After reading the article on "Squirrel's Breakfast," many friends have asked questions: Is nuts suitable for everyone? Can I eat them if I have diabetes? Can I eat them if I have gout? Can I eat them if I want to lose weight? Can I eat them if I'm prone to diarrhea?
First and foremost, it is certain that diabetics can eat nuts without any problem.
In fact, except for chestnuts and ginkgo nuts, nuts contain very little starch but are relatively high in dietary fiber, so they pose a small risk of raising blood sugar. An important task for diabetics is to prevent and control cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, and in this regard, nuts can be quite beneficial.
Eating a small handful of nuts in the morning is, for a diabetic, a wise food choice.
For example, a study published in 2004 found that adding a handful of walnuts to the diet of type 2 diabetics could improve their lipid profiles. In a Spanish study that investigated 9,000 cardiovascular disease patients, it was found that eating nuts is beneficial for controlling blood lipids and the risk of heart disease.
Gout patients can also safely eat a small handful of nuts.
Because nuts are low-purine foods, and their purine content is lower than soybeans and most legumes. For example, the purine content in walnuts is 25 mg/100g, Brazil nuts are 23, hazelnuts are 37, and peanuts are slightly higher at 79. In comparison, tofu is 68, soybeans are 190, and pork is 150. Those who want to lose weight can eat them without worry.
Those who want to lose weight should feel at ease, as studies have found that some nuts have a significant satiating effect. For instance, almonds have the highest fiber content among nuts, which can effectively suppress hunger and prolong the feeling of fullness. Even nuts with a relatively lower fiber content, like walnuts, can help control weight when consumed in appropriate amounts without increasing the total energy intake of the diet. If eaten for breakfast, there is even less to worry about.
People who need to be cautious when eating nuts are those with diarrhea, throat diseases, children, and some allergy sufferers.
Nuts are rich in both a large amount of dietary fiber and a large amount of oil, which has a strong "laxative" effect. Anyone who is currently experiencing diarrhea, has an acute infection of the digestive tract, or has difficulty digesting fat should temporarily avoid eating nuts.
The usual cooking methods for nuts are roasting and stir-frying, and even deep-frying, often with salt added, which can easily cause a dry feeling in the mouth and throat. Therefore, patients with pharyngitis, oral ulcers, etc. should try to eat less or avoid roasted, stir-fried, or deep-fried nuts. They can consider eating raw nuts or cooked nuts.
Because nuts are large and not easy to chew at once, young children might accidentally inhale them while coughing, laughing, or talking, leading to serious accidents. Therefore, preschool children should be supervised by adults when eating nuts. Especially for children under 3, whose swallowing control is not yet fully developed, it is best to chop the nuts to avoid danger.
It is particularly important to note that a very small number of people have allergic reactions to nuts, causing symptoms such as skin itching and throat swelling, which can be fatal in severe cases. Patients with such allergies must strictly avoid eating the corresponding nuts.