Antioxidants are known to help protect the body against disease. The scientists said that all nuts have good nutritional qualities but walnuts are healthier than peanuts, almonds, pecans and pistachios.
For example, walnuts contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans also appear to be quite heart healthy. So are peanuts — though they are technically not a nut, but a legume, like beans. It's best to choose unsalted or unsweetened nuts.
Peanuts are legumes, which are edible seeds enclosed in pods, and are in the same family as beans, lentils, and peas. Meanwhile, tree nuts, which include but are not limited to, walnuts, cashews, almonds, and pecans, are all produced on trees.
Final Thoughts. As nutritious as walnuts are, you don't need lots of them to reap the benefits. Also, too much consumption has been associated with gastrointestinal discomfort, allergic reactions, and high-calorie intake, causing weight gain, Make it a routine to stick to anything between 7-10 walnuts per day.
For a healthy heart, you should eat about seven walnuts a day, or about how many are in a serving.
Walnuts are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but peanuts stand out for their arginine content. This amino acid (a building block of protein) helps to improve blood flow by relaxing constricted blood vessels.
Many people believe the peanut is not as nutritionally valuable as true nuts like almonds, walnuts, or cashews. But actually, peanuts have many of the same health benefits as the more expensive nuts and should not be overlooked as a nutritious food.
Yes, peanuts are as good as other nuts. What's different about peanuts is that they grow under the ground, not on trees like other nuts. They come from the same family as peas and beans, so are technically legumes. They are similar to tree nuts from a nutrition perspective and higher in fat than other legumes.
Excessive consumption of walnuts may cause diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain or kidney stones. Due to the phytic acid they contain, too many walnuts may also inhibit the absorption of dietary iron, calcium and zinc. Recommendation: One ounce (10-14) English walnut halves per day.
Eating a handful of walnuts every day can lower your bad cholesterol level, known as LDL or low-density lipoprotein. In addition to providing your body with the nutritional benefits it needs, walnuts are linked to a reduction in inflammation.
BHF dietitian Victoria Taylor says:
Brazil nuts, cashews and macadamia nuts are higher in saturated fat. Too much of this can contribute to raised cholesterol levels, so only eat them occasionally. Chestnuts are an exception – they're lower in all types of fats and higher in starchy carbohydrate than other nuts.
Almonds are a good source of vitamin C, while Brazil nuts are high in selenium. Pistachios are high in vitamin B6 and potassium while pecans, the centerpiece of Thanksgiving pecan pie, are a good source of vitamin E.
Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, and peanuts are among the best nuts for weight loss. However, all nuts are beneficial due to their balance of healthy fats, plant proteins, fiber, and micronutrients, so varying your choice of nuts will benefit your overall health.
The recommended limit for how many peanuts you should eat per day is around 42 grams. This is about 16 peanuts. Eating peanuts in moderation is important as they are high in fat and contain a lot of calories. They are healthy food but should not be eaten in excess.
According to a study, peanuts contain oxalates, a mineral that can induce the development of kidney stones. Therefore, even though peanuts are heart-healthy and rich in protein, people with kidney disease should not consume them. It is due to their high potassium and phosphorus content.
So, is it safe to eat peanuts every day? The short answer is yes*. You can have great health benefits from eating peanuts each day. Peanuts can be a great addition to a plant-forward lifestyle.
Today, walnuts remain on every nutrition expert's running list of superfoods. They are high in unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, iron and B vitamins and have powerful antioxidant properties, making them beneficial to whole-body health.
Along with almonds and walnuts, the FDA gave its qualified health claim to peanuts, hazelnuts, pecans, some pine nuts, and pistachios. Many studies back up their benefits. For example, one small study compared a standard cholesterol-lowering diet with a diet that replaced one-fifth of the calories with pecans.
An ounce (30 grams) of walnuts a day has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. The recommended serving size is a small handful or 1½ ounces (45 grams) a day.
The best time to eat walnuts is in the morning. You can soak walnuts at night and consume them on an empty stomach. Alternatively, you may have them before bed at night.
“Substantial evidence shows that small improvements in diet greatly benefit health. Eating 2 to 3 oz of walnuts a day as part of a healthful diet could be a good way to improve gut health and reduce the risk of heart disease.”