31/07/2022
If you’re worried about nuts being fattening, know this: Not all calories are created equal. Two hundred calories from nuts and seeds is entirely different from 200 calories from a box of cookies.
There’s the issue of omega-6 fats. We need these essential fats, but not from the gallons of refined oils we consume every year in processed and fried foods. Wild foods are high in omega-3 and lower in omega-6 fats.
As hunter-gathers, we consumed a ration between 1 to 1 and 3 to 1 of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. Now, on a junk food, fast-food diet, that ration can get as high as 20 to 1. Not only do nuts and seeds contain a nice balance of omega-3 fats, but they’re also loaded with vitamins, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and antioxidants like vitamin E, which prevent oxidation of the fats. Walnuts, flaxseeds, h**p seeds, and chia seeds are some of the richest sources of plant-based omega-3 fats.
A trial of a nut- and seed- free diet may be useful for certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune disease. But for most of us, nuts and seeds are nutritional and disease-fighting powerhouse superfoods.
To learn more check out my latest book, The Pegan Diet. PeganDiet.com
