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FREE shipping on US orders over $45!
FREE 1-year warranty on all blenders and juicers
More to Consider
Taxes and discounts calculated at checkout.
McKenzie Jones
November 23, 2021
McKenzie Jones
McKenzie is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for nutribullet who aims to make the world a healthier, happier place. She believes that living a healthy lifestyle and eating for your health isn't meant to be complicated -- it's meant to be simple, enjoyable, and judgment-free (with room for dessert). When she’s not dishing out nutrition tidbits, you can find McKenzie visiting her local farmers market, hiking her favorite trails with her husband, and chasing after her daughters.
When we think of protein, we often picture the usual suspects – chicken, pork, beef, seafood, eggs, and dairy products. However, there is another way to reap the benefits of protein: plant-based sources like legumes, nuts, and seeds. In fact, plant proteins are some of your best bets, offering additional beneficial nutrients, like fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, while containing very little of the stuff we typically try to limit like cholesterol and saturated fat.
An edible seed, for example – think chia, hemp, flax, pumpkin, or sunflower – contains within it all of the nutrients it requires to grow and flourish. When we eat seeds, we benefit from that same concentrated source of nutrition. Nuts, too, are armed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A large body of research has found that consumption of tree nuts – including almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, and peanuts (which actually fall in the legume family if we’re being particular) – is associated with reduced risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some cancers. (1-3)
While all nuts and seeds offer a variety of health-promoting properties, each type contains its own particular nutritional benefits.
Here’s the scoop on a few of our favorites:
There is no shortage of research indicating the health benefits of almonds. Over two decades of studies have shown that eating almonds can help maintain a healthy heart and good cholesterol levels, positively impact blood sugar levels, and promote satiety (the feeling of fullness).
With a mild flavor and heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids, chia seeds are a favorite ingredient in many of our nutribullet® recipes. One serving is also a good source of fiber, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Aside from making a nutritious addition to smoothies and oatmeal, ground flaxseeds can also be used as a plant-based alternative to eggs in baked goods. For each egg you’d like to replace, combine one tablespoon of flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before adding to your baking mixture.
Sunflower seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, with 5g of protein and 14g of healthy fats per serving, plus fiber, vitamin E, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. Whew. For a nut-free alternative to peanut butter, whip up this Super Seed Butter in your nutribullet® Triple Prep System food processor.
Known for containing omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts are especially good for your heart and for reducing inflammation.
When it comes to incorporating nuts and seeds into your diet, the sky’s the limit. Mix them into homemade granola bars, add to your smoothies, or simply eat them straight from the jar. If you haven’t made homemade nut or seed butter in your nutribullet® Blender Combo or nutribullet® Triple Prep System food processor, we can’t recommend it enough!
1. Chen GC, Zhang R, Martínez-González MA, Zhang ZL, Bonaccio M, van Dam RM, Qin LQ. Nut consumption in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a meta-analysis 18 prospective studies. Food & Function Journal. 2017 Nov 15;8(11):3893-3905. doi: 10.1039/c7fo00915a. PMID: 28875220.
2. Zhang D, Dai C, Zhou L, Li Y, Liu K, Deng YJ, Li N, Zheng Y, Hao Q, Yang S, Song D, Wu Y, Zhai Z, Cao S, Dai Z. Meta-analysis of the association between nut consumption and the risks of cancer incidence and cancer-specific mortality. Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Jun 2;12(11):10772-10794. doi: 10.18632/aging.103292. Epub 2020 Jun 2. PMID: 32487780; PMCID: PMC7346045.
3. Kim Y, Keogh JB, Clifton PM. Benefits of Nut Consumption on Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Multiple Potential Mechanisms of Actions. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 22;9(11):1271. doi: 10.3390/nu9111271. PMID: 29165404; PMCID: PMC5707743.
Is there such a thing as a perfect smoothie? This sweet medley certainly makes a strong case. With a classic combination of blueberries, banana, and spinach, this superstar smoothie provides a powerful nutrient boost!
Consider this blend the little black dress of NutriBullet smoothies: it never goes out of style. To help keep your energy stable throughout the day, aim to balance your meals and snacks with high-quality protein, healthy fats, and fiber-filled carbs – like this combo of Greek yogurt, peanut butter, fruit, and veggies. There’s a reason this one is always on-trend.
Start your day on a high note with this nutritiously cheerful blend of greens, mango, banana, and chia seeds.
