Brazilian Walnut

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is the best and most effective natural source of selenium. This unique nut is found only in the forests of the Amazon, where its tree is wild and not even cultivated.

Brazil nuts do not grow anywhere else in the world. The nut is characterized by a large elliptical shape (3 times larger than an almond) with slightly pointed edges and is extremely useful and nutritious, as long as you do not overdo it.

Brazil nut is a South American tree species from the family of Lecythidaceae. Brazil is considered the birthplace of the Brazil nut, but it is also found in Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela. Nuts rich in selenium, protein and fat are not only quite useful but also very tasty, reminiscent of the taste of pine nuts.

The glory of Brazilian walnut in Europe comes after the discovery of the New World. Legend has it that a Spanish officer decided to give his hungry and exhausted subordinate Brazil nuts. After some time, the soldiers regained their life-giving strength, as a result of which the Spaniards brought the then unknown nut to the Old Continent.

In fact, the trees of Brazilian walnut are some of the highest in the Amazon rainforest. Their height reaches a height of 50 meters, and their lifespan is up to 500 - 700 years. When the Brazilian walnut tree ripens, it can produce up to 300 fruit pods per season. Each individual pod weighs up to 2.5 kg, and it hides up to 15 nuts.

In fact, the pod is not an exact definition - the fruit of the Brazil nut is called bertoleczi (from Latin) and is a heavy capsule in which the nuts, wrapped in their healthy shells, are arranged like a fan. Quite logically, over the centuries, Brazil nuts have been one of the staple foods of South Americans there. Today, it is believed that the cultivation of Brazil nut trees protects the Amazon jungle from felling.

Composition of Brazil nut

Brazil nuts are famous as one of the most useful and nutritious nuts. They have a very high nutritional value and are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The most important quality of Brazil nut is its huge content of selenium, which makes it the largest natural source of this element.

The required daily dose of selenium per person is about 55-100 mcg on average, and in 100 g of nuts there are 1917 mcg. Selenium is an antioxidant that preserves youth and kills the harmful effects of free radicals.

With its rich content of protein and fiber, Brazil nuts help us control the feeling of hunger, and on top of that only a few of these large nuts are able to satiate us for many hours to come.

Omega fatty acids are abundant in Brazil nuts. The content of omega-6 fatty acids predominates, which are certain to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Brazil nuts also contain large doses of copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc.

100 g of Brazil nuts contain:

656 kcal

14.32 g protein

12.27 g of carbohydrates

66.43 g of fat

1917 mg selenium

2.43 mg of iron

5.73 mg vitamin E.

725 mg phosphorus

376 mg of magnesium

180 mg of calcium

4.2 mg zinc

Benefits of Brazil nuts

The health benefits of regular consumption of only 2 nuts Brazilian walnut they can be huge. This dose completely satisfies your daily need for selenium, but also provides you with a lot of magnesium, which is important for the bone system and prevents the extraction of calcium from the bones. Brazil nuts have been shown to have anti-cancer properties - they can stop the development of malignant tumors.

There is evidence that these nuts are a faithful helper in the fight against male infertility, as well as early menopause, in the fight against cataracts, atherosclerosis of the heart and brain. In addition, these delicious and healthy nuts are a complete food for those suffering from celiac disease (permanent food intolerance to gluten).

Ingredients in Brazilian walnut help reduce bad cholesterol by controlling lipid metabolism in the body. This in turn is a preventive measure against heart attack and stroke. Selenium is called the trace element of longevity and that is why Brazil nuts can help us keep our youth longer, for which there is scientific evidence.

The rich content of selenium in Brazilian walnut helps strengthen the immune system. It is a particularly useful food during the winter months, when we tend to get depressed. Selenium acts as a magician against depression and lack of mood.

The miracle nut from the Amazon also contains a lot of calcium and copper, which helps prevent anemia and osteoporosis. Large amounts of manganese are important for the strength of cartilage tissues.

Brazil nut is also used to make butter, which has many uses. You can often find it in the composition of the cosmetics you use. Brazil nut oil is also widely used in traditional medicine, in the production of paints, in the food industry and in therapeutic massages.

The oil is characterized by a clear yellow color and has a pleasant sweet taste and aroma. Proven to soothe the skin and can prevent it from drying out. An interesting fact is that Brazil nut oil is considered the best oil for lubricating watches.

Harm from Brazil nuts

As we have already hinted, Brazil nut is extremely useful, but only in moderation. 2 walnuts a day are enough to satisfy the needs of your body. Otherwise, the consumption of large amounts of selenium and their accumulation in the body can be quite dangerous. Selenium overdose causes fatigue, irritability, headaches and irregular stomachs.