How Many Nuts Per Day?

Nuts and seeds are mother nature’s perfect snack food.  They have all the macronutrients: protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, plus fiber, all in one tight little package. And they travel so well! Keep them in your desk drawer, golf bag, car console, purse or fanny pack for when your energy starts to dip or you’re feeling a little peckish.  One handful will tame that nagging hunger or flagging energy and allow you to make it home to fix a decent dinner instead of swinging through Burger Doodle.  And it levels out dipping blood sugar so you’re mood swings even out and you’re much nicer to be around.

Which nut is best and how many should you eat? Any nut will do. Mother Nature doesn’t play favorites. They are calorie dense (heart and brain healthy fats at 9 calories per gram vs. 4 calories per gram for proteins and carbs), it’s good to keep your daily intake to no more than 1 handful. 

Hold out your hand.

Palm up.

Cup it a bit.

There – just what fits in the palm of your hand is perfect for your body size. No, not piled up and spilling over!  That can easily lead to tighter pants in no time.

I know this from experience.

Story Time:

I was in college in the mid-70’s when health food stores were the new groovy thing and just starting to pop up. There was one right down the hill from my dorm and it had cute little wooden barrels filled with nuts and seeds, whole wheat flour, oats, nutritional yeast, brown rice, etc. And each cute little barrel had cute little brown paper bags and cute little scoops to scoop … sooo, I would fill one of those bags with raw sunflower seeds and proceed to eat about 1 bag a day!  Hey, it’s healthy, right? And it was a cheap way to fill up with my college budget!

Well, let me tell you – eating that many raw sunflower seeds will make you paranoid!  I started hearing things and I always felt like there was someone following me … and it was ME.  My big fat ass, that is!  And the noise I was hearing?  My corduroy pants rubbing at my inner thighs!

True story.

THAT booty and thighs took a while to whittle down!

So, for certain nuts and seeds are a super healthy food to add to your day but please heed my advice - just what fits in the palm of your hand!!