Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Almonds and Omega 6's


Almonds! 
We all love the ease, portability and convenience of almonds, right?  Problem is, many people are eating these nuts all the time, by the fistful and at frequent intervals.  Why is that a problem?

Almonds contain a decent amount of Omega 6's and also anti-nutrient properties in the form of phytic acid/phytates - two things we try to avoid!
In the U.S., we consume an inordinate amount of Omega 6's (liquid industrial vegetable oils - if you eat at any restaurant, this is what you consume!) and very little Omega 3's (salmon, mackerel, sardines), which leads to a pro-inflammatory condition, contributing to any number of chronic diseases (cardiovascular!)
The two best ways to reverse those issues are simple:  reduce omega 6's and increase omega 3's.
Most of us have already removed grains and vegetable oils in order to reduce our omega 6's, but how many of us monitor the amount of nuts we consume daily?
Almonds can be a healthy part of your nutrition, just keep them in check.

4 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this view! So often we hear about all the health benedfits of food but never the possible side effects of over indulging. This was great!

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  2. Love this post, too. I'm afraid I overdose on nuts. So, what is a healthy amount each day?

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  3. Julee,
    The answer to that question is going to vary depending on status of nutrition, current omega3:omega6 ratio, autoimmune issues, etc.
    Personally, I eat nuts maybe 2-3x weekly TOPS and then only about 1/3 c, typically as a topping for salad or salmon. And I consider my nutrition/health decent. :)

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