, raisins, currents and cranberries.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and firm on top.

Image: indigotimbre

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To Be Nut-Wise

Susan Chaityn Lebovits — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:00:19 +0000

Yes nuts are tasty, can be salty, are often found in small decorative dishes at cocktail parties, and have a bad rap for being high in fat and calories. But did you know that they’re also packed with protein, Omega 3 fatty acids, and may even stave off breast cancer?

Here’s a quiz that was compiled by The American Institute for Cancer Research (and edited by me for clarity). See how you do, but more important, see what you learn.

The Nut of It: An AICR Quiz

1. Nuts have received mixed health reviews over the years because they are:

a. nutrient dense

b. calorie dense

c. both a and b

d. not sure what either term means

2. Approximately how many almonds make up 1 serving (1 ounce)?

a. 9

b. 4

c. 23

3. Peanuts:

a. are a good source of folate and niacin (B vitamins), along with vitamin E.

b. contain resveratrol, a compound found in red grapes and red wine that has shown cancer-fighting properties in lab studies.

c. should not be on this quiz because technically, the peanut is not a nut, it’s a legume.

d. all of the above

4. Approximately how many whole walnuts make up 1 serving (1 ounce)?

a. 23

b. 9

c. 14

5. Nuts are a good source of protein. According to the USDA’s MyPyramid, the nut equivalent for every one ounce of meat is:

a. 1 tablespoon of peanut butter

b. ½ ounce of nuts

c. neither, the proteins in nuts cannot replace protein from animal foods

d. both a and b

6. A study published in 2008 found that walnut consumption”¦

a. may improve math scores among high schoolers.

b. increases the growth rate of fingernails.

c. slows the growth of breast tumors in laboratory animals.

7. Studies have linked nuts to:

a. heart health

b. weight control

c. cancer prevention

d. all of the above, but primarily a

8. What accounts for the potential health benefits associated with nuts?

a. omega 3 fats

b. antioxidants

c. fiber and an overall healthy balance of fats

d. most likely synergy (combination of substances), but researchers are still figuring it out

9. The main reason nuts are so calorie-rich is they contain a lot of fat. The primary type of fat in most nuts is:

a. unsaturated fats

b. monounsaturated fat

c. omega-3 fat

10. The key to receiving the health benefits of nuts is”¦

a. portion size.

b. moderation.

c. replace nuts for more caloric, less nutritious foods.

Scoring Your Nut Knowledge:

c – give yourself 3 points

a or b – 2 points

Nuts are packed with calories and nutrients. Calorie density, often referred to as energy density, is a relative term when comparing food calories. Foods that are calorie-dense (energy dense) have more calories ounce-for-ounce than foods that have low-energy density. Likewise, foods that are nutrient dense have more nutrients ounce-for-ounce than foods that have low-nutrient density.

You can read more about calorie density in a Nutrition Notes column.

2. c – give yourself 3 points “¨

b – 2 points

The USDA National Nutrient Database provides serving sizes and nutrition information for a variety of nuts.

d – 3 more points

a or b – 2 points

Peanuts pack a lot of healthful compounds and yes, in the botanic world, they are legumes. Legumes are plants that grow as bushes and vines and develop pods that are edible, such as green beans, or contain an edible food, like peanuts. But from a nutrition perspective, peanuts share similar qualities to other nuts. For more information log on to The Peanut Institute.

c – 3 points”¨b – 2 points
d – 3 more points

a or b – 2 points

Nuts fall under the Meat & Beans group of MyPyramid. Proteins are somewhat different, depending upon the food source, but nut proteins can substitute for animal food proteins.

Plan your meals and read more about the food included in this group in MyPyramid.

c – 3 points

After 35 days of feeding mice ground walnuts, the breast cancer tumors of the walnut-fed mice were only about half the size of the tumors in mice that were not fed walnuts.

Read more about the study, published in Nutrition and Cancer.

7. d – 3 points

a, b, c – 1 point

The strongest evidence for nut health benefits indicate that nuts may help reduce heart disease. But a growing body of research suggests that nuts can help with weight control, and fight cancer.

8. d

The studies continue.

9. b – 3 more points

c – 1 point

Most nuts contain high amounts of monounsaturated fats, a type of unsaturated fat. Often termed the “good” fat, unsaturated fats do not raise blood low-density cholesterol (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats also raise the high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol. Walnuts are the only nut source that contains a significant amount of omega-3 fats, which are known for heart health and other health benefits. (See question 6.)