Description
Hazelnuts are valued for their ultra indulgent flavor and upscale appeal, but don’t let their rich flavor fool you. They are also one of the most nutritious nuts. Hazelnuts are an excellent source of vitamin E, dietary fiber, magnesium, and heart healthy B vitamins. Recent research also shows that hazelnuts are one of the highest natural sources of antioxidants.Benefits
Heart Health & Good Fats
Hazelnuts are a rich source of nutrients that have cardioprotective benefits.
These nutrients include vitamin E, folate, B vitamins and arginine (an amino
acid that relaxes blood vessels).
Hazelnuts also have one the lowest percentages of saturated fat (along with
pinenuts and almonds) and one of the best nut sources of heart healthy mono- and
polyunsaturated fats. Numerous studies have shown unsaturated fats can lower
blood cholesterol and help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. The
favorable fatty acid profile is another reason why hazelnuts are great
heart-smart snacks.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been touted as an important antioxidant that may have
cardioprotective benefits. Consumers have high awareness of vitamin E, placing
it among the top-selling vitamin supplements in the United States. The newly
revised food guidance system, known as MyPyramid, specifically lists hazelnuts
as one of the richest sources of vitamin E and the guidelines suggest choosing
hazelnuts more often to help meet vitamin E recommendations.
Antioxidants
Hazelnuts are one of the highest natural sources of antioxidants among “superfoods”
and are one of the most antioxidant-rich nuts. Foods rich in antioxidant content
mop-up free radicals in the blood stream that can eventually lead to serious
diseases.
Hazelnuts also have one of the highest Proanthocyanidin (PAC) contents among ”superfoods”
and the second highest among nuts. PACs are known to have antioxidant
capabilities 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times more potent than
vitamin E. The antioxidants found in PACs may have t¬he ability to strengthen
blood vessels, suppress platelet stickiness in arteries, reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease, delay the onset of dementia and lower blood pressure