Looking to increase your protein intake, as well as work in some extra vitamins and minerals? Spectacular spirulina is definitely the tops! Recent research points to the fact that this superfood offers up outstanding nutritional value. Possible health benefits of including spirulina in your diet include lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, anti-inflammatory effects and relief of allergy symptoms.

Sprinkle it on salads, mix it into guacamole and add it to smoothies or protein drinks to get that fantastic boost! It doesn’t take much: just 1 to 2 tsp. of spirulina each day can give you some extra protein, vitamins and minerals.

Want to learn more about spirulina? Watch our handy video!

Chia seeds are one of our favorite NutsOnline products. They have so many health benefits and such a fantastically nutty flavor that it’s tough not to get hooked!

As chia seeds have gotten more popular, we’ve noticed that we’ve had customers asking some great questions about this product! Here are some of those questions, along with our answers.

Question: Are chia seeds good for me?

Answer: Many health professionals agree that chia seeds have great benefits! Chia seeds are the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help protect against inflammation related to arthritis. Omega-3s can also help shield your body from heart disease. Pretty nifty! Chia seeds have been shown to lower blood pressure, help control blood sugar and even aid in weight loss.

Question: Can chia seeds help me lose weight?

Answer: Chia seeds are quite popular for weight loss. The seeds, which can absorb 10 times their weight in liquids, prevent some of the food that you eat from being absorbed into your system. Because their water absorption turns them into a bulky gel, they also keep you feeling fuller longer. Both of these qualities of chia can definitely help weight loss efforts, especially when paired with a healthy eating and exercise plan!

Question: Do chia seeds help those with diabetes?

Answer: Some scientists do believe that diabetics can benefit from including chia seed in their diets. Chia seeds slow the rate at which our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars. This act can help control and stabilize blood sugar. Of course, if you are diabetic, you should consult with you doctor before starting a chia seed regimen to make sure that the seeds will not interfere with your existing diet and medication plan.

Question: How many servings of chia seeds should I eat a day?

Answer: Two daily doses of about 20 grams each (1.5 ounces total) is what we recommend for the best benefits.

Question: Is there a difference between black chia seeds and white chia seeds?

Answer: Black chia seeds and white chia seeds are essentially the same, nutritionally speaking. The only real difference is the color! Though black chia seeds are more common and generally more popular, some people prefer to bake with white chia seeds because their lighter color makes them less obvious in breads, cakes and cookies.

Question: What makes NutsOnline chia seeds so great?

Answer: Well, speedy shipping and guaranteed freshness, just to name a couple reasons! We are proud to offer some of the highest-quality chia seeds available at a reasonable price. We buy our chia seeds directly from farmers, so we know how they’re grown. We only offer raw, non-irradiated, non-GMO chia seeds, and all of our chia has been produced without pesticides. We think this gives our chia seeds an edge! They are distinctly nutty and fresh, and are definitely the tastiest chia seeds we’ve tried.

Question: How do you eat chia seeds?

Answer: So many options! Chia seeds can be eaten raw; they’re easy to digest, so they don’t need to be soaked, cooked or ground up for you to reap their benefits. They can also be included in baked goods, such as muffins and cakes, and added to beverages, puddings, hot cereal and side dishes. Check out our chia seed product page for links to some of our favorite recipes!

Have a question about chia? Feel free to leave it in the comments section here or email us at CustomerService@NutsOnline.com.

Looking for something to shake up your baking? When we feel like we’re in a rut, one of our favorite things to do is test out recipes that star new types of flours! Flours that aren’t derived from wheat can give your baked goods a different texture, flavor and nutritional content. Plus, it’s just plain fun to try new things! Here are five of our favorite non-wheat flours for baking.

1)      Soy Flour: Soy flour, which is made from stone-ground organic soybeans, is fantastic flour for baking bread. The high-protein flour renders homemade bread lighter and fluffier. Try adding 1 tbsp. of soy flour to every cup of whole-wheat flour or all-purpose flour in your favorite bread recipe. You’ll notice a fantastic difference in texture, and the bread will be more nutritious!

2)      Potato Flour: Potato flour is made by grinding 100 percent dehydrated whole potatoes into a fine powder. Since it contains quite a bit of natural starch, potato flour can be a great addition to your favorite homemade pancake or waffle recipe. Just a tablespoon or two of potato flour will thicken up the batter, allowing you to create more even and neat goodies.

3)      Spelt Flour: Spelt flour has a deliciously nutty flavor and a texture that closely resembles wheat flour. This is because spelt is a non-hybrid cousin of what we know as wheat today. Spelt flour can be substituted for wheat flour in just about any recipe. Try it in your favorite cookies or quick bread! (And check out the product page for our favorite spelt flour chocolate chip cookies recipe!)

4)      Peanut Flour: Peanut flour, made with raw blanched peanuts, is most often used as a thickener for soups and batters. However, because it gives foods such a deliciously peanutty flavor, we love to use peanut flour in baking, as well! Try substituting peanut flour for half or all of the flour in your favorite brownie recipe for a rich, fudgy brownie that has just a hint of nutty goodness.

5)      Almond Flour: Almond flour is, hands down, one of our most favorite non-wheat flours to bake with. It’s a certified gluten-free staple in our cupboards, and makes delicious cakes, cookies and muffins that even our friends who are gluten intolerant can enjoy! Take a look at the almond flour product page to find our favorite recipes for almond flour pancakes, muffins, cookies and cake.

What are some of your favorite non-wheat flours to bake with?

Ah, poppy seeds. We think they complete just about any baked good with their deliciously nutty flavor and delicate crunch. But did you know that poppy seeds also pack a rather powerful nutritional punch? It’s true!

Besides being just plain tasty, a serving of poppy seeds contains 13 percent of your daily requirement of calcium. These tiny seeds offer up a healthy dose of vitamin A, vitamin C and iron. Poppyseeds can also help our feathered friends. They soothe digestive issues in many wild birds, so make sure to add them to your custom birdseed mixture!

Poppy seeds are mainstays in recipes from cuisines around the world, including Ukranian and Polish dishes. However, we have some favorite recipes of our own that feature these delectable seeds. Check out our featured recipes for Almond Poppy Cake, Lemon Poppyseed Muffins and Four Seed Bread. Smart Stew, which contains root vegetables and pumpkin, is also a great treat. You can even stir poppyseeds into your favorite salad dressing recipe, or add a few teaspoons of the seeds to pancake and waffle batter. They’re also delicious on the outside of homemade buns and bagels.

What are some of your favorite ways to cook with poppy seeds? Do you have a special recipe for poppy seed bread or cookies that you just have to share? We’d love to hear more!

As the weather turns a wee bit chillier, we love to curl up with a nice, hot cup of herbal tea in the evening! Some herbal teas even have the added bonus of offering up some great nutritional and health benefits! Three of our favorites are hibiscus tea, spearmint tea and chamomile tea.

Hibiscus tea is a slightly tart, bright red brew that will perk you right up! The dried flowers are rich in flavanoids and antioxidants, and the almost berrylike flavor will take you back to the warm days of summer. Many people also drink hibiscus tea to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol. To make a deliciously spicy hibiscus tea blend, place two dried hibiscus flowers in a teapot, along with half of a cinnamon stick and a small knob of peeled fresh ginger. Pour one cup of boiling water over the mixture and steep the tea for five to 10 minutes. Strain the hibiscus tea into a mug and sweeten it with honey, if desired.

Spearmint tea is a fantastic after-dinner beverage. We’ve found that it aids with digestion and can help settle upset stomachs. It’s also quite refreshing! To prepare spearmint tea, measure 1 to 1-1/2 tsp. of jasmine green tea into a teapot. Add 1 tbsp. of spearmint and 1 cup of boiling water, then let the tea steep for about 10 minutes. Serve the tea with sugar or honey to enhance the mint flavor.

Chamomile makes a soothing tea that’s perfect for pre-bedtime relaxation. Put 1 tbsp. of dried chamomile flowers into a teapot and pour 1 cup of boiling water over them. Let the brew steep for five to 10 minutes, then strain the tea and add a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of honey.

What are some of your favorite varieties of herbal tea?

Besides offering a wide selection of snacks and goodies, NutsOnline also carries quite a few products for projects both in and out of the kitchen. One of our favorites, citric acid, has quite a few uses!

Citric acid, also known as lemon salt or sour salt, is a completely natural acid that’s derived from fruit. In fact, it’s what gives citrus fruits their tart bite. It’s often found in calcium supplements because it has been shown to help your bones absorb calcium more easily.

One of the most common uses of citric acid is in cooking and baking. Citric acid can add a tart punch to candies and soft drinks. In fact, the white, powdery coating on the outside of many sour gummies and hard candies is often a mixture of citric acid and sugar! The acid also acts as a preservative in foods such as bread, ice cream and cheese.

Of course, citric acid isn’t just reserved for edibles. Many people add the acid to commercial dishwasher detergent or create homemade detergent from mixture of citric acid, borax and baking soda. The acid removes hard water deposits from dishes, the dishwasher’s interior and the drain pipes. A solution of citric acid and water can also be used to clean tile floors.

One of the most interesting ways to use citric acid is to make homemade bath bombs. These fizzy balls foam up in the tub, making bathtime more refreshing and fun! To make a batch of bath bombs, mix 3 cups of baking soda with 1-1/2 cups of citric acid. Stir in 30 to 40 drops of your favorite essential oil, one drop at a time, along with a few drops of food coloring, if desired. Pack the bath bombs tightly into bath bomb molds (found at your local craft store) and let the bombs dry until they’re solid. Easy and amazing!

Have you ever worked with citric acid? What are some of your favorite uses?

Have we got a treat for all you pecan-lovers out there! Our chocolate pecans are a decadent treat for those who love the buttery taste of pecans and the rich, smooth flavor of high-quality milk chocolate. We’ve searched high and low to bring you what we’ve found to be one of the most delectable varieties of chocolate-covered nuts around!

Chocolate pecans aren’t just delicious. They also offer up health benefits that make pecans one of the most beneficial nuts around! Experts have found that, when it comes to promoting heart health, pecans offer top-notch protection. They’ve been shown to help lower total and LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, as well as maintain HDL (or “good”) cholesterol levels. They also contain a healthy amount of zinc, vitamin E and vitamin A.

Of course, chocolate pecans offer up a healthy dose of milk chocolate as well, so you may want to reserve this yummy sweet for a special treat! We love to eat them as-is, top our ice cream with them and mix them into homemade trail mix. They’re even delicious chopped up and added to your favorite chocolate-chip cookie recipe! They’re definitely a luxurious dessert that’ll make just about any day feel special.

Are you a hot beverage fanatic? We sure are, as our huge line of gourmet coffees, teas and cocoas might suggest. Well, if so, have we ever got a treat for you! Chicory, found in the herbs and spices section of our site, makes a rich and delicious drink.

Chicory, which is caffeine-free, has been used as an alternative or addition to coffee throughout history. In fact, during the Great Depression and World War II, many Americans brewed cups of chicory as a substitute for more expensive (and sometimes hard-to-find) coffee. However, chicory’s popularity dates back all the way to the early 1800s, when, legend holds, Napoleon’s troops brought the herb back to Paris from Northern Europe.

Chicory is naturally caffeine-free, but it does have the smooth, roasted flavor that so many coffee drinkers love. Many people also believe that chicory has medicinal benefits. Most notably, chicory is often consumed as a body cleansing agent for the gallbladder and liver. It is also thought to help control blood sugar.

Chicory is easy to prepare in electric, stovetop or French press coffee makers. Simply make it as you would coffee, using 2 to 3 tbsp. of ground chicory for each cup of water. You can also mix ground chicory with ground coffee beans for a unique hot brew that’s particularly popular in New Orleans. Combine 1 part ground chicory with 2 to 3 parts ground coffee and brew the coffee as usual.  Because chicory has a strong flavor, you may want to add a bit of cream or milk, as well as a sweetener like sugar or honey, to the brew before you start to sip.

Have you ever tried chicory? What’s your favorite way to enjoy this delicious product?

It’s back-to-school time! While we know some of those among us aren’t quite ready to trade the freedom of summer for pencils and books, we love this time of year. It gives us a chance to pack our pantries with healthy and delicious back-to-school snacks!

Nuts are our No. 1 back-to-school snack. They’re packed with nutrition and protein to keep you (and your little scholars) focused and energized throughout the day! Some of our favorite nuts to buy for snacks include almonds, pistachios, Brazil nuts and cashews. We also love seeds, with sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds being two yummy options.

Dried fruit is one sweet snack that won’t get you down, and we have hundreds of options in that category! Try our dried apricots and dried cherries for a delicious treat. Other great options for lunchboxes include our fruit leather and fruit chips. Delish!

Veggie chips are available in all kinds of varieties from NutsOnline. They’re fantastic! Our regular veggie chips and BBQ veggie chips are definitely two customer favorites. We also offer wacky, but delicious, options such as okra chips, green bean chips, hot pepper veggie chips and wasabi veggie chips.

Trail mix is a great snack because it includes a mix of sweet and savory ingredients. It’s healthy and filling, and gives your loved ones some great energy! For a nut-free treat, try our Berry Mix. Delicious trail mixes with nuts include our Power Mix, Organic Trail Mix and Extreme Trail Mix. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even whip up a 5-lb. bag of custom trail mix using our trail mix creator page.

What are some of your favorite back-to-school snacks? We’d love to hear all about the top choices at your house!

Sweet and rich candied walnuts are one of our favorite treats. Once you try these yummy, crunchy nuts, we think you’ll agree that they sure are special!

Candied walnuts are a fantastic  treat to munch on their own, and they’re also simply delicious when mixed into homemade trail mix! We love to sprinkle a handful of these walnuts over spinach salad, giving a sweet twist to a savory dish.

Another great way to gobble up candied walnuts is to make pumpkin cake cookies. They’re a perfect simple dessert for autumn!

To start, cream together 1 stick of softened, unsalted butter, 1 8-oz. brick of softened cream cheese, 1 egg and 1 tsp. of vanilla extract. Add 1 box of pumpkin cake mix, as well as ½ tsp. each of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Stir until the ingredients are combined and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.

Scoop the chilled dough into teaspoonful-sized balls and roll each ball in powdered sugar before placing them about 1-1/2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake the pumpkin cake cookies for about 10 to 12 minutes, then remove them to a rack and allow them to cool completely.

Ice each cookie with cream cheese frosting and top with candied walnuts. Yummy!

Have you ever tried candied walnuts? What are some of your favorite ways to eat them?