Health Benefits of Nuts

Health Benefits of Almonds | Facts about Almonds

2009-08-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Almonds in concert with other familiar nuts such as walnuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts have been looked for a long time as too fatty to be a wholesome snack. However, sweeping research has shown that nuts in reality assist to lower blood cholesterol levels.

More than 90% of the fats present in almonds in the form of unsaturated, the good oils, and additionally almonds are high in protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber, vitamin E, and other antioxidants.

At the 2005 Experimental Biology conference there was numerous studies were involving the benefits on almonds. The right kind of fats in them; monounsaturated and some polyunsaturated, serve to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or high-risk cholesterol, while the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol, was left unchanged.

Different studies have shown connections between nut consumption (particularly almonds) and lower risk of cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other chronic maladies. A study released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that, as part of a diet rich in heart healthy foods such as fiber and plant sterols, almonds can reduce cholesterol levels as much as first generation lipid-lowering medication satin drugs.

Almond trees are believed to have originated in China and Central Asia and they are amongst the earliest in history to be cultivated for food. The almond that we believe of as a nut is technically the seed of the fruit of the sweet almond tree. The tree is of medium-size and bears perfumed pink and white blossoms.

Like its first cousins, the peach, apricot and cherry trees, the almond tree bears fruits with hard stone-like seeds within. The seed of the almond fruit is what we name as the almond nut.

Luckily for us the fine flavored and variable almond is accessible throughout the year to make a healthy and nutty addition to both sweet and savory dishes. While prepacked almonds are accessible year round, they are the best in mid-summer, which is when they're at the height of their season.

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Facts about Pistachio Nuts

2009-08-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

Native to the Mideast, the pistachio nut tree is one of the oldest flowering nut trees. Late archaeological evidence in Turkey indicates that humans were relishing pistachio nuts as early as 7,000 B C. They prosper in hot climates, spreading from the Middle East to the Mediterranean.

Pistachios aren’t in reality nuts. They are actually seeds of red or yellow plum fruit like whose flesh is removed during processing. Pistachio nuts develop in dense grape-like clusters, and like almonds, are enclosed by a fleshy hull. Pistachio nuts ripen in later in summertime or early in fall; their hulls turn rosy and their inner shells breaking open naturally along their sutures. They are named “the smiling nut” in Iran and “the happy nut” in China.

Pistachios produce male and female flowers on individual trees. Therefore, in order for pollination to happen, both male and female trees is essential be present, or alternately, branches from male trees must be grafted onto their female counterparts. It involves wind - not bees - to transport pollen from male to female flowers.

Pistachio nuts are good for your heart's health. They are filled with nutrients that help prevent heart disease, lower your cholesterol, and assist in stopping cell damage in the body.
Providing antioxidants, phytosterols, healthy fats and more, pistachios are one of nature's heart healthy snacks.

Pistachio nuts, pistachio tree

Pili Nut - canarium ovatum

2009-08-06T02:16:00.000-07:00

The Pili nut, Canarium ovatum, is a member of more than 600 species in the family Burseraceae, genus Canarium. It is a equatorial, native to the Philippines, attractive, symmetrically formed, evergreen tree, averaging a height of 30 m or more. Pili nut trees are favoring deep, rich, well drained soil, warm temperatures, and well distributed rainfall. They can't endure the least frost or low temperature.

The leaves are spirally formatted and about 40 cm long with ovoid to elliptic leaflets, 4-24 cm long and 2-12 cm wide. The flowers are borne on inflorescence at the foliage axils of the young shoots. The inflorescence on female trees is about 7 cm long and has 3-6 greenish-yellow flowers while that on male trees is 10 cm long with an average of 18 flowers. Both male and female flowers open up between 4 pm and 6 pm.

Fruit is a stone fruit, with slightly Jurassic appearance, approximately 5-6 centimeters long with a think black skin once ready. The hairy, green pulp of the fruit can be consumed if prepared in a special way. It can be made also into pickle or into a spread. Oil from the pili pulp could also be used in the make of soap. While the young shoots and the fruit pulp are edible the most significant product from Pili nut tree are the nuts.

Once the skin and flesh are removed, you are left with a tough outer shell which houses the nut. When consumed raw it resembles the flavor of roasted pumpkin seed and when roasted, it has a gentle, nutty flavor and tender-crispy texture. The nut has many of the health benefits of other nuts and a scrumptious flavor surpassing that of the almond.

Yield standards for developed trees are between 100 to 150 kg of in-shell nut with the harvest time from May to October and peaking between June and August. There are high variances in kernel qualities and production between seedling trees. The hard shells are first-class as fuel or as permeable, inactive growth medium for orchids and anthuriums.

The Pili nut tree is remarkably resistant to strong winds and makes it a good living shelter belt for other crops such as bananas and papayas. It has great potentiality to uprise into a major industry. The most direct concern in pili production is the difficulty of propagation. The pili tree is not known to have been attacked by any dangerous pests and diseases and for this reason no control steps are essential.

Pili nut tree, pilli nut, Canarium ovatum,

Health with Nuts | Specific Nutrients in Specific Nuts

2009-07-22T05:50:00.000-07:00

You're what you eat. You eat whole drain cereals and a good deal of fruits and vegetables. But if you keep off nuts since you have been assured they are high in fat, you might not be as healthy as you could be.

Nuts have traditionally got a bad blame for their high-fat, and hence high-calorie content, particularly from people watching their weight. However, a lot of recent research shows the numerous reasons to include nuts in your diet-one of which is the very fat that made you keep off them!

Nuts incorporate mostly “good,” unsaturated fat-the kind that is considered to assist better heart health. Research has established that cutting back on saturated fat and raising unsaturated fat could lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels.

One study issued in the Lancet argued that a diet including unsaturated fats from sweet almonds and walnuts in addition to whole grains, fruit; including dried fruit and vegetables could lower 'bad' cholesterol levels to a larger degree than the conventional, cholesterol-lowering National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) step I dieting.

In addition to fat, nuts contain numerous other all important nutrients. There are two kinds of unsaturated fat: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Nuts contain both types and only modest amounts of saturated fat, in variable amounts depending upon the type of nut.

Some research indicates that one kind of polyunsaturated fat, known as omega-3 fatty acid might contribute a significant part in the prevention of chronic diseases like cancer, cardiopathy, and arthritis. Almonds and walnuts contain such fatty acids.

Nuts are also an important source of protein and unusually plentiful in the amino acid Arginine, which might also be associated with heart health benefits. Arginine dilates and relaxes blood vessels; this, in turn, could reduce the risk of blood clots that could result to heart attacks.

Walnuts Pecans and almonds are rich in E tocopherols (Vitamin E), an antioxidant all important for normal biological development of nerves and cells in the blood and lungs. Research workers at Tufts University have observed that vitamin E might as well play a part in keeping the immune system strong as we get on with age.

A few studies have demonstrated that vitamin E might lower the danger of heart conditions too, although reports have been inconsistent.

Almonds contain 8% of the every day value of calcium, which is the amount in approximately one-third of a cup of milk.

Brazil nuts contain approximately 210 times the amount of selenium institute in different nuts; selenium might assist protect against cancer according to a study publicized in the Journal of Nutrition.

Several nuts, such as hazelnuts and walnuts, contain 8% of the day-to-day value of folic acid, a B vitamin that protects against congenital abnormalities and might as well protect against cancer and heart disease.

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Brazil Nuts| Health benefits of Selenium in Brazil Nuts

2009-07-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

"There is mounting evidence that a marginal selenium status could result to an raised risk for a array of health conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular disease," Prof Thomson said. Brazil nuts contain Selenium, which assists in the maintainance of any endocrine systems.

One Brazil nut each day is sufficient to elevate the average selenium uptake to internationally suggested levels and eating two could result to added health benefits, new research establishes.The Brazil nut Bertholletia excelsa is the only species in the monotypic genus Bertholletia.

Brazil nut trees produce fruit that takes 14 months to ripen after pollination of the flowers. The fruit itself is a large capsule resembling a coconut endocarp in size and weighing up to 2 kilos. Inside contains 8-24 three-sided seeds 4-5cm long the "Brazil nuts"

Department of Human Nutrition Professor Christine Thomson said the nuts were a elementary, effective and comparatively affordable method for people to promote their levels of the all-important micronutrient.

Even so, Otago University researchers warn that excessively much of the micronutrient could be harmful and people should be aware to limit themselves to no more than a few nuts a day.

Prof Thomson and co-workers accomplished the first-ever study to look at how much selenium people could get from Brazil nuts and the resultant levels of antioxidant activity in their blood. Their study appeared in the American Clinical Journal of Nutrition.

The final results demonstrated that including a couple of Brazil nuts a day in the diet, (too much of the micronutrient could be toxic), could insure a greatly raised selenium status without requiring to strengthen other foods or take supplements.

Brazil nuts,selenium health benefits of brazil nuts

Benefits of Walnuts | Omega3 fatty acids in Walnuts

2009-07-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

The Walnuts are the nuts from the walnut tree the genus Juglans, family Juglandaceae, with 21 species world wide. Walnuts are a tasteful way to contribute good nutrition, flavor and crunch to a meal. They are second only to flaxseed in terms of vegetarian sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids and fortified commercial fruit juices and berry juices.

A raised intake of Omega 3 essential fatty acids has been evidenced to be very assistive among other health problems in fighting depressive and bipolar disorders. While Omega 3 fatty acids inadequacy can cause numerous chronic health problems, including that of depression, one quarter of a cup of walnuts can offer you 90% of the daily advisable value of Omega-3. For this reason the health benefits of consuming walnuts are obvious.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids in walnuts, will as well benefit the cardiovascular system by preventing erratic heart beats, causing blood less likely to clot within arteries, improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to potentially injurious (LDL) cholesterol and keep down inflammation, which is a key element in the processes that turn cholesterol into artery-clogging plaques.

While the role of the Omega-3 to Omega-6 balance is of critical importance to health, you must keep in mind there are other vital nutrients that might also contribute to health. For example, nuts that do not contain Omega-3s, such as almonds, macadamias and peanuts, might be established upon their contribution to health through other of their nutrients; for example, almonds peanuts and macadamias are condensed in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

walnuts, health benefits of walnuts, omega3 fatty acids

Benefits of Nuts | Macadamia Nuts | Macadamia Nut Tree

2009-06-21T22:32:00.000-07:00

The macadamia tree is an evergreen nut tree that grows to 10m by 10m at a slow rate; it is hardy but frost vulnerable. Growth is best between temperatures of 20 - 25°c, stopping when they fall below 10°c or climb above 30°c.

The macadamia nut tree is a self-fertile tree, pollinated by bees, but fruits better if cross-pollinated. The flowers are hermaphroditic; have both male and female organs.

Macadamias can do well in light (sandy) or medium (loamy) both acid and alkaline soils with good drainage but dampish soil. The macadamia nut trees need good summertime irrigating in their early on stages and mature trees require at least 1250mm of rainfall evenly distributive throughout the year.

Macadamias require full sun position to grow and wouldn't do well in shadiness. Propagation is by seed - better sown as soon as it is ripened preferably in a warm glasshouse. De-husked macadamia nuts sprout quickly at 25°c. It takes 6 - 7 years for the macadamia nut tree to produce its first harvest of nuts. The nuts have a very hard casing; it's sure a tough nut to crack.

Both roasted and raw macadamia nuts are cholesterol free, pleasant-tasting and nutritious. They contain high grade macadamia oil; 84% monounsaturated, 3.5% polyunsaturated and 12.5% saturated. The monounsaturated part contains oleic fatty acid plus the greatest known level of paimitoleic fatty acid, which is as well naturally occurring in healthful fish oils, and might be nutritionally important.

Warning: Macadamia nuts, whether cooked or raw, can both be harmful to dogs.

The macadamia nuts contribute a wonderful texture to numerous recipes and make great raw and dry nut snacks. The following is a macadamia nut recipe for biscuits.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2 cups Plain Flour
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 160g Unsalted Butter - liquefied
• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup coarse Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Egg Yolk
• 1 tbs Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 cups Macadamia Nuts - chopped up
• 1 cup White Chocolate Chips
Method:
• Preheat oven to 160°C.
• Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
• Beat together the melted butter, brown sugar, white sugar, egg, egg yolk and vanilla in a mixing bowl till creamy.
• Add bit by bit flour mixture and combine well.
• Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.
• Drop a good spoonful of biscuit dough onto baking sheet. Bake for approximately
15 minutes until margins are golden brown. Makes 15 biscuits

nuts, macadamia nuts

Dried Nuts Favorite among Snacks

2009-06-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

In culinary terms the word nut is applied more loosely to include fruits, and even seeds, that are not botanically eligible as nuts, but those have a look-alike visual aspect and culinary function. Culinary nuts that are not botanical nuts include among others almonds, peanuts and cashews.

According to botanical definition, nuts are a case of dry out fruit that don't split apart on a individual seam once they have achieved maturity. Walnuts are such an example of nuts, under this definition. However, in their broad definition there is lot of types of dried nuts that consumers love including cashews, peanuts, pistachios, almonds and macadamia.

Dried nuts can be made into a candy, covered up in chocolate, or given a lent flavor. They might be sold raw, roasted, toasted or crushed. Together dried fruits and nuts are common and popular among snackers. Nuts are the most nourishing of all raw forest and treed foods. A few of the more common and preferred nuts include Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, Chestnuts Cashews and Peanuts.

dried nuts, nuts

Almond Nuts | Edible Nuts

2009-05-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

Almonds or almond nuts are one of the finest of gifts given to human beings from Mother Nature. Almond nuts are the edible nut or fruit of the almond nut trees. They are protein rich, and a superior source of natural vitamin E. Just eight to ten almonds can provide the required daily allowance of this vitamin. Consuming this wonderful nut, in moderate amounts, will help to lower cholesterol, promote prevention of heart disease and assist with weight loss.

Almonds also contain a good deal of calcium (more than any other nut), magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium and fiber and are a good source of monounsaturated fat. Like the majority of nuts almonds are indeed a calorie-dense food, however, the good news is that generally nut-eaters are not any more overweight than people who keep off nuts. That’s because they keep you 'satisfied' for longer periods of time.

You might be now wondering “What is the best kind of nut to eat?” Well, that is like asking, “What is the best fruit to choose?” The answer is, each type of edible nut provides its own particular health benefits. Almonds have a little more fiber than cashew nuts; walnuts have some more polyunsaturated fat than hazelnuts; peanuts have a little more vitamin E than walnuts but no one has really a distinct superiority over another one.

Nuts offer far more than just calories. They are filled with hard-to-get nutrients that mostly get processed out of refined foods. By the end of the day, nut eaters tend to have a diet with overall higher nutrient quality. Nuts provide magnesium, niacin, vitamin E, copper, and manganese, as well as other phytochemicals that are health protective, like resveratrol (reduces the likelihood of heart disease). This altogether means, almonds like most nuts have a powerful impact on your health.

almond nuts, almonds, edible nuts

Nuts | The Health Benefits From Eating Nuts

2009-05-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

For thousands of years, nuts have been a significant part of food in the diet of human beings. They are the dried seeds produced by many different nut trees. They can be consumed raw, toasted, pureed, or utilized as flour. Nuts, fruits and vegetables are equally important into day's modern diet as they were, to our ancestors, thousands of years ago.

Nuts make a great addition to any well-balanced diet. They are cholesterol free; contain healthy, important unsaturated fats, which assist in lowering the risk of heart related condition.

Nuts supply as well numerous essential minerals including magnesium; it helps in the maintenance of healthy bone structure, chromium; it checks appropriate insulin function, zinc; for growth and injury healing, and manganese; protects against free radicals.

Additionally, very type of nut is a good source of natural vitamin E, an all important antioxidant. Furthermore, nuts supply fiber and phytochemicals both of which serve to protect against some chronic and debilitating diseases.

There are many different types of nut trees producing crops including -almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and pine nuts. Nuts are sold-out in many different ways including raw and roasted.

When harvested, nuts are frequently fumigated with methyl bromide, a noxious pesticide. Although methyl bromide in all likelihood will not cause any damage to you when you consume nuts or a treated crop, it is rather unsafe for the farmhands who apply it.

Whole nuts, still in their shells are less costly, safer to eat and will last up to a year without becoming stale and rancid; just be careful to keep them in a cool, air-dried place. Always cast away any nuts that appear musty or stale.

Along with vegetables and fresh fruit include a few nuts in your every day diet. Even better you could grow some yourself, in your back yard, for a fresh continues supply and enjoy the health benefits of nuts. You can found a large list and relevant information at my Fruit and Nut Trees blog.

health benefits of nuts