Nuts! Pistachios Becoming Problematic

Peanut lovers are just barely bouncing back after a major salmonella scare. Now the news is breaking that the country's second largest pistachio farm is recalling its entire 2008 crop -- or a million pounds of nuts -- due to concerns that the pistachios might be contaminated with salmonella.

If you're a nut lover or a vegan/vegetarian who depends on nuts for protein, you're probably saying nuts to all these food safety concerns. I don't blame you. But nuts are far too good for you to give up on them altogether -- not only can they help control weight gain, they're also rich in healthy fats and good for the heart. While you're waiting for your favorite nuts to be cleared, here are a few healthy choices to try instead:

• Almonds: Low in saturated fat, an ounce of almonds fulfills 35 percent of your vitamin E for the day for only 160 calories.
• Walnuts: An ounce of tasty walnuts will give you a day's worth of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Cashews: Go crazy for cashews -- they're a lower-fat nut and rich in oleic acid.
• Pecans: A handful of these offer 19 different vitamins and minerals and could lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol.

The thing to remember with nuts, of course, is that a little goes a long way. One serving a day -- generally a small handful -- is enough to reap the health benefits without adding unnecessary calories. Toss them into your salad, stir them into a stir fry or even top your yogurt with them. It's also smart to choose raw or dry-roasted and unsalted nuts to avoid eating added oils or sodium.

And if you've got pistachios hiding out in your cupboard, don't throw them away just yet. The FDA is asking everyone to hold on to their pistachios for a few weeks until the whole mess gets sorted out.

How do you incorporate nuts into your daily diet? Share your ideas with us.