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Almonds and other nuts have long been a tasty addition to the American diet, but recently studies have shown that these foods offer healthful benefits far greater than previously suspected. In this article we'll provide an overview of each of these nuts, and links you can use to find more detailed information about them.
Almonds are actually seeds. They are borne by the almond tree, many of which you'll see blooming along the highway in orchards (Central California is a great place to find orchards such as these). Almonds are a good source of nutrients such as vitamin e, manganese, and trace elements such as magnesium, copper, and phosphorus.
And though almonds are high in fat, the type of fat they contain is good for you. The fat is monosaturated fat (as opposed to saturated fats) just like what's found in olive oil and felt responsible for reducing heart disease. Even almond skins provide health benefits, as they contain flavonoids, substances known to be antioxidants. And don't worry about gaining weight - almonds are complex carbohydrates that can actually help you lose weight.
Find out more about the health benefits of almonds here.
Walnuts are true nuts, and are borne by the walnut tree. If you happen to have walnut trees in your neighborhood, you may remember running over black lumps in the street. These are ripe walnuts still in their covering. Peel off the covering, and voila! A fresh walnut, ready to eat. Walnuts are a very good source of omega 3 fatty acids and trace elements such as manganese and copper.
The carbohydrates in walnuts take the form of omega 3 fatty acids (in fact, a small amount of walnuts can fulfill your entire daily requirement of this essential fat).
Find out more about the health benefits of walnuts here.
Cashews are very tasty nuts, and are often used in Chinese dishes such as cashew chicken, or in stir fry recipes. Like almonds, cashews are actually seeds (part of the cashew apple which is not normally found in US supermarkets). Cashews are a good source of trace elements such as copper, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Cashews have less fat than other nuts, and the fat in them is mostly unsaturated, and a large percentage of that is oleic acid (the same fat as found in olive oil).
Find out more about the health benefits of cashews here.
Peanuts are probably the most common nut in the American diet, in the form of roasted or salted peanuts as well as peanut butter. Becoming more common is peanut sauce, a delicious condiment used in Asian dishes. Peanuts are actually legumes (beans).
Peanuts are a good source of trace elements such as manganese and copper, and also protein and vitamin B. Peanuts are also a good source of monosaturated fats, and contain reservatrol (the antioxidant found in red wine), in amounts surpassing those found in common fruits and vegetables.
Find out more about the health benefits of peanuts here.
From the Nunes Family ranch in California's
Central Valley, Nunes Farms offers a unique variety
of packaged almonds. Not only does the ranch produce
all the almonds, it has facilities for dry roasting,
candy making, seasoning and packaging on the premises.
Click here to purchase our original
flavored almonds, snacks and candies.
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