Brazil Nuts Are So Healthy: Effect and What You Should Pay Attention To

Although Brazil nuts have many healthy properties, they should not be eaten in large quantities. You can find out why this is the case and why the nut is also repeatedly criticized in terms of sustainability as you read on.

That’s healthy about the Brazil nut

The Brazil nut comes from South America. It can be found in many different nut mixtures and is very popular due to its pleasant, slightly sweet and almond-like taste. No wonder, because it is a true supplier of energy. Just two Brazil nuts are enough to cover the daily requirement of important trace elements and minerals.

• The Brazil nut provides you with the trace element selenium. The body needs selenium to maintain the function of the thyroid gland. It also strengthens the immune system and can help the body with detoxification and cell regeneration. However, too much selenium can be harmful and lead to selenium poisoning. Therefore, two Brazil nuts are enough to cover your daily requirement of selenium.
• In addition to selenium, Brazil nuts also contain the minerals and trace elements calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. These minerals support your muscles and bones. Zinc is also good for hair growth.
• In addition, the nut contains a lot of vegetable protein. It is therefore a good addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet.
• Although Brazil nuts consist of up to 70 percent fat and are particularly high in calories, the nuts don’t immediately hit your hips. The fats contained in the Brazil nut are mainly mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids are essential for the body to survive. They strengthen the cardiovascular system and can even lower the total cholesterol level in the blood.

You should bear this in mind when consuming the Brazil nut

With all these healthy properties, the question arises as to what is the point of the criticism of the Brazil nut. After all, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommends eating no more than two nuts a day. There are good reasons for that.

• Almost all foods are naturally radioactive. This is usually so small that it is harmless for you. Because the roots of the Brazil nut tree can absorb radium particularly well, the radium content in the nut is about a thousand times higher than in other foods. If you only eat Brazil nuts from time to time, or do not exceed the guideline value of about two Brazil nuts a day, then there is no danger.
• Depending on how the nuts were shelled, they are particularly susceptible to mold and associated mold toxins such as aflatoxin. Aflatoxins can be carcinogenic. Germany therefore has strict guidelines. The nuts are examined for the fungus with special UV lamps, so the probability of purchasing nuts infected with the fungus in the supermarket is very small.
• However, if stored incorrectly, the aflatoxins can only develop in your home. Therefore, you should keep peeled Brazil nuts cool and dry and use them up quickly. The nuts will keep unpeeled for about three months.
• If the nuts have a musty, bitter or rancid taste and are discolored, you should stop eating them. Aflatoxins even withstand higher temperatures during cooking and baking. So don’t use the nuts for this either.
• If you’ve eaten significantly more than the recommended amount of two Brazil nuts per day, don’t panic. In most cases your body manages to break down the excess selenium and the radioactivity is not yet high enough to cause serious harm. However, if you experience symptoms such as digestive problems, difficulty concentrating or hair loss in the following hours or days , you should consult a doctor immediately.
• Allergic reactions to Brazil nuts are usually rare or mild in people with a nut allergy. However, if you have a pollen allergy, you could have an allergic reaction. The nut contains a protein that is very similar to that of pollen. In the event of an allergic reaction with narrowing of the airways, inform the emergency service (112) immediately and seek medical help.

Sustainability of Brazil Nuts

The Brazil nut is sometimes also called Brazil nut or Brazil chestnut. They are often found in the rainforests of Brazil or on the Ivory Coast. By the time it lands on your plates, it has already come a long way. In addition, the harvest of the Brazil nuts is associated with a lot of effort, so that the consumption of the Brazil nut unfortunately does not contribute to a more sustainable way of life .

• The Brazil nut tree grows up to 60 meters high and only bears the first fruits after about 10 years. A fruit contains a maximum of 16 Brazil nuts and a mature tree can carry up to 8000 nuts per year.
• That sounds a lot at first. However, Brazil nut trees have not yet been cultivated and bred. This means that all the Brazil nuts consumed and consumed around the world come from trees that grow in the wild.
• Since some of the trees are in the middle of the rainforest and have very high and thin trunks, harvesting is very difficult. It can only be harvested when the fruits, which can weigh up to three kilograms, fall to the ground.
• Collecting the fruit represents a major intervention in nature. On the one hand, paths and aisles have to be created in the rainforest. Finally, the harvesters and their vehicles and means of transport must also be able to reach the trees and transport the fruit. On the other hand, collecting the nuts prevents the trees from reproducing naturally.
• After all, the nuts still have to be sent and shipped all over the world. The import and the long transport routes result in CO2 emissions and greenhouse gases, which are anything but sustainable and pollute the climate and nature.