Shaky after eating nuts?

[GearGirl]

Does this even make sense? I try to eat a veg*n diet, and I've been adding in a handful of nuts here and there, usually raw almonds or walnuts. About an hour later I feel really shaky like I need to eat right away. What about nuts could be causing this? I don't think it is a hunger issue as my nut serving is pretty generous and they are so high in calories.

[wytchywoman]

My guess would be that it has something to do with your blood sugar level. Proteins reduce your glucose level to my understanding. Perhaps the nuts are reducing them too much? Could you try doing nuts with a complex carb and see what happens? FWIW, I can't do smoothies for breakfast in the morning as the same thing happens to me, even with green smoothies. Some people just digest food differently than others I guess.

[jplain]

Agreed. The shakiness probably isn't from eating nuts. It is probably from NOT eating any carbs along with them. Nuts are fat and protein and perhaps a bit of fiber (depending on the nut). Fats and protein won't make your blood sugar drop, but they can't do anything to bump up sagging blood sugar levels.

If you're feeling snacky, your body may be telling you that your blood sugar is getting a little low. Try adding a small amount of carbs (fruit, crackers, etc.) to your snack, and see if that makes a difference. If you're physically active, it'll be especially important to make sure you're getting reasonable amounts of carbs throughout the day, or your blood sugar will crash.