Why You Should Eat Brazil Nuts

Nuts are healthy and nutritious. They have high nutritional profiles and can provide your body with numerous health benefits. Brazil Nuts are common in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. They have a nutty flavor and a buttery feel. These features make them delicious and enjoyable. Both are balanced and when they are eaten raw.

Brazil Nuts, according to research, is packed with numerous health benefits and is one of the richest plant-based food sources for selenium. Some of the health benefits of consuming Brazil Nuts daily include; inflammation reduction, regulating various hormones in the body, especially the thyroid gland, supporting the immune system, brain, and heart.

Health Benefits of Brazil Nuts

The following are other science-backed health benefits of Brazil Nuts

Rich Source of Essential Nutrients

Brazil Nuts are packed with high amounts of essential nutrients. They are also energy dear. Research carried out on Brazil Nuts showed that 28 grams of Brazil Nuts are packed with the following nutrients;

• Fat: 19 grams
• Calories: 177
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Protein 4 grams
• Carbs: 3 grams
• Selenium: 900% of the required daily intake
• Magnesium: 33 of the required daily intake
• Copper: 55% of the required daily intake
• Phosphorus: 30% of the required daily intake
• Thiamine: 16% of the required daily intake
• Manganese: 17% of the required daily intake
• Zinc: 10% of the required daily intake
• Vitamin E: 11% of the required daily intake

The highest nutrient Brazil nuts supplies the body is selenium. Brazil nuts have 9 times higher selenium contents than other nuts. I’m addition, other minerals that can be found in high amounts in Brazil nuts include; copper, magnesium, and zinc. These mineral properties are higher in Brazil nuts than the other nuts. Although the amounts of these minerals in other nuts vary from soil to climate.

According to research, Brazil nuts are also packed with healthy fats. At least 30% of Brazil nuts have been discovered to be polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats are healthy fats that can protect or improve heart health.

Rich Source of Selenium

Brazil nuts are packed with selenium. Selenium is a mineral that is vital for proper body functions. It helps in the protection of thyroid health, the protection of cells against oxidative damages from free radicals, as well as strengthening of the immune system.

Packed in one Brazil but is 95 to 400 mcg of selenium. This is the most concentrated nutrient in Brazil nuts.

According to research, the required intake value of selenium is estimated to be around 55% in adults. However, Brazil nuts, on the other hand, provide over 170% of the selenium your body needs.

Some of the functions of selenium to the body include; prevention against cancer, protection against heart diseases, mood disorders, infertility, and promoting a healthy pregnancy.

Due to the high contents of selenium in Brazil nuts, the deficiency of selenium is rare. However, people who do not live in regions where Brazil nuts are common tend to suffer from selenium deficiency.

One of the most reliable methods to increase your selenium intake is by consuming Brazil nuts.

Protects the Thyroid

The thyroid is a gland located in your neck. It has a butterfly shape. Being the gland that it is, it secretes different hormones that are necessary for the proper functioning and running of the body. It handles the metabolic process of the body, regulates growth, as well as body temperature.

The thyroid is the part of the body that needs selenium the most. This is because the thyroid gland needs selenium to produce thyroid hormones. It also uses high amounts of protein in order to protect the thyroid from getting damaged.  These two essential nutrients are packed in Brazil nuts.

In other words, if you want to protect your thyroid gland, improve the metabolic processes in your body, as well as the regulation of growth in your body, Brazil nuts is the best for you, as it contains in high amounts, the vital nutrients your body needs to carry out these functions.

May Help Improve Thyroid Gland Conditions

Due to the selenium content in Brazil nuts, Brazil nuts can be consumed by people who are suffering from thyroid disorders. One of such disorders is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This disorder is capable of causing damage to the thyroid gland, thereby causing another thyroid condition known as hypothyroidism. This new condition comes with symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, and chills.

Research has shown that people who consume Brazil nuts or selenium supplements daily have experienced a better immune function and also improved the mood and condition of those suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Another thyroid condition known as Graves disease occurs as a result of the over secretions of the thyroid hormones. Consuming selenium supplements or Brazil nuts can help improve this condition by reducing the progression of the symptoms of Graves disease.

Prevents and Treats Inflammation

Another compound which Brazil nuts are known to be packed with is antioxidant compounds. They are designed to protect the cells and prevent them from oxidative damages caused by free radicals – a compound that is produced through the process of metabolism.

Some of the antioxidants contained in Brazil nuts include vitamin E, selenium, gallic and ellagic acid, both of which are types of phenols.

The antioxidant compounds in Brazil nuts prevent the body from experiencing oxidative stress, thereby preventing cellular damages caused by free radicals.

In order to treat inflammation using Brazil nuts, you can chew little, moderate, or large amounts of brazil nuts over a particular period of time. Whichever one you adopt would produce awesome results for you.

People who consumed Brazil nuts daily for 4 weeks experienced a lower case or episode of inflammatory markers. In addition, people who were undergoing kidney treatment procedures and ate one Brazil nut per day showed speedy recovery after their treatment process. They also experienced a reduction in their cholesterol levels. Inflammation was completely out of their way. More studies showed that, as soon as such people stop eating Brazil nuts, the symptoms returned.

Protects the Heart Health

Brazil nuts are packed with polyunsaturated fats. These are facts that have been discovered to be healthy for the heart and have the tendencies of reducing your risks of developing a heart-related health condition. Polyunsaturated fats contain high amounts of antioxidants, fiber, and minerals, all of which are the brains behind Brazil nuts’ ability to protect heart health.

Studies showed that adults who ate Brazil nuts daily experienced lower cholesterol levels, especially the lowering of bad cholesterol in the body. When the level of bad cholesterol in the body increases to a dangerously high point, it can pose a great health risk for you, especially for your heart.

People who are obese are advised to consume Brazil nuts due to their high selenium contents. I’m addition, people on kidney and heart treatment therapies are strongly advised to incorporate selenium supplements or Brazil nuts into their diets.

There is no known dosage for the amounts of Brazil nuts that would be effective enough to manage heart and kidney conditions. However, eating them in reasonable amounts daily can go a long way in bringing your health back on track.

Improves Brain Function

Selenium and ellagic acid are properties that are beneficial to brain health. This is because ellagic acid is a compound in Brazil nuts that is not only an antioxidant but also an anti-inflammatory property. These features help in causing antidepressants effects on the brain.

A survey was carried out on adults who have brain disorders. These adults were fed Brazil nuts every day for up to 6 months. After 6 months, these patients with brain disorders started having speech fluency and started showing positive improvements.

In order to prevent and protect yourself from brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, you need to top your selenium levels, and one of the best and natural ways to do this is by eating Brazil nuts daily. In addition, poor mood and depression can be linked with low levels of selenium in the body.

Health Risks of Brazil Nuts

Health risks from eating Brazil nuts only come when you consume Brazil nuts in excessively high amounts. Although Brazil nuts are healthy and supply the body with numerous health benefits, it comes with its own side effects and possible health risks. Done these health risks include;

• Prostate cancer
• Diabetes
• Kidney failure
• Breathing problems
• Heart attacks

Eating up to 5,000 mcg of selenium can lead to toxicity, thereby causing almost all of these health risks at once. As an adult, the highest and safest amount of selenium you should consume is 300 to 400 mcg.

In addition, people who are allergic to nuts are expected to stay away from Brazil nuts.

In conclusion, Brazil nuts are healthy and nutritious for consumption. They are also capable of supplying your body with essential minerals like selenium. However, it is important to note that Brazil nuts also have their side effects, especially when they are eaten in excessively high amounts.