Going nuts? Smart move (Roizon article)

There are more than 20 edible nuts (or what we call nuts — some, such as cashews, almonds and peanuts, are actually other “species”). They include walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews, almonds, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, and pistachios. And there are others that are delicious, but we don’t hear much about, such as saba nuts, paradise nuts, pili nuts, and mongongo nuts.

Collectively, nuts offer you a good dose of inflammation-fighting healthy oils, gut-loving fiber, and a range of vitamins and minerals. One study even found that while eating one hot dog could rob you of 36 minutes of a healthy lifetime, eating one serving of nuts could add 26 minutes to a healthy lifespan!

Individually, nuts also have super-health benefits. For example, a new study indicates that eating 2 ounces of pistachios daily for 12 weeks may improve your eye health and offer some protection from macular degeneration. It’s been found that almonds may help you lose weight by satisfying hunger with nutrient-packed calories. When 1.5 ounces of macadamia nuts a day (with 32 grams of fats — almost all poly — and monounsaturated) are swapped for meats and other foods containing equal amounts of unhealthy fats, lousy LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels decline significantly. Walnuts are supercharged with heart-loving omega-3s and fight inflammation, heart disease, and digestive woes, plus help protect sexual and brain functioning.