Nourishing Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds contain primarily, but not solely, polyunsaturated fatty acids. There is usually a lot of linoleic acid, which the body converts to omega-6 fatty acids, and a very small amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is converted to omega-3 fatty acids. The opposite ratio is found in foods like green leafy vegetables, which are high in omega-3s. "We need these in balance for optimum nutrition," says Dr. Sukol.