The Secret World of Nuts

[tom]

There are two other threads mentioning nuts, peanuts, almonds, soy, etc. Here is a warning.

Nuts are easy to overeat. You may be getting a lot more calories than you think and a lot more than you need. They are good for you (except for those with allergies), handy, small, taste good, just like a potato chip.

On my weight loss journey, one week I bought a bag of almonds. I figured they were a good, healthy snack. I only ate a few at a time, I didn't overeat (uh huh), but the bag sure disappeared fast. I was puzzled as to why my weight didn't continue to drop. It stayed flat. Finally, I read the bag. I averaged the amount/day. Oops.

Peanut butter has the same seductive appeal. I can see what a great bulkifier it is for those such as Nate, a hardworking teenager with more HGH in his blood than blood. But for us non-Stallone types, watch out. It'll fatten us like a bunch of porkers.

I don't have bags of almonds sitting around anymore. I still have peanut butter for my celery and apples, and I treat it as though it were cookie dough. I grind mine at the local supermarket, pure peanuts. Mmmmmm.

You've been warned.

Tom

[jgfergus]

Excellent post Tom!

Another comment....avoid roasted and salted nuts if at all possible. They really have no health benefits and they are acidic to the body and very difficult to digest.

I always buy raw almonds, preferably in the shell and make my own almond milk as follows;
1. Soak 1 cup of almonds in distilled/purified water for 8 hrs or overnight. Soaking begins the sprouting
process, increases the nutrition content, and makes them much easier to digest.
(you can remove the skins by squeezing the almonds between your fingers)
2. Drain & rinse the almonds and put in a blender.
3. Add 2 cups of purified water.
4. Blend until the almonds are completely blended.
5. Pour into a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Squeeze the milk through the strainer with the help of a
spoon.
6. When there isn't much liquid left in the pulp, pour the milk back into the blender.
7. Add some sweetener. I use 5 or 6 soft dates (remove the pits). You can also use honey, maple syrup,
etc.
8. I love vanilla so I add 1 Tbsp of pure (not artificial) vanilla extract.
9. Blend for 15-20 seconds until the dates are blended.
10. Add another 2 cups of water and blend briefly.
11. Pour into a glass bottle and refridgerate. Will keep for 3-4 days, but mine never lasts that long.

It is a great recovery drink after a workout. You can also make other nut/seed milks like sesame, pecan,
walnut, sunflower, etc. Just make sure to use raw nuts/seeds and soak them before using.

Cheers!

[gs300tx]

I am actually trying to gain weight, so Im hoping that 3oz of PB a day will help me get there, along with working out of course.

[tom]

gs, good luck on that. Peanut butter is cheap, no need to keep to 3 oz. This question is asked affectionately and rhetorically: Are you young and dumb? I certainly was. I should start a thread on the psyche of men, young to old, as to their desire to get big and strong and then evolving into older men wishing they had had the sense they have now and not gone that route.

As I said, this is all said affectionately, with no negative intention. I did the big and strong thing. I don't think anybody could have talked me out of it. It was my life. I don't believe in regrets, but if I were doing it again (thank God I'm not), I would not have gone for size/weight at all.

Better stop before I hijack my own thread. Just food for thought. Good luck again.

Tom

[kelbiz]

Tom;

You are so right in stating that nuts are very easy to overeat. While we trick ourselves into thinking that it's a "healthy snack" after a few handfuls you know you've had too much.

Also - a confession - M & M's with peanuts is a real weakness:dazed:

Jack

[gruntbrain]

Walnuts are not as tasty as other nuts so overeatting 'em is less likely. Moreover, some suggest they offer the grastest health return.

[tom]

Buy them unshelled. That'll slow you down.

My first paid job growing up out in the country was picking up walnuts during harvest.

Tom

[tom]

My experience is different. Nuts do not fill me up. And they are so much fun to eat. I just keep popping one after the other in my mouth. Grunt's suggestion of walnuts, with (I think) their tannic acid, may be easier to get tired of.

Dr. Oz must only take one handful to work. That's not a bad idea. And maybe he has small hands.

Hmmm. I'm admitting to poor self-control, it seems.:embarrassed:

Tom

[Huskerdarren]

Keep your eyes on the amount of sugar in peanut butter. The commercial brands add a ton. All natural is the best.

[b38]

Sometimes you feel like a Nut!
Someimes you don't!

:monkey:

B38