How much do you know about nuts, apart from the fact that they are irresistibly delicious, incredibly versatile and full of energy? Try taking this quick test. Answer true or false and find out whether you really know your nuts.
You shouldn’t eat nuts every day, because they’re really fattening.
FALSE
Nuts are nutritious, packed with goodness and great for your heart, thanks to their high levels of unsaturated fats. Experts recommend eating them daily: you’ll soon notice the benefits with just a handful a day. If you want a mid-morning snack, swap biscuits or cereal bars for some nuts, or add them to your breakfast or salads. If you don’t overdo it, you’ll hardly notice any calories, as you’ll feel full and won’t be as hungry before meals. So nuts can be a great ally for good health.
Walnuts have the most calories of all nuts.
TRUE
Top of the list are macadamia nuts, with 718 kcal/100 g, followed by walnuts, hazelnuts and pine nuts, with about 650 kcal/100 g. But if you stick to a handful a day, which is probably less than 100 kcal, you’ll get a nutrient boost without having to worry about the calories. The least fattening nuts are cashews, at 550 kcal/100 g, and almonds, at 580 kcal/100 g.
Nuts cut the risk of coronary disease.
TRUE
Several scientific studies have shown that over time eating nuts every day significantly cuts the risk of suffering coronary disease, the main cause of death in countries such as the United States. Nuts lower LDL cholesterol levels (known as “bad” cholesterol), associated with the formation of platelets that accumulate in the blood vessels. In addition, it has also been shown that its consumption contributes to reducing the levels of inflammation associated with heart disease, and that improve the health of the inner layer of the arteries.
It’s best not to eat the skin.
FALSE
Almond and hazelnut skin isn’t only delicious, but also packed with goodness: it’s rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which help prevent oxidised cholesterol. It also has a lot of fiber, which makes it super healthy and perfect for a balanced diet.
People who eat nuts tend to be overweight.
FALSE
Interestingly one thing all studies on nuts agree on is that although nuts certainly have their share of calories, people who eat them regularly tend to be less obese. This is thanks to the fact that nuts quickly make you feel full and often form part of a balanced lifestyle. And nuts can often replace other less healthy snacks with probably more calories.
