By kindlylives 
Nuts are definitely among the top choices in the snack category. They are both healthy and delicious. Whether in daily life or during festivals, many people buy nuts to satisfy their cravings. However, there are numerous rumors about nuts circulating online, such as “you can’t eat nuts when losing weight”, “eating nuts can dissolve blood clots”, and “sprouted nuts are all poisonous and should not be eaten”. So, are these claims true? Let’s find out one by one today.
1. Does Eating Nuts Make You Gain Weight?
Nuts are delicious, but many people are afraid of gaining weight and thus avoid eating them because they’ve heard that nuts are high in calories. In fact, eating nuts in moderation not only won’t make you fat but can even aid in weight loss. A study on the connection between long – term nut consumption and obesity, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found through experiments that adding nuts to a calorie – restricted diet is not associated with weight gain. Instead, it leads to greater weight loss and higher insulin sensitivity.
Literature also indicates that high nut consumption (especially walnuts) is related to a reduced risk of diabetes. Therefore, it’s advisable to consume nuts regularly (about once a day) as part of a healthy diet for preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, many domestic research results also show that appropriate nut intake can reduce the risk of obesity.
Although nuts have many benefits, you can’t overindulge. The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents recommends that the weekly intake of nuts should be 50 – 70g, which is about 10g per day on average. This is approximately equivalent to 7 – 8 cashews / 7 – 8 almonds / 7 – 8 pistachios / 2 pecans / one – and – a – half handfuls of shelled melon seeds / 1 paper – shelled walnut.
Moreover, if you eat more nuts on a certain day, you can appropriately reduce the amount of cooking oil used that day. When choosing nuts, pay attention to selecting plain – flavored nuts and avoid choosing flavored nuts like milk – flavored or salt – baked ones as much as possible.
2. Can Eating Nuts Dissolve Blood Clots?
Nuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and can also supplement nutrients such as protein, potassium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E, and B – complex vitamins. Eating nuts in moderation every week is beneficial to health. Some studies show that people who consume 24 grams or 28 grams of nuts per day have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who never eat nuts. Nuts can lower the concentrations of total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and triglycerides in blood lipids. However, there is currently no evidence that eating nuts can dissolve blood clots. We don’t recommend relying on a single food to treat diseases. If you want to treat and remove blood clots, it’s better to go to the hospital and follow the doctor’s advice.
3. Are All Sprouted Nuts Poisonous and Inedible?
In daily life, many sprouted foods are highly toxic (such as potatoes), so people are usually vigilant about sprouted foods. This awareness of food safety is praiseworthy. However, most nuts are not only edible when sprouted but also have greatly enhanced nutritional value.
After nuts sprout, although the starch content decreases, the content of amino acids and fatty acids increases. For example, research shows that during the sprouting process of walnuts, the amino acid content increases from 13.38g/100g to 16.43g/100g, the fatty acid content increases from 53.39% to 57.88%, and the starch content decreases from 10.38% to 6.37%. During the sprouting of peanuts, the water content increases significantly, the mineral content changes little, but the total nitrogen content, free amino acid content, and total sugar content all increase. The reduction of macromolecules and the increase of small – molecule substances that are more easily absorbed and utilized by the human body lead to an overall improvement in nutritional value.
In addition, most nuts contain phytic acid and tannins, which are the main sources of the astringent taste in some nuts. The content of phytic acid and tannins usually decreases in sprouted nuts.
However, most of the nuts we buy are roasted and processed, so they can’t sprout anymore. Here, we would like to remind you not to sprout nuts at home for consumption. The environment required for sprouting is relatively humid and has high requirements for temperature and humidity. This environment is more conducive to the growth of bacteria and microorganisms. If the operation is not proper, it may increase the possibility of nut mildew, posing certain health risks.
4. Can Eating Ginkgo Nuts Treat Diabetes?
Ginkgo nuts, also known as ginkgo seeds, have yellow kernels inside. They taste sweet and can be cooked or stir – fried. However, there is currently no evidence that eating ginkgo nuts can treat diabetes. Moreover, eating them raw or in excessive amounts may cause poisoning.
This is because ginkgo nuts contain toxic components such as ginkgotoxin, hydrocyanic acid, allergenic proteins, and ginkgolic acid. Eating them raw or consuming too many at once can lead to poisoning, with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, convulsions, etc. In severe cases, it can cause respiratory failure and even death. Even 5 – 10 raw ginkgo nuts can cause poisoning in young children.
If you like eating ginkgo nuts, you should remove the seed coat and germ before eating and then boil them. If you microwave, stir – fry, or bake the boiled ginkgo nuts, it can further decompose the ginkgotoxin, but it will also destroy the nutritional value and sensory properties of ginkgo nuts.
It should be noted that although cooked ginkgo nuts can be eaten, they should not be consumed in excess. For safety reasons, it is recommended to eat no more than 10 at a time. Children and infants should pay special attention and it’s best not to eat them. In addition, the storage method of ginkgo nuts also affects the toxin content. It is recommended to store them in the shell at – 20°C in the freezer.
Eat nuts with peace of mind and stay healthy. Don’t believe rumors!