Nuts are a healthy plant food because they are high in healthy fats, protein and fibre, yet they’re often the source of confusion for those wanting to manage their weight.Lisa Yates, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian and Program Manager of Nuts for Life answers some of your common questions about nuts below.
What are nuts?
According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, nuts and seeds are: A nut is a simple dry fruit with one or two seeds in which the ovary wall becomes very hard (stony or woody) at maturity, and where the seed remains attached or fused with the ovary wall….Examples include almonds, pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts and pistachio nuts. The term ‘nut’ is applied to many seeds that are not botanically true nuts. These may include cape seed, caraway, chia, flaxseed, linseed, passionfruit, poppy seed, pepita or pumpkin seed, sesame seed and sunflower seed. Although the peanut is technically a legume, the nutritional composition of the peanut is close to that of tree nuts, and there is research showcasing peanuts health benefits.
What nutrients do nuts provide?
Like other plant foods, nuts provide a range of nutrients, including large quantities of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (49–74% total fat), and moderate amounts of protein (9–20%) (except chestnuts which are low fat). Nuts are also a good source of dietary fibre and provide a wide range of essential nutrients, including several B group vitamins (including folate), vitamin E, minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium, antioxidant minerals (selenium, manganese and copper), plus other phytochemicals such as antioxidant compounds (flavonoids and resveratrol) and plant sterols. The 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines include nuts in the same food group as meat, fish, poultry, eggs and legumes, due to their protein content. A daily serving of 30g is recommended, but an additional 10g of nuts a day can be used in place of other healthy fat foods as well. Each nut variety contains its own unique combination of nutrients and is generally rich in a few nutrients such as:
Almonds: protein, calcium and vitamin E
Brazil nuts: fibre and selenium: just two brazil nuts a day provides 100% RDI for selenium for an adult
Cashews: non haem (plant based) iron and a low GI rating
Chestnuts: low GI, fibre and vitamin C (although much vitamin C is lost during cooking)
Hazelnuts: fibre, potassium, folate, vitamin E
Macadamias: highest in monounsaturated fats, thiamin and manganese
Pecans: fibre and antioxidants
Pine nuts: vitamin E and the arginine amino acid
Pistachios: protein, potassium, plant sterols and the antioxidant resveratrol
Walnuts: alpha linoleic acid: plant omega 3 and antioxidants
Nuts are naturally low in sodium, contain potassium and most contain some carbohydrate in the form of natural sugars. Chestnuts are different they are rich in low glycemic index carbohydrates and low in fat making them more like a grain than a tree nut.
Are nuts good for heart health?
Studies suggest that consuming about 30g (a handful) of nuts per day may reduce the risk of developing heart disease by 30-50% and reduce the risk of death from heart disease by around 20%. This is based on the high proportion of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in nuts, and the low proportion of saturated fats, and the results of studies comparing heart disease rates among people who eat nuts with those who do not. It seems a number of heart-healthy nutrients in nuts work together to achieve this heart protective effect. These include:
Health-promoting monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that help regulate blood cholesterol
Fibre and plant sterols that help reduce cholesterol re-absorption from the gut
Arginine (an amino acid which is converted to nitric oxide in the body) which helps keep blood vessels elastic, thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
Antioxidant vitamins and minerals, e.g. vitamin E, copper, manganese, selenium and zinc, and other antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and resveratrol that reduce oxidation and inflammation
Naturally low sodium and high potassium levels which assist in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Eating an average of 67g of nuts a day can also help improve your cholesterol.
Should I avoid nuts if I don’t want to gain weight?
A small handful of nuts (30–50g) each day is not associated with a weight gain, and may also help reduce the risk of obesity. The healthy fats in nuts can help you feel fuller, which helps to control appetite. And since some fat is trapped in the fibrous structure of the nut, it passes through the body rather than being digested. Nuts can be part of a healthy diet to maintain or even lose weight, as long as your overall kilojoule intake does not increase. Eating a handful of nuts as a substitute for less healthy foods such as muffins, biscuits, cakes, chips, chocolate and so on.
Other health benefits of nuts?
Although more research is required, preliminary studies have indicated that nuts may play a role in:
Reducing the risk of gall stones
Reducing age-related macular degeneration (which can lead to blindness)
Maintaining bone health
Slowing brain aging
Reducing cancer risk
How much nuts should I have?
A healthy daily intake of nuts is 30g (a small handful) or approximately:
20 almonds
15 cashews
20 hazelnuts
15 macadamias
15 pecans
2 tablespoons of pine nuts
30 pistachio kernels
9 walnut kernels
a small handful of mixed nuts or about two of each of the ten nut varieties (except chestnut which isn’t eaten raw)
