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10 Best Nuts for Keto Diet: Low Carb Options & Recipes

Author: Victoria 14 min read
1883
Oct 03, 2023
10 Best Nuts for Keto Diet: Low Carb Options & Recipes

You are in for a surprise when I tell you that nuts, which belong to the nutrient-dense group, can actually alter your keto diet for the better. The best nuts for keto is high in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals and it is recommended that if you want to satisfy your cravings while on keto this is the best thing you can go for. Based on the blog article, this paper will discuss ten little nuts that are permitted under the keto diet, their benefits, and how they can be included in meals. Let’s get nutty.

Key Takeaways

  • Nuts are important in the keto diet in so many ways, along with the nutrient they contain.

  • If you must take nuts, ensure you’re taking them in moderation and opt for nuts with lower carbohydrates, these include almonds, walnuts or macadamia.

  • Cut nuts into foods or add them whole as a part of other dishes; nuts can also be eaten alone as a healthy food.

Why Nuts are Essential for Keto

Nuts have loads of benefit when included in the keto diet when it comes to the cholesterol, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impact. It is excellent in monounsaturated fats and low in carbohydrates making it the best nuts for low-carb diets. Another investigation showed that increased consumption of nuts, especially nuts permitted for keto diets, relation with decrease body weight. This, in turn, implies that, presumably, the augmentation of nuts intake might be beneficial when it comes to losing weight…

Not only are nuts healthy for the body, but they are also of different forms, sizes, and tastes, thus easily fitting into the keto diets. However, moderation is key, especially regarding how many of these nuts are eaten, due to carbohydrate content. As per the rule, sodium extraction from the grams of carbs gives the grams of net carbs in nuts, but there is an alteration, that is you can deduct fiber from carbs to obtain the net carbs in it.

Nutrient Profiles

Since nuts contain crucial nutrients, including fats, any keto diet would be enriched by nuts. Here are some examples:

  • Macadamia nuts: Thus, low in carbs and high in monounsaturated fats that have been seen to have an impact in increased cholesterol levels.

  • Brazil nuts: that is an excellent source of selenium which is vital for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland.

  • Pecans: sausage that is high in healthy fats and low in net carbs; one ounce of this delicious food is only 1. 2g of net carbs.

Some keto-friendly nuts include:

  • Pine nuts: very low in carbohydrate and packed with antioxidant, vitamins and minerals.

  • Walnuts: high in omega-3 PUFA, which caters for numerous health benefits to the body system. These include theories related to the reduction of inflammation, improvement of heart health.

  • Hazelnuts: protected from rapid breakdown, are rich in whole healthy fats and low in net carbs and have an element known as monounsaturated fatty acids that help with cardiovascular issues.

Thus, incorporating different nuts into your keto diet guarantees you get a different nutrient and health boost. However, to get the best of these nuts, ensure that you are well informed on the nutrient content of the nuts and the right portion to add to your dishes.

Portion Control

Ketosis has to be brought about by managing the proportions of carb, proteins, and fats. While nuts are extremely low in carbs, consuming too many can quickly lead to the consumption of more carbs which would be damaging to going keto. Visually, using the shell as a guide can be effective to manage the portion size<|reserved_special_token_275|> If it recommended to take nuts, then the nuts must be taken slowly and the shells can act as measures for portion control.

On average it is recommended to consume limited nuts to one ounce which is almost equal to the small handful of the same. By maintaining portion control, one can fully enjoy the addition of nuts into the keto diet without increasing the carbs that are present in the diet.

Top 10 Keto-Friendly Nuts

Having understood the significance of nuts in a keto diet, let’s explore the top 10 keto-friendly nuts and their unique benefits:

  • Macadamia Nuts

  • Brazil Nuts

  • Pecans

  • Pine Nuts

  • Walnuts

  • Hazelnuts

  • Peanuts

  • Almonds

  • Coconut

For any keto dieter who feels bored with the regular meals, nuts of different types contain different nutrients.

Macadamia Nuts

Other nuts such as macadamia because they are low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats are preferred by the keto dieters. They originate from Australia and can therefore be consumed in so many ways including macadamia nut milk, butter and macadamia flour.

According to research, these nuts, of course Macadamia nuts are rich sources of monounsaturated fats that help to lower cholesterol in our system. Macadamia nuts also provide the body with fiber, one ounce serving of macadamia nuts has 3g of fiber. 9g of total carbs and 1g of dietary fiber is sound as free carbs. Five grams of net carbs and therefore suitable for anyone following the ketogenic diet.

Brazil Nuts

Brazilian nuts originate from South America and are loaded with selenium; a mineral critical for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. They also have few carbs, and therefore, this makes it easier for anyone on a keto diet to indulge in them.

However, it is especially suggested to consume not more than one to three Brazil nuts per day because of the Selenium they contain. It is advisable to eat Brazil nuts by and by with just salt or sugar or you can include them in some of your preferred recipe like trail mix.

Pecans

Pecan is one of the best nuts to take on keto diet because it has more healthy fats and less net carbohydrate content. They contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals, including:

  • Vitamin A

  • Vitamin E

  • Folic acid

  • Calcium

  • Magnesium

  • Phosphorus

  • Potassium

  • Several B vitamins

Another type of nuts is tree nuts which include pecan, and these nuts are also sources of phytonutrients, antioxidants occurring in plant foods.

Here are some ways through which you can include pecans into your keto diet: You can mix pecan in salads; act as a coating for fish or chicken; or in the production of deserving keto recipes such as the pecan pie or pecan bars.

Pine Nuts

Stuffed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals pine nuts present still another low carb food that can be served to people on keto diets. Healthy eating data shows that pinolenic acid found in pine nuts suppresses hunger by ceased hormones that control these signals – CCK and GLP-1.

Incorporated into foods, pine nuts can be used for flavor variety, used to make the pesto sauce, and consumed raw or roasted.

Walnuts

That is why, when talking about the healthy nutrients, it is necessary to mention that walnuts are full of omega three that help to reduce inflammation and have significantly positively influenced the cardiovascular system. They can be consumed on keto in a best way, either as a snack and as a part of a sugar-free baking products like brownies, fudge and etc.

Also, they can be added to salads to enhance the dish’s taste and feel of it.

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts offer the following benefits:

  • Low net carb content

  • Source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are good for the cardiovascular system

  • They are perfect for consumers on a keto diet program since they are rich in fats, low in carbohydrates.

The following ways are some of the ways that one can use hazelnuts in a ketogenic diet; eating it in its raw form as a snack, include it in the salad, using it in baking processes or turning it into butter.

Peanuts

Peanuts are good in healthy fats and protein, however should not be eaten in large quantities as they contain high amounts of Omega-6 fatty acids.

In specifically selecting the peanut butter for a keto diet, it is suggested that raw or unsalted peanuts and plain or natural peanut butter which do not contain any added sugars are recommended. The products selected contain 6g of total carbs in a 1-ounce serving of the dry roasted peanuts. 3. Among these, if 7g forms the total carbohydrate content, then, the net carbs are also equal to 7g.

Almonds

Indeed, almonds are packed with healthy fats, plant protein and fiber, which makes them ideal for consumption in ketogenic diet. Scientific studies have as well indicated that the inclusion of almonds in one’s diet can assist in reducing chances of type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, as well as Alzheimer’s.

Almonds can be consumed on its own in its raw or roasted form as a health benefiting snack, or in products which include; almond milk, almond butter, and almond flour which is famous.

Coconut

Coconut is a great source of healthy fats and thus forms a good nutrient source for the keto diets. Dried, shredded coconut that is 1 ounce in size is sufficiently packed with nutrients and holds 6. 7g of total carbs. 2. Out of these, 1g of them are considered to be net carbs. ..

Coconut is a very diverse food that can be included in meals as coconut milk, coconut flour, and coconut oil, which increases stamina, decreases inflammation, improves gut health, and might boost the brain’s performance.

Nuts to Limit or Avoid on Keto

In general, nuts are allowed in a ketogenic diet but some have more carbohydrates which may kick you out of ketosis. For instance, while cashews contain very high levels of oxalates, chestnuts contain more carbohydrates than most nuts and are therefore not recommended for a ketogenic diet.

However, other nuts including almonds, walnuts, and macadamia are some of the nuts that have lower caloric densities.

Cashews

Cashews are:

  • Rich in carbohydrates and energy, hence not good for people on ketogenic diets.

  • Are high in oxalates, meaning, their intake might lead to the formation of Kidney stones.

  • Fresh cashews that are have not underwent processing have substances such as urushiol that are unhealthy for the body.

All the same, cashews can be included within an individual’s comprehensible food ration without any worry.

Chestnuts

Chestnuts:

  • Besides, it has numerous amounts of carbohydrates

  • Impart health issues including vitamin C, potassium, copper, magnesium, amino acid, antioxidants, and others.

  • They contain significantly high amounts of carbohydrates which would earn them a no-go zone for anyone on keto.

Nut Butter and Keto

Consuming nut butter on keto is another way through which nuts can be incorporated into the diet since it is a nutrient-dense food. They are loaded with good fats, proteins & fiber content & are recommended for people who wish to incorporate variety and taste in their meals.

However, it is crucial to focus on the best type of nut butter that you intend to consume and ensure that you are serving moderate amount to fit your keto dietary goals.

Choosing the Right Nut Butter

While choosing a nut butter go for natural products, products with no additives such as sugar or unhealthy products. It is noteworthy that most of the consumed nut butter from the market may contain ingredients like added sugars, hydrogenated oils, among others, which would be detrimental to the consumption of the keto diet. Effective elimination of ingredients such as sweeteners justifies the use of a simple nut butter that ensures that the ketogenic diet goals are met while getting the benefits of nuts.

To prevent consuming a lot of portions try to always serve in small portions when eating nut butter. In general, serving of a nut butter is considered two tablespoons. However, the carb content in nut butters may be higher, thus, regulating portion sizes can be effective in incorporation of nut butter in the keto diet.

Homemade Nut Butter Recipes

Aside from taking small nutritive nuts and enjoying the taste of nut butter, nuts can be incorporated in the keto meal plans in many creative ways. Both plain nuts and nut butters are quite versatile in terms of food preparation and can be used in a number of ways into everyday meals; these include topping salads, as a ingredient in smoothies, in protein shakes, and so on.

Snacking Ideas

Being a keto food, nuts are easily portable and provide nourishing value that is bestowed by the keto-rich sources of energy. Here are some ways to enjoy nuts on a keto diet:

  • Roasted nuts make a good snack: take a handful of nuts of your choice.

  • You can take nut butter as a spread on keto friendly crackers.

  • This can easily be solved by incorporating nut butters into your smoothies or other buddy friendly meals.

  • Intake of nut butter should be by dunking vegetables into it

These options give its followers a tasty and fulfilling way of taking nuts while on a keto diet, also to boost the intakes of the keto nuts.

Also, it is possible to select the nuts and seeds that you like and mix them together to get the trail mix; it is preferable to choose those that create variation in tastes and chewiness.

Creative Ways to Incorporate Nuts into Keto Meals

Beyond snacking on nuts and savoring nut butter, there are countless imaginative ways to include nuts in your keto meals. From using nuts as a crunchy topping for salads to blending them into smoothies and protein shakes, nuts can add flavor, texture, and nutritional benefits to various dishes.

Snacking Ideas

As a convenient and nutrient-rich energy source, nuts make an excellent snack for those on a keto diet. Here are some ways to enjoy nuts on a keto diet:

  • Snack on a handful of roasted nuts

  • Enjoy nut butter as a spread on keto-friendly crackers

  • Add nut butter to smoothies

  • Use nut butter as a dip for vegetables

These options provide a delicious and satisfying way to eat nuts, making them perfect for keto, and incorporate keto nuts into your keto diet.

Additionally, you can experiment with different combinations of nuts and seeds to create your trail mix, ensuring a variety of flavors and textures.

Keto-Friendly Recipes with Nuts

Nuts can also be added to various preparations that are compliant with the ketogenic diets such as salad garnishing, sharing in making baked merchandise such as bread and cake crusts, or as bowl toppings among others. For instance, people can use almond flour to bake low carb crusts of pizzas and quiches or grind nuts for pesto sauce for pasta lovers.

Another suggestion for their utilization is a crunchiness in salads, as a ingredient in smoothies and protein shakes or instead of oatmeal or grits in morning meal. The choice is almost limitless so be inspired and takes full advantage of the benefits of including nuts in your ketogenic diet meals.

Summary

In conclusion, nuts are healthy and should be included in the ketogenic diet if possible in order to give the body healthy fats and nutrients, reduce inflammation preventing the raise of the bad cholesterol, enhancing the level of the good cholesterol.

Therefore, you can still consume nuts and their terrific flavor profiles and nutrients and still stay in ketosis so long as you select proper nuts and nut butter, practice portion control and seek how to cleverly incorporate nuts in your diets. Therefore, do not hold back and take your best shot in including these delicious and rich in nutritive value superfoods in your keto diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What nuts are best for keto?

Pecans, brazils, macadamias, walnuts, hazels, peanuts, pine nuts, and almonds are few of the better nuts to take while on a keto diet. All of them have a net carb count that is right on 1 gram per ounce.

Which nuts have the lowest carbs?

And as for the net carbs per serving of 100g the leaders are pecans and Brazil nuts with 4g. Macadamia, hazelnuts, and Walnuts are third on the ranking of the listed nuts with 5-7g net carbs per 100g.

Is all nuts keto-friendly?

In the case of nuts, they are usually preferred in a ketogenic diet as most of them are low in terms of carbohydrates. Fat fat, nuts are low in carbs most of the nuts except from the fact that different nuts have different number of calories, pecan have the least carbs and Brazil nut, macadamia nuts have the highest fat content making them the best for the keto diet. Butties or bread with fillings such as sardines, marmalade, walnuts, and almonds are also allowed.

Which nuts are the healthiest for weight loss?

When you are thinking of taking nuts for weight loss these include; walnuts, almonds, pistachios, and peanuts. For this reason, such nuts are considered healthy fats, plant proteins, fiber, and micronutrients to enhance overall health.

How do I calculate the net carbs in nuts?

For nuts, it is recommended to subrate the total carbs from the fiber grams to arrive at the net carbs. This will give you the net carbs for any nut; the important thing to note here is to check for the serving size of the nut in question before making your calculations.


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