Organic Nuts

Eating organic nuts, especially almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts, provides our bodies with a multitude of necessary nutrients. Their nutritional value rivals that found in organic berries.

The nutrients found in just these four nuts include copper, antioxidants, magnesium, melatonin, monounsaturated fatty acids (good fats), protein, oleic acid, omega-3, and vitamins E, B1, B2 and B6.

Although there are many other nuts which provide exceptional nutrition, these are the four, in our opinion should top everyone's list.

The Big 4
Organic Nuts

Organic Almonds

In a recent study it was found that almonds assisted in weight loss. Overweight adults who ate a low calorie diet supplemented with almonds lost more pounds than those who ate a diet that was similar in calories but high in whole grains or other complex carbohydrates.

Organic almonds provide 6 gm of protein once, versus 5.5 grams per medium egg. Organic almonds are also an excellent source of manganese, copper, and vitamins B2 and E. They are also high in oleic acid which is a heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acid also found in other organic nuts and olive oil.

Organic Cashews

Organic cashews like organic almonds have almost as much protein as eggs, 5 gm per ounce. About 60 percent of the fat found organic cashews is oleic acid the same heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil and organic almonds.

Just a fourth cup of organic cashews supplies 22 percent of the daily recommended amount of magnesium. Magnesium helps to lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attacks by relaxing nerves, muscles and blood vessels. That same forth of a cup provides more than 33 percent of the daily recommended monounsaturated fats.

Organic Hazelnuts

Organic hazelnuts, also known as filberts, like cashews are high in monounsaturated fatty acids. Organic hazelnuts are also a loaded with nerve and heart healthy vitamins B1 and B6 as well as folate.

Folate is a water soluble B vitamin.  Folate is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Folate also helps prevent changes to DNA which, some researchers feel, may lead to cancer.

Organic Walnuts

Organic walnuts contain omega-3. The omega-3 content is among the highest found in whole food sources, as much as 14 percent of their total fat, which is exceeded only by flax seed and fish.

Walnuts are also a rare food source of melatonin, a hormone which the body uses to induce and regulate sleep. As we age our bodies produce less and less melatonin, so organic walnuts are an excellent source to supplement with.

While organic walnuts don't contain as much protein as other organic nuts they are still a significant supply at 4 gm per ounce. Organic walnuts also contain ellagic acid and gallic acid, both of which are, antioxidants.


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