Pine nuts are an edible seed from, as anyone might guess, a member of the pine family. There are about 20 species of pines that make seeds large enough to eat. Because of the widespread nature of pine trees, pine nuts can come from a variety of locations in temperate climates all over the world, and it is believed that we have consumed pine nuts since the Paleolithic era (talk about a Paleo food, right?!). Since they have been eaten for so long, there are countless cuisines and traditional recipes that include pine nuts, but many of us on the AIP do not tolerate them, and I always recommend eliminating them when first starting the protocol. There is more information on the science behind AIP being nut-free in the blog post, The WHYs behind the Autoimmune Protocol: Nuts and Seeds. One of my favorite recipes that includes pine nuts are my Pulled Pork Wraps with Lime Basil Pesto and Pickled Shallots.
For those who are able to eat them, pine nuts can be a great addition to any meal from both a taste and nutrition standpoint. These nuts are a good balanced macronutrient profile, with all three macronutrients represented (and including about 4g of fiber per 100g). Pine nuts are also incredibly rich in vitamins and minerals, most significantly vitamins B1, E, and K as well as the minerals manganese, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and iron.
Conveniently, pine nuts are available for purchase online at Amazon.
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