Brazil Nut
DESCRIPTION:
The Brazil nut from Brazil tree scientifically known as Bertholletia Excelsa. It is Tropical evergreen tree from the family of Lecythidaceae. This tree is occurred in the regions of Amazon forest in Brazil. The Brazil nut tree is 160 feet in height. The tree consists of long branches from the upper region. The tree produces small pale green flowers. The fruit is large and hard, looks like a baseball. If the fruit fall on a person he may die. It weighs up to 5 pounds. It matures in 14 months after the flower is pollinated. It is packed like segment of orange, which contains 18to24 nuts in it.
HOW IT IS CULTIVATED:
The Brazil nut grows from the seed. Take a raw nut, scratch it outside. Fill the container with the water, place the nut and soak it for 24 hours. Remove the soaked nut, open it with the knife. The Brazil nut seed is seen inside. Remove it and bury in the pot with at least 1 inch deep. Water them daily, the seed will germinate within a week or month depending upon the variety of the seeds. Once the plant has grown, transplant the plant into the soil. Water them daily use some fertilizers. The tree will grow large and big producing huge amounts of Brazil nuts.
WHERE IT IS GROWN AND CONSUMED:
The native of Brazil nut is Brazil (Amazon forest). It is also cultivated in eastern Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Bolivia. The Brazil nut can be eaten as raw or roasted. It contains selenium content which is essential for our immune system. But regular intake of this nut leads to different side effects.
HEALTH BENEFITS:
The Brazil nut contains high selenium content, which act as an ANTIOXIDANT in the body. The selenium also helps to proper functioning of THYROID GLAND. It also reduces the heart diseases, breast cancer and other forms of cancer.
Brazil nut contains less fats and large amount of monounsaturated fats which reduces strokes and common heart diseases.
Since it contains complete protein nutrition which helps to build muscle, bones and tissue repair in the body.
Brazil nut contains vitamins which increases the metabolism.
It helps in the growth of hair and keeps skin clearer.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
The Brazil nut contains 0% cholesterol. It is rich in protein and carbohydrate. It contains vitamins such as vitamin A, B, B6 and E. The Brazil nut is rich in minerals. It contains calcium, Iron, Magnesium and potassium in it. It contains saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in it.
FACTS:
Since the Brazil nut contains high selenium content, regular intake of it may leads to several problems. It may leads to hair and nails loss. It may Increases calories and fats in the body. It causes many digestive problems. It’s better to have 2 nut daily or handful of nuts twice or thrice in a week.