Category: Nutrition

Nuts are one of the most calorie-dense foods in the grocery store. A small handful can carry 160 to 200 calories, so it’s natural to ask, are nuts fattening? If you’re trying to lose weight, should you avoid them? Decades of research point the other way. People who eat nuts regularly tend to gain less…

Peanuts are America’s favorite “nut”: cheap, crunchy, everywhere, and the main ingredient in a pantry staple. But they’re also one of the most misunderstood foods. They’re technically legumes, they’re sometimes dismissed as junk food at ballgames, and they’re a major allergen. So, are peanuts healthy? Yes, when they’re plain or dry-roasted. Peanuts have more protein…

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” is a holiday classic for a reason. Warm, sweet and soft, roasted chestnuts are one of the season’s great comfort foods. But chestnuts are nothing like the other nuts in your pantry. They’re low in fat, high in starch, and even contain vitamin C. So, are chestnuts healthy? Yes….

Pine nuts are small, buttery and famously expensive, the star ingredient in classic basil pesto and a favorite topping for salads and roasted vegetables. They’re also the only nut with its own strange side effect: “pine mouth,” a bitter, metallic taste that can linger for days. So, are pine nuts healthy? Yes. They’re an excellent…

Hazelnuts are best known as the “hazelnut” in chocolate spreads and coffee drinks, but on their own they’re a nutritional standout. These small, sweet, round nuts are one of the best food sources of vitamin E, and they’re packed with manganese, copper and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. So, are hazelnuts healthy? Yes. Plain hazelnuts are a…

Macadamia nuts are the luxury item of the nut world: rich, buttery, a little sweet, and often the priciest bag on the shelf. They’re also the highest-fat, highest-calorie nut you can buy. So, are macadamia nuts healthy? Yes. Most of their fat is the same heart-friendly monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, and a controlled…

Brazil nuts may be the only food where nutrition experts give you a strict count, not just a portion size. That’s because a single Brazil nut can contain more selenium than you need in a whole day. So how many Brazil nuts a day is safe? For most healthy adults, the answer is one to…

Brazil nuts are the giants of the nut bowl: big, creamy and rich. They’re also unique in one important way. Just one or two of them can supply more selenium than you need in an entire day. That makes them one of the most efficient foods on the planet for a key mineral, and also…

Nuts are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. A small handful delivers plant protein, fiber, heart-healthy unsaturated fats, vitamin E, magnesium and a range of protective plant compounds. So, are nuts good for you? The evidence says yes. Large clinical trials and decades of population studies link regular nut eating to healthier…

Pumpkin’s bright orange color isn’t just for show. It’s a visible sign of one of the richest nutrients in any vegetable. So, is pumpkin high in vitamin A? Yes, very. Just half a cup of plain canned pumpkin provides more than a full day’s Daily Value for vitamin A. But the vitamin A in pumpkin…