Week 4

Eat a small handful of raw nuts or seeds each day.

A few tips and suggestions:

1.  Be sure you buy raw nuts and seeds.  Roasted and salted varieties are not as beneficial and will make you gain unhealthy weight.  They also often contain cheap salt and sugar (can be listed as other names such as high fructose corn syrup). Both cheap salt and sugar by any name are on the list of foods and ingredients to avoid.  Raw nuts and seeds are an excellent source of protein, Omega-3 oils, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals.  

2.  If you are trying to lose weight and have the time, buy nuts or seeds in the shell so you have to work to eat them.  This will also slow you down as you enjoy eating them.

 



3.  You can eat a small handful of nuts or seeds a couple times throughout the day if you wish but don't eat large quantities.  A little goes a long way and is very beneficial, but don't over do it.  Nuts and seeds, along with grains and beans and rice contain phytates (which inhibit them from sprouting until properly warmed and soaked in the spring in nature).  While most of the phytates are in the shell or hull, some are still found in the edible portion.  Soaking can reduce the amount some, and buying organic can insure a lower amount but some will still be present.  Also it is a much better idea to eat raw whole nuts and seeds, rather than nut and seed butter to maximize your nutritional intake while minimizing your phytate intake.  You do not want a diet too high in natural phytates but God did provide these things as foods, and I don't think man fully understands all the facts about them.  Nuts and seeds have been an excellent sources of nutrition for man since early Biblical times.  For those who would like more technical information on this issue (I think they are perhaps a bit overcautious though excellent information), check out this Weston Price article.

4.  There are so many options, select one or two, or try several different ones.  Possibilities include walnuts, pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, pistachios, cashews, macadamias, hazelnuts, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), and sunflower seeds.

5.  Store your raw nuts and seeds in the refrigerator (or extras in the freezer).  As shown, in the photo above, I store them in glass jars in the refrigerator.  Raw nuts and seeds are perishable, especially in warmer temperatures and can turn rancid if not stored properly.

6.  For men:  eat one handful of raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas) each day to ward off prostrate problems.

7.  For women:  eat 4 to 6 almonds (that have been soaked for a few hours and then peeled) to help stabilize hormones.  Soak a few almonds in a small amount of filtered water for 2 - 6 hours, then peel off the brown skin, and eat.  Almonds are an excellent source of absorbable magnesium (chocolate being another which I think is why women crave chocolate).  During the month, a woman's magnesium levels drop significantly as hormones fluctuate.

8.  For kids:  include their daily raw nuts in their lunch and/or offer as an afternoon snack.

9.  A United States federal law has recently made it illegal to sell or buy raw almonds or hazelnuts.  However, there are a few exceptions, so it is possible to obtain them raw if you research the topic.  Be aware that when you buy almonds that are labeled 'raw' at a local store, they are not really raw.  They have been flash pasteurized.  There are no 'truly' raw almonds sold in Texas; the only ones I know about are sold in California only. 

Advanced Challenge for those already eating a small handful of nuts or seeds each day.

Include a new nut or seed that you are not currently eating into your diet or investigate the properties of nuts and seeds to learn which vitamins and minerals they contain.  Then you can choose which to eat depending upon your current nutritional needs.

 

"Then their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.'"  Genesis 43:11