Blogs > Lighten Up with Joe

Joe Marich of Lakeline has what you might consider a tough challenge: His job. The owner of an Eastlake bakery said he wants to get back to his active ways and get control of his weight.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

NUTS

I love my nuts! 

I have four nuts that I am extremely fond of, and of course I didn't pick these 4 exact nuts by accident.  After all, I am a nutrition nut (pun intended) so you know there's gotta be a reason for these 4 nuts here...and there IS.

Here's what I'm eating:

Cashews
Almonds
Pistachios
Walnuts

I always make sure to choose organic, raw nuts instead of the "regular" versions.

You see, almost all "regular" nut brands cook their nuts by frying them in oil, usually peanut and/or canola oil.  Just check the label and if you see added oils on the list of ingredients then you know your nuts have been FRIED.  This high heat, damaging cooking process can steal all the health benefits from your nuts and can even leave them riddled with health-derailing trans fat -- yikes!  Just imagine choosing a healthy snack like nuts, especially the 4 I'm about to share below, and having the manufacturer screw everything up with irresponsible processing methods...it happens all the time.

So choose organic, raw nuts.  Most regular stores carry them now.

Alright, so what's up with cashews, almonds, pistachios and walnuts and what makes them so special?

1. Walnuts are higher in Omega-3s than most nuts (which are Omega-6 dominant).  You already get plenty of Omega-6's in your diet, which can even create a nasty little problem in your body's most delicate cells called TOXIC inflammation.  

2.  Cashews, like most nuts are filling (due to their healthy fat, fiber, and protein content) and also contain many antioxidants while being higher than most nuts in heart-healthy mono-unsaturated fatty acids.

3.  Pistachios are one of the lowest calorie nuts...you can eat a whopping 50 nuts while only consuming 160 calories.  When you subtract the calories from their high fiber content, you're looking at even fewer calories.

4.  You've heard of super foods...well, almonds are a super "nut".  Also high in heart-healthy mono-unsaturates, almonds also boast significant quantities of these vitamins and minerals:  vitamin E, magnesium, copper, vitamin B2 and phosphorus.

Again, I buy these raw at the store, mix 'em up myself, and enjoy a couple small handfuls for a mid-afternoon snack most days.  Quick, convenient, portable, delicious, fat-burning snackage!

And my wife also loves my nuts.

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