Brazil nut trees and shrubs are conspicuous in the non-flooded forests of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. They, indeed, are one of the tallest, and long-living seed varieties among all the exotic rainfall forests. Each tree can increase upto 50 meters high with large erect stem and vast umbrella like foliage canopy near its top 1/3. It has the life-span might regarded as around 500 to 700 years.
Each mature tree bears to 300 super fruit pods in a season up. A brazil nut pod features thick outer shell such as coconuts, and could think about to 2.5 kg in weight. It requires about 14 calendar months for the berries to mature after pollination. Upon maturity, the pod comes itself from the tree, with a thud usually. The pods may remain intact after dropping from such a level even. At their natural habitat, brazil nut pods exclusively depend after caviomorph rodents (agoutis, Dasyprocta spp. that contain the capability to gnaw wide open woody shell) to free and disperse leftover seed products for germination.
Internally, each berry pod features 10-25 seed products (kernels), set up in sections. Each kernel subsequently is encased within its thick dark-brown slender shell. An edible white beef kernel features triangular bottom part with sloping attributes, and lovely nutty flavour and consider about 5 g.
Health benefits associated with Brazil nuts
Brazil nut products are saturated in calorie consumption, contain good levels of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Its kernels, in-fact, right now have been staple energy resources of indigenous Amazonians.
100 g of brazil nut products provide about 656 energy. Their high caloric content chiefly originates from their fatty acids. However, a lot of this fat content is mono-unsaturated essential fatty acids (MUFA) like palmitoleic acid (16:1) and oleic acid (18:1) that helps lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increase HDL or "good cholesterol" levels in the blood. Clinical tests claim that Mediterranean diet that is abundant with monounsaturated essential fatty acids offers cover from coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy bloodstream lipid profile.
The nut products are also a good way to obtain vitamin-E; contain about 7.87 mg per 100 g (about 52% of RDA). Vitamin-E is a robust lipid soluble antioxidant. It really is required for keeping the integrity of cell membrane of mucusa and skin area by safeguarding it from damaging oxygen-free radicals.
Brazil nut products maintain high degrees of selenium very. 100 g nuts provide about 1917 ug or 3485% recommended daily intake of selenium, rating them as the best natural way to obtain this mineral. Selenium can be an important cofactor for anti-oxidant enzyme, glutathione-peroxidase. 1-2 nuts a day provides enough of this trace aspect just. Adequate selenium in the dietary plan assist in preventing coronary artery disease, liver cirrhosis, and cancers.
Furthermore, just as in almonds and pine nut products, brazil nut products too are clear of gluten health proteins. The nut products, therefore, are about the most elements in the planning of gluten-free food formulas. These solution arrangements are, in-fact, healthy alternatives in people who have whole wheat food allergy and celiac disease.
On top of that, these creamy nut products are an outstanding way to obtain B-complex band of natural vitamins such as thiamin (51% of RDA per 100 g), riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid solution, supplement B-6 (pyridoxine), and folates. Entirely, these natural vitamins are co-factors for enzymes during mobile substrate metabolism inside the physical body.
Furthermore to selenium, they carry very good degrees of other nutrients such as copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium mineral, flat iron, phosphorus, and zinc. Copper aids in preventing anemia and bone weakness (osteoporosis). Manganese can be an all-important co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
Brazil nut essential oil, extracted from these nut products, has many traditional therapeutic applications as an massage therapy and emollient essential oil. It has clear yellow color with a nice sweet smell and taste. Its emollient property helps maintain skin well protected from dryness. It's been found in the baking also, and since "carrier or basic engine oil" in traditional medications in aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical and aesthetic industry.
Storage and selection
brazil nut products un-shelled
Unshelled brazil nut products. Note for darkish color shell enclosing cream color edible kernel inside.
image courtesy: nickton
Brazil nut products can be accessible organic (unshelled or shelled), roasted, and salted in the stores. Because the nuts are saturated in polyunsaturated fats, they could change rancid and deteriorate somewhat early on if remain subjected to air, humidity, and natural light. It really is, therefore, recommended to acquire unshelled shell and nuts them as and when required to enjoy their edible meaty kernel.
Buy whole, brownish color nut products that feature full, small, and heavy at hand. Avoid shriveled and damaged ones as they might be afflicted by fungal mold.
Unshelled brazil nut products shall keep well in cool, dried out place for couple of months. The ultimate way to store is to place them in air-seal place and totes inside the refrigerator. This technique will prevent them from turning rancid.
Culinary uses
Organic nut products are trim open up from producing models using much larger sheller machines generally. For domestic purposes, small size nut shelling machine or handheld pliers are employed.
Below are a few serving tips:
Brazil nut products can be ingested all alone. Also, they can be enjoyed roasted also, salted, or sweetened.
They are being used in fudge also, puddings, pesto, crunchy-bar and chocolates-bars preparations.
Coarsely surface brazil nut products can be sprinkled over super fruit/vegetable salads.
They are being used in desserts also, in fruitcakes particularly.
They can even be added to soup as well as meat and vegetable dishes.
Brazil nut petrol can be used in salad dressing and in cooking food.
Safety profile
Brazil nut allergy, like other tree-nut allergy symptoms may occur in a few hypersensitive individuals. The reaction symptoms may range between simple skin itching (hives) to severe form of anaphylactic manifestations, including breathing difficulty, pain abdomen, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cross-reactions might occur to another fruits and nuts, of Anacardiaceae family such as mango especially, cashew nut products, pistachio...etc. Folks with known allergies to these nut products might, therefore, need to see caution.
Excess consumption of the nuts may bring about selenium toxicity. Oftentimes the symptoms may be severe, including nausea, throwing up, garlic odor in breath, mental disturbances. Other likely manifestations can include dental care caries, alopecia (lack of wild hair), neuropathic pain, dermatitis...etc. It really is, therefore, advised to consume only few nut products (2-4 nut products) each day (each nut weighs about about 5 g).