Brazil Nuts

Native amazonians cherished on these delicious nuts since ages, which provided them much-needed protein, fats, and other essential nutrients. Some of the common names in local dialects are castanha-do-para!, castania, para-nut, cream-nut, castaa plus-minus a-de-brazil (chestnuts of brazil)..etc.

Brazil nuts (cream nuts). Note for their creamy butter appearance due to high fat content.

Brazil nut trees are conspicuous in the non-flooded forests of brazil, bolivia, and peru. They, indeed, are one of the tallest, and long-living plant species among all the tropical rain forests. Each tree can grow upto 50 meters in height with large erect stem and wide umbrella like foliage canopy near its top 1/3. Its lifespan may thought to be of about 500 to 700 years. Each mature tree bears up to 300 fruit pods in a season. The brazil nut pod has thick outer shell as in coconuts, and may weigh up to 2.5 kg in weight. It takes about 14 months for the fruit to mature after pollination. Upon matured, the pod falls from the tree, usually with a thud. The pods may remain intact even after falling from such a eight. At their natural habitat, brazil nut pods exclusively depend upon caviomorph rodents (agoutis, dasyprocta spp. That have the ability to gnaw open woody shell) to free and disperse leftover seeds for germination.

Brazil nuts are high in calories, contains good quantities of vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals. The nuts, in-fact, have been staple source of energy of native amazonians. Their high caloric content chiefly comes from their fats; however, the nuts are an especially excellent source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (mufa) like palmitoleic acid (16:1) and oleic acid (18:1) that helps to lower ldl or "bad cholesterol" and increases hdl or "good cholesterol" in the blood. Research studies suggest that mediterranean diet that is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.

The nuts are also a very good source of vitamin-e; contain about 7.87 mg per 100 g (about 52% of rda). Vitamin-e is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant. It is required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen-free radicals.

Brazil nuts hold exceptionally high levels of selenium. 100 g nuts provide about 1917 ag or 3485%arecommended daily intake of selenium, rating them as the highest natural source of this mineral. Selenium is an important cofactor for anti-oxidant enzyme, glutathione-peroxidase.

Just 1-2 nuts a day provides enough of this trace element. Adequate selenium in the diet help prevent coronary artery disease, liver cirrhosis, and cancers. Just as in almonds and pine nuts, brazil nuts too are free from gluten protein. The nuts, therefore, are one of the popular ingredients in the preparation of gluten-free food formulas. These formula preparations are, in-fact, healthy alternatives in people with wheat food allergy and celiac disease.

These creamy nuts are an excellent source of b-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin (51% of rda per 100 g), riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin b-6 (pyridoxine), and folates. Altogether, these vitamins work as co-factors for enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism inside the body.

In addition to selenium, they contain very good levels of other minerals such as copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. Copper helps prevent anemia and bone weakness (osteoporosis). Manganese is an all-important co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.

Brazil nut oil, extracted from these nuts, has many traditional medicinal applications as an emollient and massage oil. It has clear yellow color with a pleasant, sweet smell and taste. Its emollient property helps to keep skin well protected from dryness. It has also been used in cooking, and as acarrier or base oila in traditional medicines in aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

Brazil nuts are available raw (unshelled or shelled), roasted, and salted in the stores. Since the nuts are high in polyunsaturated fats, they may turn rancid and deteriorate rather early if remain exposed to air, humidity, and sunlight. It is, therefore, recommended to purchase unshelled nuts and shell them as and when required to enjoy their edible meaty kernel.