Practical Wellness Support for Everyday Life | Beverly Meyer | Podcast, Store, Blog

Gluten Free Paleo Wellness Blog with Podcasts, Online Store, Recipes

TwitterFacebookPinterestiTunesHome
Healthy Living Resources
Since 1985
- Paleo Mag's Top 5 Blog & Podcast -

Free Shipping Over $98
  • Clinic/Consults
    • Work With Beverly Meyer
    • New Client Forms
    • Diet and Health Center | San Antonio
    • 20 Healthy Living Tips
  • About
    • About Beverly
    • Contact Beverly Meyer
    • Success Stories
  • Health Articles
  • Podcast
  • Recipes
    • Anytime Entrees
    • Easy Veggies
    • On The Side
    • Snacks and Treats
  • The Diet Video
  • Online Store
    • Supplements
    • Work With Beverly Meyer
    • The Diet Video
    • FAQ’s Shipping/Returns
  • Contact

Liberate meal time w. my FREE eBook! Opt-In to my Newsletter
for once-weekly Sales, Podcasts & Blog Posts to empower your health.
10% Coupon for your first Supplement purchase!

Get the eBook and 10% Coupon Now!

Nuts and Seeds – the Good and the Bad

Beverly Meyer, Clinical Nutritionist, MBA

The Good and Bad of Nuts and Seeds on a Paleo Diet // OnDietAndHealth.com

What are nuts and seeds? A nut is a type of fruit.  A fruit is a mature ovary from a flower. Every fruit contains one or more seeds. Every seed has the potential to germinate and grow into a mature adult plant. As seeds mature, the surrounding tissue develops into a fruit. This fruit can take many forms; some plants make berries (like blueberries or tomatoes), some make legumes (like peas and beans).  The fruit of cereal grasses are grains like wheat or corn.

Many plants make a fruit called a nut. Technically, a nut is a single-seeded fruit with a hard, dry outer wall that doesn’t crack open at maturity, such as an acorn. Some things we call “nuts” are not, botanically speaking, nuts. A peanut is a legume. Almonds and coconuts are a type of fruit called a drupe.

OK!  Now that we have had some science, forget all that and let’s talk about using nuts and seeds properly, and that means we have to get past the toxins in the seeds, make them more digestible, and get some answers on how many are really OK to eat. A handful?  Three handfuls?  A half-pound a day?

Seeds coat themselves with toxins as their defense system, designed to prevent ants, animals and humans from eating them.  These toxins can be bitter, or poisonous, or damaging.  We all learned in school that acorns were soaked before Indians ate them, but the same is still required for most other nuts and seeds today. All seeds should be well soaked and drained before eating.  Whether you choose to then cook the wet seed (rice), or dehydrate it (hazelnuts or macadamias), or just use them wet on your salad or veggies (sunflower seeds, almonds), the first key step is to soak some of the toxins away.

A wide variety of nuts and seeds can be enjoyed on the Paleo dietPhytic acid is an anti-nutrient designed to keep the seed from sprouting prematurely. Unfortunately, it binds up minerals in our intestines, so we lose much of the valuable nutrients in nuts and beans that way. Soaking will remove much of this.  Soaking will NOT remove the gluten and gluten-related toxins and lectins however. This is one reason why Ancestral Diets such as my Diet For Human Beings, and the Primal Blueprint diet suggest avoidance of all grains and beans.

Almond flour makes great muffins, quiche and pan cakes, but like whole almonds, it can contain phytic acid. Fortunately, buying blanched almond flour means the almonds have been skinned (removing much of the phytic acid and seed toxins) and then blanched, removing even more.  Blanched almond flour is still very high in calories though, so a little goes a long way.  A quarter cup of almond meal contains 15g fat, 5g carbs, 7g protein and 180 calories.  And that’s basically just one big handful of almonds!  Avoid almond meal, as it has the skins still on it and has not been blanched.

Nuts also contain varying amounts of Omega 6 polyunsaturated fats – the bad ones that we try to balance with Omega 3 fats.  The nuts lowest in Omega 6 PUFA’s are macadamias, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews and chestnuts. These are your best nut choices.  The nuts lowest in phytic acid are almonds, walnuts and chestnuts. Fortunately, soaking any of them will remove much of the phytic acid, so learn to do that properly (see Nourishing Traditions chapter on Snack Foods) or buy them that way at Wilderness Family Naturals, and others.  Read here for more info on soaking.

If you have any of the RetroViruses such as Herpes, Epstein Barr, Cytomegalo Virus, or HIV, avoid nuts unless you take a Lysine capsule with them.  These viruses feed on Arginine which is an amino acid that is high in nuts, grains and chocolate.  Taking the Lysine will help, but don’t overdo…. This article on Best and Worst Foods for Herpes explains a lot more. I carry several great supplements for these viruses in my online store and clinic as well. See some here.

If your weight loss has plateaued on your Paleo Diet, check the amount of nuts and seeds (and nut butters) you’re eating. You may be using them as convenience foods rather than the condiment they really are.

Categories: Good & Bad Fats Tags: Almond Flour, Ancestral Diet, Coconut Flour, Healthy Fats, Nuts and Seeds, Omega 3's and 6's

Related Posts:

  • Blueberry Pudding Cake with Coconut Cream
    Blueberry Pudding Cake with Coconut Cream
  • What to Eat On Paleo | The Definitive Guide
    What to Eat On Paleo | The Definitive Guide
  • Building a Strong Lean Body If You're Tired and Overweight
    Building a Strong Lean Body If You're Tired and Overweight
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed medical doctor and cannot advise you on medical matters. However, by studying my website you may be better able to communicate with your wellness provider. If you need medical assistance, please seek support from a qualified physician. Click here to read my full disclaimer.
AFFILIATE LINKS: There are affiliate links in some of my articles, which means I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase something after clicking on the links. I only recommend products I trust or have used so I know you'll be in good hands.
About Beverly

About Beverly

Clinical Nutritionist, blogger, podcaster, patient and health researcher.

My goal? To help you and me feel better!

In practice since 1985. Read More >

Stress/Energy Duo

15% Off Thru 3/25/23
ADAPTOGEN + ADRENAL RESTORE

ONLINE STORE

CONSULTS

HEALTH TOPICS

MY PODCASTS

EASY RECIPES

Subscribe to my Paleo Health Podcast

Testimonials

Wendy

Your knowledge is unparalleled and you have the best podcast on wellness & nutrition. You’re so much fun to listen to and so informative! I like how you explain all the words and terms.

Susan B.

Your supplement store has the best products! Blog posts help explain which to consider and why. My anxiety and sleep are so much better. Thank you !

Reba

Listening to your podcasts has been extremely educational. I’m so happy I stumbled on your show. I really enjoyed your video on The Diet For Human Beings.

Mary Ann

Thanks to you I have made myself more aware – not just getting tests done but researching and following up – “GROW UP” – great advice. I look forward to reading your blogs.

Janie K.

I learned more in 2 hours of Consults with Beverly than the last 10 doctors I’d seen. She built a custom supplement program for me and really fine-tuned my diet. I am in awe.

Niccole K.

Telling you three of the most wonderful words one can say: You were right! I am feeling so much better. The diet is really easy to follow and prepare. Thank you!

Natalia

I’m really enjoying your podcasts and all the information you share. I have learned so much about what my body is telling me and about supplements.

D.C.

What you do helped save my life. Medications were destroying my Connective Tissue. Using supplements and diet let me manage my HSV. My health has finally started to improve. Thank you for all you do to help people like me.

Margie K.

Your IBS diet is helping me like no other. Really appreciate your dedication! You’ve done such a lot of work on your own health – it inspires me.  Thanks – thanks – thanks ! I never would have figured it all out!

Copyright 2021 Beverly Meyer On Diet and Health.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. The suggestions I give in my podcasts and health articles are for learning purposes only. Please promptly consult your doctor for any medical condition.
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Beverly Meyer
  • Blog
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy