What are Hazelnuts?

healthydailymail.com The Hazelnut has a delicate nutty flavour with a mildly bitter skin.These nuts pair very well with chocolate which is why chocolate hazelnut spreads have grown in popularity in the last couple of decades.

Health Benefits of Hazelnuts
Improves Heart Health: According to the USDA, consuming just 1.5 ounces of nuts such as hazelnuts can help to reduce an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Hazelnuts contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are, heart healthy fats that improve cardiac function. They are also high in oleic acid, which lowers bad cholesterol levels while raising the level of good cholesterol in the body.

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Hazelnuts for Healthy Heart
Reduces Risk of Neural Tube Birth Defects: Neural Tube Birth Defects (NTDs) are among the most common birth defects as they affect over 300,000 babies globally in a year. The neural tube develops during the 3rd week of pregnancy and it ultimately forms the baby’s brain and spinal cord. When this tube does not close completely as it should, a small opening is created in the spinal cord or brain and this is how a neural tube birth defect  develops. Making sure that you meet your daily requirement for folic acid will reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 70 %. Since the neural tube develops very early in a pregnancy when the mother might not even be aware that she is pregnant, doctors recommend that women who are trying to get pregnant should get 400 mcg of folic acid daily. A single cup of hazel nuts provides over 150 mcg of folate, which would go a long way in ensuring that you meet your daily requirement for this vitamin.

Helps Reduce Depression: Researchers have recently found a connection between low folic acid levels and depression. Scientists are still not completely sure of the role that folic acid plays in the occurrence of depression, but several studies show that a deficiency of folic acid has been linked to a poor response to anti-depressant medications. You can discuss folic acid supplements with your doctor if you have been prescribed SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Helps Reduce Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): A urinary tract infection  occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra. These bacteria then multiply rapidly causing symptoms such as cloudy or bloody urine, pain while urinating and the frequent need to urinate. The most common cause of urinary tract infections is the bacteria called E.coli. Hazelnuts contain several phytochemicals including proanthocyanidins. These proanthocyanidins have been proved to be useful in preventing UTIs and researchers believe that this is because proanthocyanidins prevent the E.coli bacteria from sticking to a woman’s urinary tract lining. Cranberries too are a good source of these beneficial plant compounds and so it would be wise to include cranberries and hazelnuts in your diet in order to prevent or help treat a UTI.

Hazelnuts for Urinary Tract Infection
Improves Bone Health: Adults have approximately 25 g of magnesium in their bodies and about 60 % of this mineral is in their bones. Magnesium plays an important role in the structural development and maintenance of bone. There are various recent studies on the effects of magnesium intake on bone health. One study found that postmenopausal women who consumed 290 mg of magnesium per day for a period of just one month experienced less bone loss as compared to those who were given a placebo. This indicates that increasing the magnesium intake can increase bone density in postmenopausal women. A higher bone density would also reduce a person’s risk of bone fractures. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of magnesium is between 300 and 400 mg as it varies depending on the individual’s age and sex. 100 gms of hazelnuts contains 163 mg of magnesium which amounts to approximately half of a person’s requirements.

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