2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 16:12
Brazil nuts, calorie content, nutritional value, useful and harmful properties of which are very controversial, - by and large, not a nut at all. It is the fruit of the giant Bertholium tall tree, classified by botanists as a capsule with a hard shell and grains inside. It is he who is known to the whole world under the name "Brazil nut", has a specific taste and oily texture.
Bertholetia high
Bertholetia, or Bertoletia, high is the only species of the eponymous genus from the Lecitis family. It is common in the virgin rain forests of the Amazon in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil, Peru. In small quantities, it is cultivated on plantations, but due to the specifics of plant pollination, their productivity is extremely low compared to wild trees.
Bertoletia high, or the well-known Brazil nut (calorie content and properties - moreaccording to the text), is one of the largest trees in the Amazon rainforest. It is a long-liver (500 or more years) and reaches a height of 30-45 m. The trunk is up to 1-2 m in diameter, even and straight, branching approximately ¾ of the height and forming an even spherical crown.
Pollination and fruiting
Abundant fruiting is possible only in the untouched virgin forests of the Amazon, where bumblebees and large bees of certain genera live in sufficient numbers - pollinators. This is due to the structure of the flower of the plant and the characteristics of the nectar. Only large insects with long proboscises can reach it. Moreover, the eternal companions of Bertoletia are orchids, which attract bees and bumblebees with their aroma.
The fruit ripens 1 year and 2 months after pollination. It is a box with a very dense shell, resembles a coconut in appearance, has a diameter of 10-15 cm and weighs up to 2 kg. Inside the fruit are from 8 to 24 triangular grains. They are called brazil nuts, which is absolutely incorrect in the botanical sense.
Brazil Nut Nutritional Values
Nutritious Brazil Nut, calories 100 gr. which can be compared with 1 kg of apples or a slightly smaller amount of bananas, has a number of useful and amazing qualities. Its composition includes 69% fats (saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated in the ratio of 25%, 41%, 24% respectively), 18% proteins and 13% carbohydrates,as well as significant amounts of selenium, magnesium and vitamin B1 (thiamine). The taste of the Brazil nut is specific, connoisseurs give it much lower marks compared to cashews and almonds.
Brazil Nut Calories
As mentioned above, the Brazil nut consists of almost 70% of fats of various categories. In this regard, it is easy to guess that the calorie content of the product will be very high. The nutritional value of 100 g of the product is 682 kcal. Therefore, you should not get too carried away with eating it, especially for those who have problems with being overweight, as well as a high tendency to allergies.
For comparison, it should be said that 100 g of almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts contain 576, 654, 553, 628 kcal, respectively. In order for the body to receive a daily dose of the necessary vitamins and minerals, it is enough to eat one Brazil nut. Calorie content of 1 piece is about 35 kcal, since the average grain weight is about 5 grams. The nut will also satisfy the feeling of hunger.
Useful properties
The secret to the benefits of the Brazil nut lies in its unique composition. Firstly, it should be noted the high content of vitamins B, C, E and D, which are of great importance for both adults and children. Secondly, Brazil nuts contain several amino acids: folic, pantothenic, betaine and arginine. Each of them makes a certain contribution to human he alth. Thirdly, the fatty acids in this product help cleanseblood vessels from cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease.
Selenium in Brazil nuts
Selenium is an important trace element for the body, it is found in significant amounts in brazil nuts. The calorie content in 1 piece of the fruit is small, but by eating it, you get half the daily dose of the element, which is 100 mcg. Perhaps this is the richest natural source of selenium. Studies show that the microelement reduces the risk of breast and prostate cancer. Therefore, Brazil nuts are often recommended for preventive use, however, this should be done regularly and for a certain time. There is an opinion about the beneficial effect of fetal components on the thyroid gland and female hormonal levels, as well as increasing the chances of pregnancy and its successful course.
Contraindications
Despite its many wonderful properties and excellent composition, the Brazil nut, which is quite high in calories, has some contraindications for use. It is dangerous for allergy sufferers. This is especially true if there is already an established allergy to any other nuts, as well as mango fruits. In this case, the likelihood that it will provoke a negative reaction of the body is very high.
How to choose and how to store
Due to the fact that the Brazil nut shell contains a certain toxic substance, it is usually sold in a purified form. When choosing a product, pay attention to its appearance. It must have a dense texture(not be too light, wrinkled) and be dark brown in color. The Brazil nut has a high calorie content due to the high content of fats in its composition, and it is they that make it a perishable product. Therefore, when buying, pay attention to the smell. Brazil nuts should not smell like rancid fat.
It is best to store fruits in the refrigerator, in a dark place, up to three months.
Brazil Nut Use
First and foremost, Brazil nuts should be eaten fresh. You can lightly dry them in a hot pan, sweeten or s alt them. In addition, the fruit is popular in cooking, especially in the preparation of puddings, pesto, fudge, snacks, vegetable and fruit salads. Due to its high fat content, the Brazil nut is often pressed to produce an oil that is used in various industries. It has a yellow color and a characteristic sweet smell and taste. The oil is used, for example, in cosmetology as a moisturizing and softening agent rich in youthful vitamin E, in cooking, in the pharmaceutical industry and even for lubricating watch movements.
The global harvest of Brazil nuts is approximately 20 thousand tons. At the same time, the lion's share belongs to Bolivia and Brazil - 50% and 40%, respectively, and only 10% - to Peru. Brazil nuts for export are harvested exclusively from wild plantations deep in the Amazonian rainforest. In addition to fruits, wood also has good qualities. Bertoletii.
The unique chemical composition and high nutritional value is what distinguishes the Brazil nut. The calorie content of fruits does not allow them to be consumed in too large quantities, but this is not necessary. Enough 1-2 nuts a day to give the body valuable fats and trace elements that promote he alth and prolong youth.
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