巴西堅果種經證實的健康益處

1. Rich in nutrition

Brazil nuts are rich in nutrients and energy.

A 1-ounce (28 g) serving of Brazil nuts contains the following nutrients :

  • Calories: 187
  • Protein: 4.1 grams
  • Fat: 19 grams
  • Carbohydrates : 3.3 grams
  • Fiber : 2.1 g
  • Selenium : 988% of Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
  • Copper : 55% of RDI
  • Magnesium : 33%
  • Phosphorus : 30% of RDI
  • Manganese : 17% of RDI
  • Zinc : 10.5% of RDI
  • Thiamine: 16% of RDI
  • Vitamin E: 11% of RDI

Brazil nuts are rich in selenium. A single nut contains 96 micrograms, which is 175% of the RDI. Most other nuts provide less than 1 microgram on average.

In addition, they contain higher concentrations of magnesium, copper and zinc than most other nuts, although the exact content of these nutrients will vary depending on the climate and soil.

Finally, Brazil nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats. In fact, 36% of the fat in Brazil nuts is 37% polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have
been shown to be good for heart health.

2. Rich in selenium

Brazil nuts are rich in selenium . In fact, they contain more of this mineral than any other nut, and each nut contains an average of 96 micrograms. However, some packages have as much as 400 micrograms per nut.

The RDI for adult selenium is 55 micrograms per day. Therefore, Brazil nuts contain on average 175% of the required amount of this mineral .

Selenium is a trace element that is essential for the normal functioning of the body. It is vital to your thyroid and affects your immune system and cell growth .

In fact, higher levels of selenium are associated with enhanced immune function and better outcomes for cancer, infections, infertility, pregnancy, heart disease and mood disorders.

Although selenium deficiency is rare, many people in the world have insufficient selenium intake for optimal function. For example, sub-optimal selenium states have been found in people throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East .

Brazil nuts are an effective way to maintain or increase selenium intake. In fact, a study of 60 people found that eating two Brazil nuts a day is as effective as taking a selenium supplement in increasing selenium levels.

3. Support thyroid function

Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in your throat. It secretes several hormones that are essential for growth, metabolism and body temperature regulation.

Thyroid tissue contains the highest concentration of selenium because it is necessary for the production of the thyroid hormone T3 and the protein that protects the thyroid from damage.

Low selenium intake can cause cell damage, decreased thyroid activity, and autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. It may also increase your risk of thyroid cancer .

A large study in China showed that people with low selenium levels have a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid diseases (such as hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and goiter) compared with people with normal selenium levels.

This highlights the importance of obtaining adequate selenium intake. One Brazil nut a day can provide enough selenium to maintain normal thyroid function .

4. It is helpful for patients with thyroid disease

In addition to ensuring normal thyroid function, selenium can also improve the symptoms of patients with thyroid disease.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid tissue is gradually destroyed, leading to hypothyroidism and a series of symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain and feeling cold.

Some reviews have found that selenium supplementation can improve the immune function and mood of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

However, two other reviews concluded that there is insufficient evidence to determine the role of selenium in the treatment of this disease. Therefore, further research is needed ).

At the same time, Graves’ disease is a thyroid disease that produces too much thyroid hormones, leading to symptoms such as weight loss, weakness, sleep problems, and bulging eyes.

Studies have shown that selenium supplementation can improve thyroid function and delay the progression of certain symptoms in people with this disease. However, more research is needed ).

There are no studies investigating the use of Brazil nuts as a source of selenium, especially in patients with thyroiditis or Graves' disease. Nevertheless, including them in your diet may be a good way to ensure that your selenium content is adequate.

5. Can reduce inflammation

Brazil nuts are rich in antioxidants, which these substances helps to keep cells healthy. They do this by fighting the damage caused by reactive molecules called free radicals.

Brazil nuts contain a variety of antioxidants, including selenium, vitamin E, and phenols such as gallic acid and ellagic acid .

Selenium increases the levels of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which helps reduce inflammation and protect your body from oxidative stress-the imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals Cause cell damage.

The anti-inflammatory effects of Brazil nuts can be achieved over a long period of time through single, large and small doses.

A study of 10 people pointed out that a single serving of 20 grams or 50 grams (4 or 10 nuts, respectively) can significantly reduce a variety of inflammatory markers, including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). -α) (.

Another three-month study gave people receiving kidney failure treatment one Brazil nut a day. It turned out that their selenium and GPx levels were elevated, while inflammation markers and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced.

However, Follow-up studies have observed that once people stop eating Brazil nuts, these measurements will return to their original levels. This indicates that long-term diet changes are required to obtain the benefits of Brazil nuts.

6. Good for your heart

Fatty Brazil nuts contain heart-healthy, such as polyunsaturated fat, and rich with antioxidants, minerals and fiber, all of which may help reduce the risk of heart disease .

A study of 10 healthy adults investigated the effect of eating Brazil nuts on cholesterol levels. It gave them 5, 20 or 50 grams of Brazil nuts or a placebo.

After 9 hours, compared with the group that received the lower dose, the group that received 20 or 50 grams had lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

Another study analyzed the effect of Brazil nut consumption on obese people with selenium deficiency who are being treated for kidney disease.

Studies have found that consuming Brazil nuts containing 290 micrograms of selenium every day for 8 weeks significantly increases HDL cholesterol levels. Increasing your HDL cholesterol level may reduce your risk of heart disease ).

In addition, a 16-week study of obese adolescents observed that eating 15-25 grams of Brazil nuts a day can improve blood vessel function and reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The effect of Brazil nuts on heart health is promising. However, you need to enter a
further study to determine the optimal dose and what people might get the most benefit.

7. May be good for your brain

Brazil nuts contain ellagic acid and selenium, both of which are good for your brain.

Ellagic acid is a polyphenol in Brazil nuts. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may have protective and anti-depressant effects on your brain .

Selenium can also play a role in brain health as an antioxidant .

In one study, elderly people with mental disorders ate one Brazil nut a day for six months. In addition to increased selenium levels, they also showed improved language fluency and mental function .

Low selenium levels are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, so it is important to ensure adequate intake.

More importantly, some studies have shown that selenium supplementation may help regulate depression, which is significantly related to insufficient selenium intake. However, the results are conflicting and require further research .

Health risks of consuming Brazil nuts

Brazil nuts provide some impressive health benefits, but eating too much can be harmful.

In fact, ingestion of 5,000 micrograms of selenium (the content in approximately 50 average-sized Brazil nuts) can cause poisoning. This dangerous condition is called selenium poisoning and can cause breathing problems, heart attacks, and kidney failure.

In addition, too much selenium, especially selenium from supplements, can increase the risk of diabetes and prostate cancer.

However, communities in the Amazon region that have naturally higher levels of selenium in their traditional diets did not show any negative effects or signs of selenium poisoning.

Nevertheless, it is important to limit the daily intake of Brazil nuts.

The upper limit of adult selenium intake is 400 micrograms per day. For this reason, it is important not to eat too many Brazil nuts and check the selenium content in the nutrition label.

Limiting your intake of one to three Brazil nuts per day is a wise way to avoid excessive selenium intake.

In addition, people who are allergic to nuts may be allergic to Brazil nuts and
need to avoid them.

Review

All comments are moderated before being published

HealthyPIG Magazine

View all
無人機醫療配送:低空經濟下的香港新契機

無人機醫療配送:低空經濟下的香港新契機

  無人機醫療配送:低空經濟下的香港新契機 —— 從健康、醫療金融到商業模式的全球比較與啟示 在香港「低空經濟」監管沙盒下,無人機由數碼港跨海至長洲醫院,約 12 公里航線僅需 18–20 分鐘,相比傳統 45–65 分鐘大幅提速。本文聚焦醫療價值、醫療金融回報與商...
醫管局普通科門診改名「家庭醫學門診」——香港基層醫療新里程?

醫管局普通科門診改名「家庭醫學門診」——香港基層醫療新里程?

  基層醫療 家庭醫學 健康政策 醫管局普通科門診改名「家庭醫學門診」:利與弊、國際比較與香港基層醫療的下一步 醫務衞生局宣佈由 2025 年 10 月 11 日起,將「普通科門診」與「家庭醫學專科門診」統一命名為「家庭醫學門診服務」,74 間普通科門診...
基孔肯雅熱:被伊蚊叮咬後的劇痛病毒 — 病毒、傳播、症狀與防治全解析

基孔肯雅熱:被伊蚊叮咬後的劇痛病毒 — 病毒、傳播、症狀與防治全解析

什麼是基孔肯雅熱? 基孔肯雅熱(Chikungunya Fever)是一種由**基孔肯雅病毒(Chikungunya virus, CHIKV)**引起的急性傳染病,屬於 Togaviridae 家族 Alphavirus 屬。這種病毒最早於 1952 年在坦桑尼亞被發現,其名稱來自當地馬孔德...
登革熱:全球爆發中的熱帶威脅與防護全解析

登革熱:全球爆發中的熱帶威脅與防護全解析

登革熱係乜嘢? 登革熱(Dengue fever)係一種由登革熱病毒(Dengue virus)引起嘅急性傳染病,主要經由伊蚊(Aedes mosquito)叮咬傳播,特別係白紋伊蚊(Aedes albopictus)同埃及伊蚊(Aedes aegypti)。呢啲蚊喺日間最活躍,因此唔似瘧疾嗰...
流感點樣會引致腦病變、心肌炎同休克?——從「感冒」變成致命風暴

流感點樣會引致腦病變、心肌炎同休克?——從「感冒」變成致命風暴

近排有新聞報導,一名原本健康嘅中學生感染乙型流感(Influenza B)之後,出現腦病變、心肌炎同休克,情況危殆。好多家長都會問:「流感唔就係普通感冒?點解可以嚴重到影響腦同心臟?」其實,流感背後嘅機制比我哋想像中複雜得多。 一、流感病毒唔止攻擊呼吸道 流感病毒(包括甲型同乙型)主要透過飛...
牛骨湯食譜大全|Instant Pot 壓力煲 & 傳統老火湯版本

牛骨湯食譜大全|Instant Pot 壓力煲 & 傳統老火湯版本

牛骨湯食譜係香港家庭常見嘅煲湯之一,牛骨湯香濃滋補,配合中藥材更具養生功效。本文介紹肉骨類選擇、牛骨湯建議配搭、常見中藥材分類,以及Instant Pot壓力煲與傳統老火湯版本食譜,並引用科學研究支持。
澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南)

澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南)

澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南) 澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南) 重點:事件本身不代表飲水會感染;主要風險來自水經鼻腔進入。 目錄 ...
如何判斷雞翅是否變壞?

如何判斷雞翅是否變壞?

重點摘要 雞翅會變質嗎? 如何判斷雞翅是否變壞? 過期雞翅還能食嗎? 雞翅可存放多久? 如何儲存雞翅? 雞翅可以冷凍嗎? 結論 雞翅會變質嗎? 會。皮脂較多、表面不潔或溫度過高時,細菌繁殖更快。 如何判斷雞翅是否變壞? 外觀:皮色發黃、出黑斑或血水。 觸感:表面黏滑、軟爛。 氣...
如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞?

如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞?

重點摘要 雞蛋會變質嗎? 如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞? 過期雞蛋還能食嗎? 雞蛋可存放多久? 如何儲存雞蛋? 雞蛋可以冷凍嗎? 結論 雞蛋會變質嗎? 會。殼面有微孔,溫差及濕度變化會令細菌入侵。 如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞? 水測:沉底=較新鮮;浮起=多半變壞。 打開觀察:蛋白渾濁水樣、蛋黃...