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Comment by TillE | Hacker News Reader

Most nuts (raw or dry roasted, nothing added) are just plain good for you, even in significant quantities. They're protein, healthy fat, and fiber.

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I can't really support that statement for the large amount of people who have weight problems. Just too many calories, and a lot from fat and protein which is easier to eat without realizing how much you are getting.

...and calories, unfortunately. 2 cups of peanuts and you've nearly hit the recommended 2000 calories for the day. Nuts are certainly good for you, but not in "significant quantities". As they say, everything in moderation.

this. And im looking at this from a body composition point of view. I stay away from nuts because its easy for me to eat a thousand cals worth in one sitting.

Calories aren't bad for everyone.

Consuming more calories than you're expending causes you to gain weight, and for most (but not all) people that's probably bad for you. I often supplement small meals with large amounts of nuts and it's the calories - in the form of fats, including many heart-protective fats - that I'm after.

I believe I'm better off getting those 2,000 calories from nuts than from, say, meat or refined sugar. But obviously everyone's bodies and personal health situations vary.

Weight gain has nothing to do with calories in calories out. It is controlled by blood sugar and insulin. Read the book "why we get fat" about how our bodies work if you want to learn more.

You get bigger if you eat more and you get smaller if you eat less. It's important to get all of fat, carbs, and protein for a balanced diet. Not saying that there isn't anything more to it, but for most people it really is this simple.

that's like asking "why is warren buffet rich?"

answer: because his money in was greater than his money out.

doesn't really explain much, does it?

specifically, calories in/out doesn't explain: satiety, insulin resistance, muscle anabolism/catabolism, or cravings.

there's much more to it then in/out. yes, thermodynamics applies. no, humans are a bit more complicated than a terrarium.

Nothing?

Okay, I challenge you to eat zero calories and still maintain weight.

Just to be pedantic, a peanut is not a nut--it's a legume, like beans, and has a similar nutritional profile. Most of the "healthy nuts" claims are made about tree nuts, like walnuts and almonds.

> healthy fat

That's debatable. Except for some tropical nuts like macadamias, most are loaded with unsaturated fats that have many negative health associations.

Uh, what? Unsaturated fats are generally regarded as healthier than saturated fats. Which specific unsaturated fats do you think have "many negative health associations"?

You are confusing unsaturated with saturated or transfats. Unsaturated fats are amazingly healthy.

No I'm not. PUFAs have clear links to immuno suppression, cancer, and low metabolism. Seed oils are best avoided.

Saturated fat is benign. You can eat about as much coconut oil as you care to and the only concern would be excess calories.

nutritional ketosis and hormonal theory of obesity are too new for people to understand. give it 20 years or so.

I don't need 20 years to change my opinion. I need 20 minutes with some reputable sources.

This is a reasonable overview.

http://www.nutritionbynature.com.au/1/post/2012/09/polyunsat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpllomiDMX0

i'm not sure if you're being serious but it'll take longer than 20 miutes, more like 6 hours. this isn't a simple topic but the new science on it is compelling.

The CDC says that "Most of the fat that you eat should come from unsaturated sources: polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. In general, nuts, vegetable oils, and fish are sources of unsaturated fats." Which is (generally) consistent with what I've read on the topic.

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/fat/unsaturated...

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