A simple answer would be based on the chemical analyis of fat and protein and carbohydrate content, and depending on the nut, there could be a very high fat content.
That is not a good answer.
What I would like to know is how much nutritive value is there in moderately masticated nuts.
It’s pretty plain that nuts such as almonds don’t get dissolved away and digested inside you. Significant quantities are excreted.
The question is how many absorbed calories do I get eating raw nuts such as almonds and cashews. What is the composition of those absrobed calories in terms of fat and protein and carbohydrate?
I’ve never noticed that. But then again, I eat corn all the time and I have yet to see any butt-corn, so maybe I’m weird.
The only part of the almond that is not digested is the fiber, which only amounts to about 10% by weight. Everything else (protein, fat, carbohydrate) should be fully absorbed. Here is a link to the nutritional information:
Consider water for a moment. It doesn’t have much nutritive value all by itself. Water doesn’t have any vitamins, no fat, no calories, etc. However, it is a very important part of a nutritious diet. Think about nuts in the same way, they’re an important part of a nutritious diet.
But Monty, nuts do have vitamins, fat, calories, carbohydrates, and protein. They even have water.
Water is an important part of a nutritious diet in the same way that air is part of a nutritious diet. There’s no point in nutrition of you don’t have air and water. But neither air nor water are nutritious.
According an Army survival manual I was reading one day (don’t ask) Almonds are so nutritious that you can survive on just them (and water) for several months without significant ill effect
Water is nutritious. It just doesn’t have all those vitamins and such in it. I’m aware that nuts have fat, water, oils, etc. in them. My point is that the nut isn’t the “perfect nutritious” food, but rather an important part of a balanced diet. And, since I’ve been a vegetarian for about a year now, they’re a very important part of my nutritious diet.
