4 Types of Nuts You Should Buy Organic

Nuts are super-nutritious snacks: They offer healthy fats, plant-based protein, fiber and a slew of vitamins and minerals that provide you with quick energy without any empty calories.

They have also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, according to a November 2017 study in the ​Journal of the American College of Cardiology​.

But quality can vary. When shopping for nuts, you may have come across organic and non-organic versions. This may cause you to ask questions like, "Do almonds need to be organic?" or "Do walnuts need to be organic?"

Unlike conventionally grown foods, organic foods have the benefit of being grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers (but note that there are approved organic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers). Organic foods are also not allowed to be genetically modified in any way, according to California Certified Organic Farmers.

Buying organic protects consumers from potentially harmful side effects of pesticides, and some pesticides have been linked to cancer and hormone issues, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. Organic foods can be identified by the USDA Organic seal.

Like most plants, nuts can be subject to the potentially harmful effects of pesticides. Here are the most important nuts to buy organic.

Many pesticide residues have been reported on conventionally grown almonds, according to the Pesticide Action Network North America. The use of insecticides and herbicides on California almonds both increased between 1996 and 2010, and this may have a negative effect not only on human health but also on the health of the environment, as reported by a February 2014 study in ​The Science of the Total Environment​.

Cashews are another nut that may have a higher pesticide load than others. For example, dozens of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides have been found to be used on cashews grown in Cote D'Ivoire, a country in West Africa that's one of the leading cashew producers, according to a November 2020 research in the ​International Journal of Research​.

Dozens of insecticides and pesticides might be used on conventionally grown pistachios, per the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. One type of pesticide used on pistachios called phosmet is linked to cancer, but more research needs to be done to confirm these effects in humans, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Peanuts are actually not a nut, but a member of the legume family, which also includes peas, beans and lentils. Unlike tree nuts, peanuts are grown underground, according to the National Peanut Board. This makes them especially susceptible to mold and fungi from moist soil, as well as increased exposure to pesticides that get absorbed into the soil.

Walnuts have a very hard outer shell that offers protection from pesticides and other chemicals used on conventionally grown varieties. Conventionally grown walnuts have shown little pesticide residue on the shelled nut, according to the food advocacy organization FoodPrint.

No significant health risk was found from walnut pesticide residue, according to a February 2016 study in ​Chemosphere​. But pesticides used in any non-organic farming are still hazardous to farmers and to the local environment.