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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n Long before peanuts<\/a> and almonds<\/a> were introduced to the U.S. in the 1700s, there were acorns<\/a>.<\/p>\n Native to the U.S., the versatile tree nut has long been a traditional staple important to indigenous Americans<\/a> for thousands of years. But they\u2019ve recently been popping up in food blogs and cookbooks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Acorns contain essential vitamins and minerals that benefit the brain, nervous system, heart and gut.<\/p>\n Just an ounce has 152 milligrams of heart and muscle-supporting potassium, according to Ohio\u2019s University Hospitals<\/a>, and two grams of protein.<\/p>\n “Acorns can certainly be safe to consume, when prepared properly, and have some health benefits,” registered dietitian Trista Best told USA TODAY<\/a> last fall.<\/p>\n Antioxidants and minerals<\/p>\n They also contain antioxidants that protect the body from harmful and disease-linked inflammation, such as vitamins A, E and B6.<\/p>\n And acorns have the essential minerals manganese and folate, which help support bone and cell growth.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the nuts are a good source of gut-regulating fiber, researchers say<\/a>, and contain brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids.<\/a><\/p>\n They are considered a superfood in South Korea and served in jellies, powder and noodles.<\/p>\n So, why don\u2019t Americans eat them at a baseball stadium today? <\/p>\n Harmful tannins \u2014 and other problems<\/p>\n Well, blame the tannins: bitter-tasting natural plant compounds that can be harmful to humans in large amounts, causing kidney damage, according to experts<\/a>.<\/p>\n People can remove tannins in acorns by boiling or soaking the nuts with water before they\u2019re shelled and dried. However, it\u2019s a labor-intensive process. <\/p>\n It\u2019s not just the acorns themselves that have gotten in the way, either. <\/p>\n Some years produce more acorns<\/a> than others — with climate change-fueled drought and heavy rainfall affecting the oak trees that produce acorns<\/a>, according to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Forest management has also played a part, Frank Lake, a member of the Yurok and Karuk tribes of California, told NPR<\/a>.<\/p>\n “We try to gather acorns and have them as part of our diet as much as we can,” Lake, a research ecologist<\/a> with the U.S. Forest Service, explained. “But because of the changes in forest management, and particularly acorn quality, it went from being a staple, to then being more of a speciality food.”<\/p>\n Eating more acorns means taking them from the squirrels and deer that rely on them, too.<\/p>\n That\u2019s been a problem in South Korea, government employees told The Wall Street Journal<\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n A versatile substitute<\/p>\n Still, if people have acorns available and prepare them right, they can make an interesting addition to a lot of scrumptious dishes.<\/p>\n Acorns can be ground into flour for baking cakes and bread, or chopped to replace nuts in baked goods and oatmeal.<\/p>\n They can introduce \u201csort of almost smokey flavor, almost toffee flavor\u201d into rice pudding and desserts, Miles Irving, author of the Forager Handbook<\/a>, told The Telegraph<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Acorns can be a nutritious addition or substitution for baked goods and other meals \u2014 when prepared right (Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Acorns](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-469919452.jpeg\")
Acorns can be made into flour or served with desserts, adding a smokey and earthy flavor (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n