Why You're About To See Magnesium-Packed Pili Nuts Everywhere

When you think about nuts, the usual players come to mind—almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, Brazil nuts. And they're all pretty solid choices, loaded with good fats, a variety of essential minerals, and health-boosting antioxidants. But we've been talking about the same old nuts for as long as any of us can remember, so when a new (or at least new to us) nut comes along, we get pretty excited. Enter: pili nuts.

With a rich flavor that's somewhere between a macadamia nut and cashew, and a softer, more buttery texture than other nuts, it's not hard to understand why they're becoming a favorite.

The pili nut has a unique nutrient profile, and the vitamins and minerals found in the nut are readily absorbed 4by the body. You'll also get 17 percent of your daily recommended intake of thiamin5 (aka vitamin B1), which is important for the metabolism of carbs; 6 percent of your zinc6, which plays a key role in immune functioning; and 21 percent of your magnesium, which helps regulate mood and balance blood sugar, among many other things. It's particularly exciting that pili nuts are high in magnesium since between 50 and 90 percent of people don't have adequate levels.

You may not be able to find pili nuts at your local grocery store yet (Whole Foods Market does sell LAVVA yogurt, though, which is made with the nuts), but they're readily available online in sprouted, roasted, and seasoned varieties from Pili Hunters, Nuts.com, and Pure Traditions. Use them like you would any tasty nut—sprinkled onto salads, incorporated into trail mix, or even added to baked goods or oatmeal (as long as you're not doing the whole keto thing).