Nuts are some of the most nutrient-dense, plant-based foods that everyone should include in their diet. Well, obviously don’t include them if you have nut allergies. Eating nuts can help you increase your protein intake, which is necessary for healthy skin, bones, and muscles. When you supply the body with the healthy fats, fiber, and protein from nuts, you feel more satiated and energized than usual.
This article discusses protein, but we can’t ignore the monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, anti-inflammatory properties, and antioxidants in nuts. For example, L-arginine is an antioxidant that may help to improve circulation and erectile dysfunction. Nuts are superfoods that don’t receive the same love as kale, seaweed, sweet potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. What’s the reason for this? People tend to overdo it on nuts. Since nuts are high in calories (their only downside) you have to limit your intake to no more than a small handful daily. Additionally, it’s best to avoid salted, flavored, or roasted nuts and focus on raw varieties instead. We’ve detailed seven nuts that have the highest protein content below.
7 Nuts With The Most Protein
Almonds
Is the almond the undisputed king of nuts? Some argue that you can’t get any better than the almond, which is technically a seed, even though people group it into the nut category. Did you know that roughly eight out of every ten almonds are grown in California? They have gained a lot of popularity in their non-dairy milk form, but snacking on one ounce of almonds provides the body with six grams of protein. They also contain lots of antioxidants that are beneficial for heart health and fighting oxidative stress.
Pine Nuts
We just went from an affordable nut to a pricey nut. Pine nuts are actually the seeds of pine cones, and they offer a creamy, buttery flavor because they are high in healthy fats. Most pesto sauces contain pine nuts, which exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on certain cancer cells. A quarter-cup of pine nuts logs 4.5 grams of protein.
Pistachios
Crack open the shells and get to snacking, but no more than half a cup at a time. Pistachios are rich in fiber, unsaturated fats, and plenty of antioxidants. In fact, researchers studied the antioxidants in pistachios and found that they benefited blood pressure and endothelial function. Although this research is preliminary, this may help reduce heart-related health problems. Oh, we forgot to mention that half a cup of pistachios offers 20.16 grams of protein.
Hazelnuts
If you’re familiar with Nutella or coffee creamer, you’re familiar with hazelnuts. The subtly sweet, buttery flavor of hazelnuts makes them excellent snacks or great salad toppers. According to several studies, hazelnuts can help to decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which can lead to improved heart health. Simply enjoy a quarter-cup of hazelnuts for five grams of protein.
Walnuts
If you’re about that omega-3 life, don’t miss out on walnuts, which happen to contain more omega-3 fatty acids than any other nut. Omega-3s work to boost heart health and memory, and walnuts even look like little brains. A quarter-cup of walnuts offers 4.5 grams of protein, so get to snacking!
Brazil Nuts
These are probably the biggest nuts on this list, and you’re supposed to eat them sparingly. According to nutritionists, you should not consume more than one to three Brazil nuts per day. The reason for this recommendation is because they pack a ton of selenium, and too much selenium can lead to selenosis. One ounce of Brazil nuts offers four grams of protein.
Cashews
From nut cheeses and non-dairy milks to raw vegan puddings and creamy dressings, there’s nothing that you can’t do with cashews. While they are technically seeds, cashews offer myriad nutrients, including copper and protein. Copper works to improve immune function and assists with the production of red blood cells and connective tissue. Several studies found that sufficient copper intake helped reduce a person’s risk of osteoporosis. A quarter-cup of cashews offers five grams of protein and satisfies 80% of the recommended daily intake of copper.
