Foods with healthy fats include not true nuts but are similarly nutritious like peanuts which are technically legumes and cashews and Brazil nuts which are actually seeds. Nuts and seeds actually contain unsaturated fats and may help you fight fats and lose weight.
Nuts and seeds are rich in nutrients and protein, however, these are also rich in fats so do not consume too much at one time. Macadamia nuts are the gourmet of all nuts, but they have the highest fat content. The best deals are Brazil nuts and walnuts since they have high omega-3 fatty acid content.
Peanuts contain the most complete protein out of all nuts. Other kinds of nuts lack amino acid lysine. However, seeds easily provide protein, oleic acid, and antioxidant polyphenol. Studies show that roasting indeed increases the amount of antioxidant polyphenol.
Furthermore, studies show that consuming 2 ounces of walnuts per day, 5 times per week has reduced cholesterol levels by 12%. Similar findings were reported with peanuts and almonds.
Brazil nuts and walnuts are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids which may help inhibit heart disease and even arthritis. These nuts may also help in weight loss. Additionally, seeds and some nuts are excellent sources of antioxidant vitamin E which helps inhibit the oxidation of "bad" LDL cholesterol. Seeds are also rich in folic acid that helps inhibit the development of homocysteine, the amino acid which has been associated with osteoporosis, dementia, and heart disease.
Peanuts, peanut butter and seeds are rich in niacin. Nuts are an excellent source of hard-to-obtain minerals like zinc, iron, and copper. Seeds are among the better plant sources of zinc and iron. Zinc helps strengthen the immune system while iron helps the blood deliver oxygen to the brain and muscles. Furthermore, nuts provide boron, manganese, and magnesium to keep the bones strong.
The top healthiest nuts include: almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, cedar nuts or pine nuts, and cashews. Do note that cashews are not recommended for people with cancer because of potential fungus levels.
The top healthiest seeds include: flax seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and bitter fruit seeds like apricot seeds and apricot seeds. Bitter fruit seeds contain Amygdalin or B17, a nutrient that has very powerful properties that fight cancer.