LOW-CARB NUTS

When you are looking to keep your carbs down to avoid blood sugar spikes, did you know that there are some nuts you may want to avoid?

To start with, be sure you soak the raw nuts to avoid the phytates in them. Phytates bind to minerals and can prevent them from being absorbed. This also makes them easier to digest. Once soaked, nuts can be a great snack or addition to top on a salad or to use as a crust for fresh fish or chicken.

Soaking Nuts: cover nuts in a bowl with 1 1/2 times their volume with water. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon mineral salt. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and place in a warm spot. I keep mine on the countertop under the cabinet lighting. Soak for at least 3 hours. You can also soak them overnight. Then drain and rinse. I pop mine into an oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes to crisp up after the soaking.

Take a look below to see how many grams of carbs are in 3 1/2 ounces of nuts (or 3 handfuls).

Best Nuts for low-carb:

Pecans 4 grams

Brazil 4 grams

Macadamia 5 grams

Hazelnut 7 grams

Walnut 7 grams

Peanut 8 grams

Almond 9 grams

Pine 9 grams

Nuts with High Carbs

Pistachio 15 grams

Cashew 22 grams