Brazil Nut Protein Benefits

July 03, 2021
Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts, the exotic smooth and buttery nuts from the Amazon forests of South America are a fast-growing superfood sensation with many health benefits. They are also a primary ingredient of the health powder, Aguaje curves.

Brazil nuts are a natural source of selenium, vitamin E, vitamin C, Vitamin B complex components. They also contain a good amount of healthy fats, iron, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. They are also rich in proteins and dietary fiber. The healthy mix of micronutrients, fat, and high selenium levels make this creamy nut a favorite snack among health circles.

Benefits of Brazil Nuts

These nuts are anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and significantly impact bodily functions like thyroid regulation, cholesterol maintenance, and building up your immunity.

The selenium content present in Brazil nuts is the highest compared to any other nuts. This trace element is linked with several essential body functions like thyroid, immunity, cell growth, and brain health.

While selenium deficiency is a rare condition, it is still challenging to find natural sources of selenium. Many people from countries like the UK, the Middle East, and Europe have suboptimal selenium levels. Brazil nuts are the best available food source rich in selenium, with a single nut capable of containing about 175% of the RDI (Recommended dietary intake).

A Complete Breakdown Of The Nutritional Contents Of Brazil Nuts

For every 100 grams of Brazil nut, you get:

  • 679 calories
  • 67 g of total fat. Brazil nuts contain higher levels of monounsaturated fat (35 g), which you call good cholesterol
  • 6.7 mg of fibers
  • 2 mg of Sodium
  • 600 mg of Potassium
  • 4.5 g of Carbohydrate 
  • 2.3 g of Sugars
  • 14 g of Protein 
  • 130 mg of Calcium
  • 650 mg of Phosphorus 
  • 3 mg of Iron
  • 410 g of Magnesium
  • 130 mg of Copper 
  • 400 mg of Zinc

The vitamin contents include:

  • 1% of Vitamin C 
  • 5% of Vitamin B-6

Here are the top Brazil nut health benefits that make them irresistible:

Improves Brain Health

Few natural food sources have as much selenium content as Brazil nuts do. Selenium has been proven to be a vital part of the GABA and dopamine signaling systems in our brains. It is thus considered highly helpful in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Brazil nuts also contain a particular polyphenol compound called ellagic acid, which has been found to have neuroprotective and anti-depressant qualities.

Anti-Inflammatory And Anti-Oxidative Properties

Brazil nuts are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The antioxidants present in Brazil nuts help minimize the oxidative damage caused by free radicals in our bodies.

Selenium, along with several antioxidants such as Vitamin E and phenol compounds such as the gallic acid and ellagic acid present in Brazil nuts, is also known to increase glutathione peroxidase enzyme, which helps reduce inflammation as well.

Studies have shown that regular and consistent intake of Brazil nuts could reduce inflammation. However, stopping consumption brought back people to their original levels of inflammatory markers.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol Maintenance 

As you can see from the nutritional content of Brazil nuts, it contains a good amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) such as palmitoleic acid and oleic acid that will help increase the HDL cholesterol levels in our bloodstream. This helps maintain a healthy blood lipid profile and thus lowers the risk of heart diseases and strokes.

Thyroid Health

Improves Thyroid Health

Brazil nuts are rich in selenium which are known to be of great help in regulating thyroid function. Several studies have shown that Brazil nuts could make up for thyroid hormone deficiencies in Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease conditions. 

Healthy thyroid function is essential for your growth, body temperature regulation as well as overall metabolism. And thyroid tissues need a good amount of selenium to provide the thyroid hormone T3 and protect your thyroid tissues from cell damage.

Mood

Mood Improvements

Some studies have found a correlation between low selenium levels and mood-related disorders like anxiety and depression. Taking about 100mg of selenium per day has shown to produce visible improvements in anxiety patients in just five weeks. And around a couple of Brazil nuts is all you need to add that much selenium to your diet every day.

The health benefits offered by Brazil nuts are indeed impressive, but that does not mean you need to gouge on them without a limit, as too much of anything could bring trouble. High selenium levels exceeding 5000 mcg, which approximates about 50 Brazil nuts, can lead to selenium toxicity.
So, it would be best if you have a balanced diet with an upper cap of 400 mcg on your daily selenium intake. You can do so by limiting your daily Brazil nuts intake to one or three nuts and have it in a healthy combination with other health supplements.

Aguaje curves provides you one such healthy blend of nutrients from natural sources like the Aguaje plant, Akpi seeds, Sausage tree, Brazil nut, and more. Suppose you are a woman looking to enhance your curves naturally, boost your fertility, nourish and moisturize your skin, and reduce menopausal symptoms. In that case, Aguaje powder is the ultimate solution for you.