Raw Organic Brazil Nuts
Our organically grown Brazil nuts are bursting with flavor and nutrition. Their crunchy creamy light almost buttery taste, distinctive crescent shape, and smooth texture make them a true star of the nut world. While Brazil nuts or bertholletia excelsa are grown primarily in South America, they have become hugely popular throughout the world, not only for their delicious flavor, but their excellent nutritional value.
Brazil nuts are actually the seeds of the Brazil nut tree, a tropical tree found in the Amazonian rainforest of several South American countries including Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela and of course, Brazil. The tree grows round, brown fruits that look like coconuts, each containing 10 to 25 seeds. When the wrinkly, brown, woody casing surrounding the seeds is opened, lo and behold, you will find the edible kernel, our Brazil nut.
While Brazil nuts are famous for being the greatest food source in the world for the mineral selenium, they are also bursting with many other beneficial nutrients. In addition, this fiber rich nut is very filling, which in turn helps with weight loss and improved energy levels.
Brazil nut Nutritional Benefits
Given their impressive nutritional profile, it is no surprise that Brazil nuts have become so popular. These include:
Strong Antioxidant Properties
One of the greatest benefits of Brazil nuts is that they are full of antioxidants that kill off free radicals in your body. Free radicals are connected with premature aging, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
Other studies also indicate that regular consumption increases glutathione. Glutathione is the most important antioxidant that your body produces.
Selenium: high levels of this mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining our health including the proper functioning of the immune system, thyroid gland, and antioxidant defense system.
Healthy Fats: They are a good source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, including omega-6 fatty acids. In fact, 36% of the fats in Brazil nuts are polyunsaturated fatty acids, the type of fat that has been shown to benefit heart health. These fats help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
Protein: Brazil nuts contain protein, making them a satisfying and nutritious snack.
Vitamins and Minerals: They also provide significant amounts of other essential nutrients, including magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese, thiamine (vitamin B1), and vitamin E.
Just a one-ounce serving of Brazil nuts contains the following nutrients:
(DV = recommended amount of nutrients to consume each day)
- Calories: 187
- Protein: 4.1 grams
- Fat: 19 grams
- Carbs: 3.3 grams
- Fiber: 2.1 grams
- Selenium: 989% daily value (DV)
- Copper: 55% DV
- Magnesium: 25% DV
- Phosphorus: 16% DV
- Manganese: 15% DV
- Zinc: 10% DV
- Thiamine: 15% DV
- Vitamin E: 11% DV
Also, present in significant amounts: Calcium, Iron, and Potassium
This deep nutritional profile provides a very impressive list of health benefits for everyone who enjoys our raw organic Brazil nuts:
Health Benefits
Supports Cardiovascular Health
Brazil nuts contain high levels of monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats, and which lower LDL (harmful) cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease. The dietary fiber in Brazil nuts can also help to lower blood cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
In addition, researchers found that people who ate Brazil nuts were at a reduced risk of developing atherosclerosis (thickening of arterial walls due to plaque buildup) thanks to the antioxidant effects of selenium in these powerful seeds, which reduce levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Brain Health
The antioxidants in Brazil nuts include selenium can help maintain brain health. This is linked to studies showing that low levels of selenium are linked to neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Oxidative stress can also contribute to age-related general cognitive decline, according to a 2020 article in the Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.
Bone Health
Brazil nuts have calcium and magnesium, both of which are necessary for bone health. A one-ounce serving of Brazil nuts has about 25% of the recommended daily dose (DV) of magnesium, which plays an important role in bone density. More magnesium can lead to higher bone density.
Improves Thyroid Function
The thyroid gland secretes several hormones that are essential for growth, metabolism, and body temperature regulation.
Thyroid tissue has the highest concentration of selenium, since it is required for the production of the thyroid hormone T3, as well as proteins that protect the thyroid from damage.
Low selenium intake can lead to cellular damage, reduced thyroid activity, and autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. It may also increase your risk of thyroid cancer
Selenium is necessary for healthy thyroid function. Getting enough selenium in your diet can help to reduce your risk of Hashimoto’s disease, Graves' disease, and thyroid cancer. This highlights the importance of getting adequate selenium intake. Just one Brazil nut per day delivers enough selenium to maintain proper thyroid function.
Reduce Inflammation
Brazil nuts are rich in the antioxidants selenium and ellagic acid. Together, these provide excellent systemic anti-inflammatory protection.
Chronic inflammation is connected with almost every chronic disease. This includes cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Controlling inflammation can help to reduce the risk of these chronic health conditions.
A study into the nutritional benefits of consuming Brazil nuts found that even a single serving of these tasty nuts reduces inflammatory markers. Researchers concluded that eating a few Brazil nuts daily could have the potential to reduce chronic inflammation.
Cancer Prevention
Helping to prevent certain cancers is a great reason to eat a few Brazil nuts daily.
A study performed by scientists from the University of Montreal in 2000 found that heightened levels of selenium was associated with a reduced risk of developing colon cancer.
A separate study in 2018 discovered that adding a few Brazil nuts to one’s diet to prevent cancer is better than taking inorganic selenium supplements. Research uncovered the fact that organic sources of selenium (i.e., Brazil nuts) are more effectively absorbed by the small intestine,
Diabetes Management
Some studies show that the selenium in Brazil nuts helps to lower insulin levels and increase insulin sensitivity, improving control of blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Fight Depression and Anxiety
Consumption of Brazil nuts not only contributes to physical wellbeing, but to mental and emotional health as well. These nuts can help reduce feelings of depression or anxiety. This is another benefit of the high selenium levels of this treat.
Low levels of selenium are directly related to feelings of tiredness, depression, and anxiety. When selenium levels were increased by consuming a few Brazil nuts, participants in a study reported positive changes in mood.
Weight Control
Yes, consuming a few Brazilian nuts daily can help you lose weight. Nutritionists have found that nuts containing healthy fats and soluble fiber (like Brazil nuts) can help improve metabolism and assist in weight loss.
In addition, eating a few Brazil nuts in the morning can increase your feeling of satiety and reduce snacking. Consuming unsaturated fats has also been linked to better resting metabolic rate.
Enjoy Brazil Nuts for your Meals and Snacks
- Roast them, either alone or with other nuts.
- Sprinkle them raw on a salad.
- Sprinkle some on oatmeal or cereal to add a pleasing crunch
- Add them to rice or vegetable dishes for extra crunch.
- Switch up your usual pine nut pesto sauce by adding Brazil nuts to the mix.
- Elevate your homemade nut butterby adding a few Brazil nuts.
- Add Brazil nuts to Pad Thai dishes.
- Use chopped Brazil nuts as a nutritious topping for brownies
The Bottom Line
Brazil nuts are nutritional powerhouses, providing healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They are particularly high in selenium, a mineral with potent antioxidant properties.
Eating Brazil nuts may reduce inflammation, support brain function, heart health; improve your thyroid function, weight management, and even your mood.
These wonderful organically grown Brazil nuts are available now at Northwestern Wild Foods, for you to enjoy, and add to your health.
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Resources Utilized: Raw Organic Brazil Nuts
https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/brazil-nuts-benefits
https://www.nutritionadvance.com/brazil-nuts-nutrition-benefits/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325000
https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/brazil-nuts-health-benefits/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-brazil-nuts