In my opinion, promoting the consumption of grass/forage based animals (vs grain fed) based on "improved o3-06 ratios" is a weak argument at best.

As discussed in a previous Mark's Daily Apple Post (The Difference Between Grass-fed and Grain-fed Beef) grain fed animals don't necessarily have so much more 06 than their grass fed counterparts, they just lack 03. This can be remedied by taking a few fish oil capsules.

As you said in your original post, consumption of large quantities of nuts/seeds would contribute a much more significant quantity of 06 to ones diet, and if this is a concern, limiting their consumption would be much more effective than swapping grain-fed for grass-fed meat.

I do think that from an animal welfare perspective, from a holistic nutrition perspective, and an economic/ecological sustainability standpoint, grass-based animal husbandry is superior to intensive feedlot systems.

I thought we had moved passed this whole anti-nutrient, fear of phytic acid thing? I guess not. Nuts are food. Eat them. I seriously doubt something as simple as a nut, that can be foraged and eaten in its natural state is "bad," for you. Maybe with nuts you exercise the "dose makes the poison," rationale. Also, maybe just look at the bigger picture, so okay maybe nuts contain phytic acid, but at the same time Brazil nuts are wrought with Selenium and almonds rich in Vit E. For me it comes down to choosing my battles... and the avoiding nut thing is just that, nuts.

As for grain v. grass fed, I agree with the others, aside from nutrient value there is a concern about the ecological impact of the animal.. not to mention the welfare of the animal. If you want to get super hippie-dippie about it you could make the argument that a stressed animal is less nutritious because of the stress it endured during its life... Not sure I believe all that.

Olive oil is mostly monounsaturated, so in that regard it's better than most oils. Doesn't mean you should go crazy with it though.

The fat profile of nuts varies considerably too. Macadamia nuts are high in monounsaturated fats. When it comes to nuts, they should really be eaten in moderation, if at all. Nuts are meant to be eaten a few at a time, not in mass quantities.

That is my take on it.

I used to eat cupcakes and candy bars, pop and potato chips. When it comes to nuts and olive oil, I don't sweat it. I feel like my diet has improved so drastically from a year ago, I can stand to have a few nuts. I understand wanting the most optimal health you can have. That's everyone's wish on here, I think. All the above information is great and very helpful, but I, personally, have a hard time getting so hung up on the science. If it's a whole, natural food, I usually give myself permission to eat it. That doesn't mean I eat a truck load of it. But I don't get too wrapped up in the science and ratios thing, personally. I find it's too stressful for me :)

I agree with the sustainability of grassfed/pastured cows over factory farms. And also that these animals simply have more O3 than their factory-farmed counterparts - not less O6.

Which has nothing to do with your question re nuts. I don't eat a lot of nuts. When I do, I try to go for macadamia, even though they're hideously expensive where I am. That's ok, though, because I eat them very rarely. Honestly, I try to stay away from seeds/nuts for the same reason as grains: antinutrients, inflammatory, etc. If I had to choose between nuts and a piece of bread, I'd pick the nuts. Other than that, I'll pass, thanks.

Grass-fed meat is preferable to conventional-farmed meat for the reasons listed above. I'd also add E.Coli contamination. That doesn't mean I don't eat conventional meat if that what is available to me, I just cook it thoroughly. And supplement extra Omega 3s.

As for nuts, they may be OK for some people, but they make my immune system go haywire and my digestive system revolt. There's no workaround to mitigate those effects for me. So I don't eat them at all. They aren't necessary to adequatley feed my body, like I feel meat is.

the rationale is that we should eat the most optimal foods available. grass fed is more optimal than grain fed. there is really only one "almond", but we advocate eating fresh, raw and soaked in small amounts over fistfuls of honey roasted.

one's 06/03 ratio is best evaluated over the entire day and not by individual foods.

Useful link here: http://healthcorrelator.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/low-omega-6-to-omega-3-ratio-grain-fed.html

I'm a little confused on olive oil, because of the high O6:3 ratio. He seems to say the absolute level of O6 is low + the absence of linoleic acid is the crucial thing.

In another article he warns off walnuts because of high absolute level of O6.