Brazil nuts - a perfect source of protein and all-round nutrition
Speak to any dietician and he or she will definitely add a few brazil nuts (or Brazilian nuts as some call it) to your diet. The latest buzzword in health, Brazilian nuts add important nutrients to your diet, such as protein, essential fats and minerals that are found in no other nut. What's more, these exotic nuts are very easy to come by, what with the availability of Nuts Online on websites like nutsinbulk.com.
So what are brazil nuts?
Brazil Nuts are found inside the fruit of the Brazilian Nut tree that grows rampantly in the Amazon rainforests. They have a soft, ivory-colored nutmeat covered with thin brown skin that is enclosed in a hard, dark brown, roughly-textured shell. Brazil nuts have a sweet, soft, buttery flavor, often compared to coconut and are great to eat by themselves or in desserts. Because of their rich taste, Brazil nuts can often substitute for macadamia nuts and coconut in recipes
Due to their high fat content, they are often pressed for oil, popularly used in cosmetics.
Nutritional benefits of Brazilian nuts
Brazil nuts are 18% protein, 13% carbohydrates, and 69% fat. The fat breakdown is roughly: 25% saturated, 41% monounsaturated and 34% polyunsaturated. Brazilian nuts are also an important source of magnesium and thiamine They are considered to be the richest dietary source of selenium, containing 200 times selenium to that of any other food. Recent research suggests that adequate selenium intake reduces risk of both breast cancer as well as prostate cancer. Therefore many nutrition consultants recommend the consumption of Brazil nuts as a preventive measure.
If Brazilian nuts are so high in fat, why are they good for you?
Many people refrain from eating brazil nuts because of their high fat content. It is important to note that this fat content is present in an unsaturated form, especially as monounsaturated fat. This type of fat actually decreases the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol and helps maintain the desirable levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. Some studies suggest that a diet rich in nuts, vegetables, and fruits may reduce cholesterol levels as much as medication. Moreover, weight gain is never a problem when a balanced diet is supplemented with brazil nuts.
These essential fats are also important in the breaking down and absorption of essential nutrients in the body. The lubrication from these fats also gives your hair and skin a healthy luster, lubricating your joints at the same time.
Having said that, it is important to watch how many of these you eat - about 7 of them at a time should be good enough. Ask your dietician for more information on this.
Brazilian nuts are also a very rich source of protein, especially for vegetarians. They are also rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and Vitamin B.
If you're still not convinced, there are plenty of resources available about these nuts online, which will elicit the benefits of consuming these healthy nuts.
Since Brazil nuts must constitute an important part of your diet, buying nuts in bulk quantities may make sense. This way they will last you all the year round and you will have to pay far less for them, than you would at retail prices. You don't even have to step out of your home to buy them for yourself or your loved ones. You can now get these nuts online, ordered in bulk quantities at wholesale prices.