Walnuts and Almonds: Tiny Nutrient Powerhouses from Nature

Introduction. When it comes to heart-healthy snacks, few foods pack a punch quite like walnuts and almonds. Besides being delicious and healthy, both of these tasty little nuts are full of nutrients that the heart craves: they can help keep the brain working right and add to overall healthfulness too--regardless of one eats them plain straight out the bag or spreads them over some salad greens to add crunch. Or better still, mixed in fruit smoothies. Walnuts and almonds are easily integrated into everyday meals as natural vitamin sources without you needing any special preparation beforehand or after. The Nutritional Power of Walnuts Walnuts are often called "brain food", but not just because they look like little brains. They also have the highest plant-based omega-3 fat content of any nut. Specifically, walnuts are chock-full of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Their benefits for your heart and brain health couldn't be clearer. A third-cup serving (about 28 grams) of walnu...