Brazil nut
BRAZIL NUT
Brazil nuts (= Bertholletia excelsa), like all nuts, are very high in calories. Its seeds (nuts) are characterized by a very high content of certain minerals (especially selenium), a fairly high protein content (known for its content of the essential amino acid methionine), certain vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids (especially polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids, in particular linoleic acid, and monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid – oleic acid), as well as phytosterols.
Thus, Brazil nuts are rich in vitamin B1 (thiamine) (75.3% of the daily requirement per 100 g),gamma-tocopherol (52.5%), and alpha-tocopherol (32.7%).
The main mineral element in Brazil nuts is selenium (1553.8% of the daily norm per 100 g); in addition, the mineral composition is dominated by: silicon (303.3%), boron (228.6%), chromium (200.0%), copper (175.2%), manganese (100.0%), magnesium (90.8%), barium (85.0%), phosphorus (79.1%), vanadium (53.3%), zirconium (52.4%), rubidium (44.0%), cobalt (36.0%), molybdenum (35.7%), zinc (35.0%), potassium (21.2%), sulfur (21.0%), iron (16.4%), strontium (12.9%), calcium (12.7%), lithium (12.0%), nickel (10.0%).
Brazil nuts are the richest dietary source of selenium: 2-3 nuts contain the daily requirement of selenium.
At the same time, Brazil nuts have a high concentration of phytic acid salts – phytates (2 to 6% of dry weight), which interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, in particular iron.
Brazil nuts contain essential and non-essential amino acids (27.6% and 18.9% of the daily requirement per 100 g, respectively). They are particularly rich in the essential amino acid methionine (61.1%) and the non-essential amino acid arginine (39.3%).
The high methionine content in Brazil nuts makes them an excellent source of this essential amino acid for humans. The biological role of methionine in the human body is to normalize lipid metabolism; it prevents fatty liver disease, in particular, it helps prevent the formation of fat deposits in the liver, and also promotes the regeneration of liver and kidney tissue. It also increases lecithin production in the liver, helps prevent atherosclerosis by promoting fat processing and preventing fat deposits in the liver and artery walls.
Brazil nuts are notable for their content of unsaturated fatty acids (113.4%), especially polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids (213.7%, namely linoleic acid) and monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid – oleic acid: 19,500-24.220 g per 100 g. Oleic acid is known to help dissolve cholesterol plaques in blood vessels and thus prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, Brazil nuts are a good means of preventing atherosclerosis.
Brazil nuts are also distinguished by their phytosterol content (196.4% of the daily norm per 100 g), the main part of which is beta-sitosterol (257.5%), which allows Brazil nuts to be classified as female products (for more information, see Avocado).
Brazil nuts contain fiber (28.8%), starch (0.25 g per 100 g), and sucrose (2.33 g).
The total purine base content is 16.7% of the daily norm per 100 g.
It should be noted that Brazil nuts can accumulate toxic trace elements barium (85.0% of the daily requirement per 100 g) and strontium (12.9%) and are a concentrator of the toxic radioactive ultratrace element radium. Although the concentration of radium in Brazil nuts is relatively low (40-260 Bq/kg), it is 1,000 times higher than its concentration in other foods. Since there is currently no convincing evidence that radium is completely excreted from the body, it is advisable not to overindulge in Brazil nuts.
Calories per 100 g: 654 kcal
Water per 100 g: 2.6 g
Ash per 100 g: 3.7 g
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Vitamins, macro- and microelements, nutrients per 100 g
VITAMINS
| Name | Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product | % of daily requirement | |
| in numbers | visually* | ||
| Vitamin B1 (thiamine) | 0.905-1.35 mg | 75.3 |  |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | 0.029-0.037 mg | 1.7 |  |
| Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) | 0.230 mg | 4.6 |  |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 0.105 mg | 5.3 | |
| Vitamin B9 (folic acid) | 4.0 | 1.0 | |
| Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 0.7 | 1.0 | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 3.80-6.10 mg | 32.7 |  |
| Beta-tocopherol | 0.0 mg | 0.0 | |
| Gamma-tocopherol | 7.87 mg | 52.5 |  |
| Delta-tocopherol | 0.77 mg | 5.1 | |
| Vitamin D (ergocalciferol) | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid) | 0.220-0.260 mg | 1.2 | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 2.7 | 2.3 | |
| Biotin | 2.0-6.5 mcg | 8.5 |  |
| Beta-carotene | 24.0 | 0.5 | |
| Alpha-carotene | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 9.0 | 0.2 | |
| Beta-cryptoxanthin | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lycopene | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Choline | 28.8-32.1 mg | 6.1 | |
| Methylmethionine sulfonium (vitamin U) | 0.0 mg | 0.0 | |
| Betaine trimethylglycine | 0.4 | 0.04 | |
* Full jug – 100% of the daily allowance; empty – 0-1% of the daily allowance.
MINERAL ELEMENTS
Macroelements
| Name | Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product | % of daily requirement | |
| in numbers | Visually | ||
| Potassium | 447.0-600.0 mg | 21.2 |  |
| Calcium | 61.0-218.0 mg | 12.7 | |
| Silicon | 91.0 mg | 303.3 |  |
| Magnesium | 355.0-376.0 mg | 90.8 |  |
| Sodium | 3.0 mg | 0.2 | |
| Sulfur | 178.0-245.0 mg | 21.0 | |
| Phosphorus | 590.0-675.0 mg | 79.1 | |
| Chlorine | 57.0 mg | 2.5 | |
Trace elements and ultra-trace elements
| Name | Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product | % of daily requirement | |
| in numbers | visually | ||
| Aluminum | 1500.0 mcg | 4. | |
| Barium | 850.0 μg | 85.0 | |
| Boron | 160.0 | 228.6 | |
| Vanadium | 21.3 | 53.3 | |
| Iron | 2.43-2.50 mg | 16.4 | |
| Iodine | 0.02-0.10 mcg | 0.04 | |
| Cobalt | 3.1-4.1 μg | 36.0 |  |
| Lithium | 12.0 | 12.0 | |
| Manganese | 1220.0-2780.0 μg | 100.0 | |
| Copper | 1743.0-1760.0 mcg | 175.2 | |
| Molybdenum | 25.0 | 35.7 | |
| Arsenic | 0.1 | 0.8 | |
| Nickel | 15.0 | 10.0 | |
| Tin | 19.6 | 1.0 | |
| Rubidium | 44.0 μg | 44.0 | |
| Lead | 0.2 | 2.0 | |
| Selenium | 103.0-1917.0 μg | 1553.8 | |
| Strontium | 103.0 | 12.9 | |
| Thallium | 0.1 | 5.0 | |
| Titanium | 45.0 | 5.3 | |
| Fluorine | 120.0 | 3.0 | |
| Chromium | 100.0 | 200.0 | |
| Zinc | 4200.0 mcg | 35.0 | |
| Zirconium | 26.2 | 52.4 | |
PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS
| Name | Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product | % of daily value | |
| in numbers | Visually | ||
| Total protein content | 15.0 g | 18.8 | |
| Essential amino acid content | 6.0 g | 27.6 | |
| Conditionally essential amino acid content | 10.7 g | 18.9 | |
Essential amino acids
| Name of acid | Content, g per 100 g of product | % of daily requirement | |
| in numbers | Visually | ||
| Valine | 0.970 g | 38.8 | |
| Histidine | 0.390 g | 18.6 | |
| Isoleucine | 0.580 g | 29.0 | |
| Leucine | 1.200 g | 26.1 | |
| Lysine | 0.530 g | 12.9 | |
| Methionine | 1.100 g | 61.1 |  |
| Threonine | 0.420 g | 17.5 | |
| Tryptophan | 0.160 g | 16.0 | |
| Phenylalanine | 0.670 g | 22.3 | |
Essential amino acids
| Name of acid | Content, g per 100 g of product | % of daily requirement | |
| in numbers | Visually | ||
| Alanine | 0.610 g | 9.2 | |
| Arginine | 2.400 g | 39.3 | |
| Aspartic acid | 1,300 g | 10.7 | |
| Glycine | 0.720 g | 20.6 | |
| Glutamic acid | 3.300 g | 24.3 | |
| Proline | 0.780 g | 17.3 | |
| Serine | 0.780 g | 9.4 | |
| Tyrosine | 0.420 g | 14.0 | |
| Cystine | 0.420 g | 23.3 | |
FATS AND FATTY ACIDS
Unsaturated fatty acids
Saturated fatty acids
Sterols
CARBOHYDRATES
PURINE BASES
Units of measurement:
Piece: 2.5-3.3 g
Tea glass: 180.0 g
Faceted glass: 133.0 g
Teaspoon: 5.0 g
Tablespoon: 28.4 g