Brazil Nuts Are Actually Seeds: & Other Great Brazil Nut Facts

Another great share from my friend Tammie Young! Thanks for sharing...keep the great info coming ya'll! I can't believe I had no idea Brazil nuts grew this way!



Brazil nuts are actually the seeds of a big fruit from a pretty massive rainforest tree. About 15 to 30 seeds sit in a large round pod that weighs around five pounds. The ripe pods fall to the ground, where they're harvested by people... or carried off by animals.

Health benefits of Brazil nuts

• 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.
• 100 g of brazil nuts provide about 656 calories. 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 bloodlipid 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 µg or 3485% recommended 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 helpprevent coronary artery disease, liver cirrhosis, and cancers.
• Furthermore, just as in almonds and pine nuts, brazil nuts too are free fromgluten 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.

• Additionally, 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 “carrier or base oil” in traditional medicines in aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

Sources: 
https://www.facebook.com/kidsdiscover?fref=photo
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/brazil-nuts.html