Healthiest Nuts & Seeds To Include In Your Diet For Better Health 2024

The healthiest nuts and seeds are loaded with beneficial nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals), antioxidants, and health-promoting calories. The rich nutritional profile of nuts and seeds lends unique health benefits^[1]. These may reduce cholesterol and inflammation, alleviate the risk of stroke and heart attack, and even reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Though many weight loss options are available, some evidence suggests that nuts and seeds may also help in the weight loss process. Nuts and seeds aid in body weight regulation as their fats are not completely absorbed. They help burn energy and regulate the intake of food. 

If you’re curious to learn more about the amazing health benefits of nuts and seeds and how to use them for weight loss, here’s everything you need to know. 

What’s The Healthiest Nuts And Seeds?

Benefits Of Nuts And Seeds

The nuts and seeds help in the regulation of body weight as their fats are not fully absorbed, and hence they help burn energy by regulating the metabolism of fat and carbohydrates present in the food.

Nuts and seeds help with:

• Fat absorption – Fats are present in nuts and seeds’ cell walls, which are not absorbed during digestion. Less fat absorption means less energy absorption as well. Some of the fat that remains unabsorbed is passed out in our feces.
• Hunger and fullness – nuts and seeds help you feel full for longer, thereby increasing satiety and helping to suppress your hunger. This eventually reduces food intake.
• Energy expenditure – nuts and seeds increase the energy we burn from fat sources, meaning more energy is burned, and there is less fat storage. 

Some of the nuts and seeds that help in the weight loss process have been discussed below:

Best Seeds And Nuts For Weight Loss

Pistachios

Pistachios, or pistas, contain monounsaturated fats (healthy fats) soluble in nature that have been shown to boost weight loss. These are also rich in fiber and proteins that give you satiety, thereby preventing you from overindulging at mealtime. These nuts are one of the lowest-calorie nuts. So, 30 grams of pistas^[3] or a fistful serving size every day does not cause any significant change in the weight. They help in meeting the daily dose of healthy fats, proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients help keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in check.

What’s more? In-shell pistachios are extremely beneficial in the weight loss process, as they promote mindful eating. These also reduce triglycerides in obese and diabetic people. 

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are rich in fiber and protein, both of which aid in losing weight^[4]. The nuts are a good source of arginine – an amino acid that reduces fat and increases muscle strength. Arginine also increases insulin activity, thereby manipulating fat-metabolizing hormones. Other beneficial nutrients present in Brazil nuts include; selenium, thiamine, and magnesium—these aid in burning the fats at a very fast rate, thereby helping in dropping pounds more easily.

Cashew Nuts

Fats present in cashew nuts increase good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol. Magnesium in cashew nuts regulates fat metabolism and carbohydrates, which aid in weight loss. Though cashews are high in calories^[5], consuming no more than one ounce (28.35 grams) every day can actually help lose weight.

Almonds

Almonds are loaded with antioxidants^[6], fiber, and proteins. Fiber is filling, so when you munch a few almonds every day, you feel no hunger for a more extended period of time, giving you a feeling of fullness. Almonds can lower your calorie intake, which is vital for weight loss programs. Almonds are also rich in healthy fats, vitamins & minerals that are good for heart health and for reducing LDL (bad cholesterol). Good fats in almonds are digested slowly, which provides energy for an extended period of time and helps develop lean muscles.

Flaxseeds

Flax seeds are rich in mucilage fiber that suppresses hunger^[7] and stops you from overeating, thereby reducing belly fat. These fibers also improve glycemic control (a way of managing the blood glucose level), helping balance insulin and blood glucose levels. Both of these effects may help with weight loss.

Pumpkin Seeds

With or without their shell, Pumpkin seeds are rich in protein^[8], fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids. They are also rich in magnesium, protein, and B vitamins that aid in maintaining healthy blood vessels and eliminating bad cholesterol in the blood. Also, these seeds contain a good amount of zinc that helps in boosting the body’s metabolism. These nutrients make pumpkin seeds ideal for weight loss. 

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are rich in carbohydrates, and they swell up when soaked in water. This liquid-absorption ability of chia seed^[9] increases feelings of satiety, reduces appetite, and prevents you from overeating. The seeds are rich in fiber which is vital for regulating fat and body functioning. The fiber content also eliminates toxins and extra fats away from the body, ultimately helping with weight loss.

Walnuts

Walnuts stimulate fat loss^[10] while encouraging healthy body weight maintenance. The nuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats (healthy fats) that reduce the ghrelin hormone – responsible for signaling hunger in the body. Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) also help in lowering high cholesterol, promoting overall wellness of the body.

The nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA) that help suppress hunger and prompt the body to burn fat quickly. Walnuts stimulate a region in the brain called the right insula that controls cravings for food. 

Ellagic acid is an antioxidant compound present in walnuts, that alleviates inflammation, and improves gut health. This results in an improved metabolism rate, which in turn eliminates extra calories and fat faster.

In addition to the above, eating macadamia nuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds offer similar benefits as other nuts and seeds when it comes to health benefits and weight.

How Nuts And Seeds Can Help You Lose Weight?

There is no magic bullet that will help you shed those extra pounds. A healthy diet, exercise, and good sleep are key to a healthy weight and overall wellness. However, several research studies^[11] have reported that regular consumption of nuts and seeds is not linked to weight gain and may even prevent it. 

High in proteins and fiber, rich in good fats, and low in simple carbohydrates, nuts and seeds stimulate your body to shed excess weight by burning excess fats. Additionally, you can brighten your salads, desserts, smoothies, and meals with nuts and seeds as they make an incredibly versatile addition to your diet. 

One important thing to remember when eating seeds and nuts is the number of calories they contain. Nuts and seeds are energy-dense eatables as they are loaded with a lot of healthy nutrients and antioxidants. They are also rich in proteins and fibers that keep you full for a more extended period of time, preventing you from overeating and also from eating junk. Researchers have found that eating nuts^[12] is associated with more significant weight loss, better diet compliance, enhancement of wellness and physical health, and improved satiety.

How To Include Nuts And Seeds In Your Diet?

• Sprinkle nuts and seeds into sauces, salads, brown rice, quinoa, or veggies
• Add nuts and seeds to yogurt or hot cereal
• Add them to popcorn
• Make a nut sandwich
• Toss them in a stir-fry or add them to baking recipes

Bottom Line

Nuts and seeds are versatile and delicious. When eaten every day, these small gifts from Mother Nature improve health in multiple ways, like reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, improving metabolism, and reducing cholesterol. Eat them raw, toss them with yogurt or fruits, or add them to salads or desserts – make these superfoods a part of your daily diet. Enjoy your weight loss process by eating these nutritious high-fiber treats in moderation — despite their high-calorie count. However, do not forget to balance exercise and a healthy diet to reach your weight loss goals.

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