Nut (food)

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Chestnuts are both botanical and culinary nuts. Chestnut.jpg
Chestnuts are both botanical and culinary nuts.
Some common "culinary nuts": hazelnuts, which are also botanical nuts; Brazil nuts, which are not botanical nuts, but rather the seeds of a capsule; and walnuts, pecans, and almonds (which are not botanical nuts, but rather the seeds of drupes) Common-nuts.png
Some common "culinary nuts": hazelnuts, which are also botanical nuts; Brazil nuts, which are not botanical nuts, but rather the seeds of a capsule; and walnuts, pecans, and almonds (which are not botanical nuts, but rather the seeds of drupes)

A nut is a fruit consisting of a hard or tough nutshell protecting a kernel which is usually edible. In general usage and in a culinary sense, many dry seeds are called nuts. In a botanical context, "nut" implies that the shell does not open to release the seed (indehiscent). [1]

Contents

Most seeds come from fruits that naturally free themselves from the shell, but this is not the case in nuts such as hazelnuts, chestnuts, and acorns, which have hard shell walls and originate from a compound ovary. The general and original usage of the term is less restrictive, and many nuts (in the culinary sense), such as almonds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts, [2] are not nuts in a botanical sense. Common usage of the term often refers to any hard-walled, edible kernel as a nut. [3] Nuts are an energy-dense and nutrient-rich food source. [4]

Definition

Botanically, a nut is a fruit with a woody pericarp developing from a syncarpous gynoecium. True nuts include, for example, chestnut, hazelnut and filbert. Culinarily, the term 'nut' is used much more widely, and includes examples of drupes (such as pecans and almonds) or seeds (such as pine nuts and peanuts).

Also widely known as nuts are dry drupes, which include pecans, almonds, macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia), candlenut (Aleurites moluccanus) and the water caltrop (Trapa bicornis). A drupe is an indehiscent fruit that has an outer fleshy part consisting of the exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh, which surround a single pit or stone, the endocarp with a seed (kernel) inside. In a dry drupe, the outer parts dry up and the remaining husk is part of the ovary wall or pericarp, and the hard inner wall surrounding the seed represents the inner part of the pericarp. [5]

Walnuts and hickories (Juglandaceae) have fruits that are difficult to classify. They are considered to be nuts under some definitions but are also referred to as drupaceous nuts.[ citation needed ]

In common use, a "tree nut" is, as the name implies, any nut coming from a tree. This most often comes up regarding food allergies; a person may be allergic specifically to peanuts (which are not tree nuts but legumes), whereas others may be allergic to the wider range of nuts that grow on trees.

Production

Nuts being sold in a market Nuts market.jpg
Nuts being sold in a market
2019 world production
in millions of tonnes [6]
NutProduction
Coconuts
62.5
Peanuts
48.8
Walnuts
4.5
Cashews
4.0
Almonds
3.5
Chestnuts
2.4
Hazelnuts
1.1
Pistachios
0.9
Brazil nuts
0.07

In the 21st century, about a dozen species constitute most of the worldwide production of nuts, shown in the table below for major commercial nuts. [6] [7]

Culinary nuts
NameImageOriginDescriptionProduction
Almond
(Prunus dulcis)
Almonds - in shell, shell cracked open, shelled, blanched.jpg
Originated in Iran and the surrounding area.The fruit is a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell, the endocarp, containing a single seed. [5] Almonds are sold shelled or unshelled. Blanched almonds are almonds with the shells removed that have been treated with hot water to soften the seed coat, which is then removed.World production of unshelled almonds in 2019 was 3.5 million tonnes, and the largest producing countries were the United States, Spain, Iran, Turkey and Morocco. [6]
Brazil nut
(Bertholletia excelsa)
Brazil nut DSC05477.JPG
Native to tropical South America where the nuts are gathered from forest trees growing in the wild.The nuts are hard-shelled seeds borne in a hard, woody capsule. [5] In 2019, global production of Brazil nuts was 78,000 tonnes, most of which were harvested from the Amazon rainforest of Brazil and Bolivia. [6]
Cashew
(Anacardium occidentale)
Cahew nut fruit 01.jpg
Originated in northeastern Brazil and widely grown in the tropics.The fruit is a thick-shelled, seed-bearing drupe borne at the apex of a fleshy stalk known as a cashew apple. [5] World production in 2019 of cashew nuts with shells was around 4 million tonnes, with Côte d'Ivoire and India being the main producing countries. [6]
Chestnut
(Castanea spp.)
Chestnut03.jpg
Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and was at one time a staple crop in some regions.It is a true nut and grows in a spiny, cup-shaped involucre formed from the calyx. [5] World production in 2019 was 2.4 million tonnes, and the main producing countries were China, Turkey, South Korea, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain. [6]
Coconut
(Cocos nucifera)
Cocos nucifera (coconut) 5 (38507429165).jpg
Grown throughout the tropics.The fruit is a dry drupe, with both the coconut flesh and the coconut water developing from the endosperm, being surrounded by the fibrous husk. [5] Has the largest world production of any nuts, with a global figure of 62.51 million tonnes in 2019, with Indonesia, the Philippines and India being the largest producers. [6]
Hazelnut
(Corylus avellana)
Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) - whole with kernels.jpg
Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.The fruit is a true nut and grows in a leafy or tubular involucre formed from the calyx. [5] In 2019, world production of hazelnuts in shells was 1.1 million tonnes, predominantly grown in Turkey, with other notable producing countries being Italy, Azerbaijan, the United States, Chile and China. [6]
Macadamia
(Macadamia spp.)
MacNut2.JPG
Indigenous to Australia and an important food for the Aboriginal peoples before Europeans arrived.The fruit is a hard, woody, globose follicle with a pointed apex, containing one or two seeds.Total world production in 2018 was 200,000 tonnes, South Africa being the largest producer, followed by Australia and Kenya. [8]
Peanut
(Arachis hypogaea)
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) - in shell, shell cracked open, shelled, peeled.jpg
Originated in South America and may have been in cultivation for 10,000 years. Widely grown in the tropics.The plant is a legume and the fruit is a papery pod containing one or more nut-like seeds. [5] World production in 2019 was 49 million tonnes, China is the largest producing country, followed by India, Nigeria, Sudan, and the United States. [6]
Pecan
(Carya illinoinensis)
Carya illinoinensis MHNT.BOT.2011.3.85.jpg
Native to the southern United States and northern Mexico.The fruit is a pseudo-drupe with a green, semi-fleshy husk.Two to three million tonnes are harvested annually; in the United States, most pecans are produced in Georgia, New Mexico and Texas. [9]
Pine nuts
(Pinus spp.)
KoreanPineSeeds.jpg
Northern hemisphere.Seeds extracted from woody cones. [5] In 2017, world production was 23,600 tons, the main producing countries being South Korea, Russia, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. [10]
Pistachio
(Pistacia vera)
Pistachio macro whitebackground NS.jpg
Native to Central Asia, where it is a desert tree.The fruit is a drupe, containing a single elongated seed in a hard, cream-coloured shell, which abruptly splits open when ripe. [5] World production in 2019 totalled 0.9 million tonnes, the main producing countries being Iran and the United States, with lesser quantities coming from China and Turkey. [6]
Walnut
(Juglans regia)
Black walnut
(Juglans nigra)
Walnuts - whole and open with halved kernel.jpg
J. regia originated in south eastern Europe, western/central Asia, and J. nigra originated in the eastern United States.The fruit is a pseudo-drupe with a green, semi-fleshy husk. [5] In 2019, world production of walnuts in shells was 4.5 million tonnes, predominantly grown in China, with other notable producing countries being the United States and Iran. [6]

Toxicity

Nuts used for food are a common source of food allergens. [4] Reactions can range from mild symptoms to severe ones, a condition known as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. The reaction is due to the release of histamine by the body in response to an allergen in the nuts, causing skin and other possible reactions. [11] Many experts suggest that a person with an allergy to peanuts should avoid eating tree nuts, and vice versa. [4] [12]

In the European Union, foods containing nuts must be labelled. The EU regulation [13] requires labelling of foods containing peanuts or nuts, specified as:

and products thereof, except for nuts used for making alcoholic distillates including ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.

Nutrition

Graph of nutritional properties of nuts and oily seeds Nuts and seeds (996x563).PNG
Graph of nutritional properties of nuts and oily seeds
Raw mixed nuts, sold as a snack food Fancy raw mixed nuts macro.jpg
Raw mixed nuts, sold as a snack food

Nuts contain the diverse nutrients that are needed for the growth of a new plant. [4] Composition varies, but they tend to have a low water and carbohydrate content, with high levels of fats, protein, dietary minerals, and vitamins. [4] The digestibility of the protein at about 90% is slightly lower than that of meat and fish, but can be improved by chewing thoroughly. [14] The fats are largely unsaturated and nuts are a source of essential omega-3 fatty acids. [4] [15] As part of a healthy human diet, long-term consumption of diverse nutrients in nuts may contribute to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, reduced levels of blood cholesterol, and lower all-cause mortality. [4] For vegetarians and vegans, nuts provide many of the essential nutrients which may be in short supply in other plant foods. [14]

Nuts supply nutrients for humans and wildlife. [4] Because nuts generally have a high oil content, they are a significant energy source. [4] Many seeds are edible by humans and used in cooking, eaten raw, sprouted, or roasted as a snack food, ground to make nut butters, or pressed for oil that is used in cooking and cosmetics. [4] Regular nut consumption of more than 5 ounces (140 g) per week may benefit weight control and contribute to lowering body weight in humans. [4]

Constituents

Nuts are the source of energy and nutrients for the new plant. They contain a relatively large quantity of calories, essential unsaturated and monounsaturated fats including linoleic acid and linolenic acid, vitamins, and essential amino acids. [4] Many nuts are good sources of vitamin E, vitamin B2, folate, fiber, and essential minerals, such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium. [4] [16]

This table lists the percentage of various nutrients in four unroasted seeds.

NameProteinTotal fatSaturated fatPolyunsaturated fatMonounsaturated fatCarbohydrate
Almonds21.2650.643.88112.21432.15528.1
Walnuts15.2365.216.12647.1748.93319.56
Peanuts23.6849.666.89315.69424.6426.66
Pistachio20.6144.445.4413.45523.31934.95

Research

Nuts are under preliminary research to assess whether their consumption is associated with lower risk for some diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. [4] [17] A 2014 review indicated that consuming one or more servings of nuts or peanut butter per day was associated with lower risk of ischemic heart disease, overall cardiovascular disease, stroke in women, and all-cause mortality. [18] A 2022 umbrella review confirmed these findings and found a 22% reduction in all-cause mortality. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fruit</span> Seed-bearing part of a flowering plant

In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pistachio</span> Member of the cashew family

The pistachio, a member of the cashew family, is a small to medium-sized tree originating in Persia. The tree produces seeds that are widely consumed as food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peanut</span> Legume cultivated as a grain and oil crop

The peanut, also known as the groundnut, goober (US), goober pea, pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics by small and large commercial producers, both as grain legume and as an oil crop. Atypically among legumes, peanut pods develop underground leading botanist Carl Linnaeus to name peanuts hypogaea, which means "under the earth".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cashew</span> Species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae

Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree Anacardium occidentale, in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South America and is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. The tree can grow as tall as 14 metres, but the dwarf cultivars, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), prove more profitable, with earlier maturity and greater yields. The cashew nut is edible and is eaten on its own as a snack, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. The nut is often simply called a 'cashew'.

A nut is a fruit consisting of a hard or tough nutshell protecting a kernel which is usually edible. In general usage and in a culinary sense, many dry seeds are called nuts, but in a botanical context, "nut" implies that the shell does not open to release the seed (indehiscent).

<i>Macadamia</i> Genus of plants indigenous to Australia

Macadamia is a genus of four species of trees in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. They are indigenous to Australia, native to northeastern New South Wales and central and southeastern Queensland specifically. Two species of the genus are commercially important for their fruit, the macadamia nut. Global production in 2015 was 160,000 tonnes. Other names include Queensland nut, bush nut, maroochi nut, bauple nut and, in the US, they are also known as Hawaii nut. It was an important source of bushfood for the Aboriginal peoples.

<i>Corylus avellana</i> Species of tree (common hazel)

Corylus avellana, the common hazel, is a species of flowering plant in the birch family Betulaceae. The shrubs usually grow 3–8 metres tall. The nut is round, in contrast to the longer filbert nut. Common hazel is native to Europe and Western Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food allergy</span> Hypersensitivity reaction to a food

A food allergy is an abnormal immune response to food. The symptoms of the allergic reaction may range from mild to severe. They may include itchiness, swelling of the tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, trouble breathing, or low blood pressure. This typically occurs within minutes to several hours of exposure. When the symptoms are severe, it is known as anaphylaxis. A food intolerance and food poisoning are separate conditions, not due to an immune response.

Carrier oil, also known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin in massage and aromatherapy. They are so named because they carry the essential oil onto the skin at a safe concentration. Diluting essential oils is a critical safety practice when using essential oils. Essential oils alone are volatile; they begin to dissipate as soon as they are applied. The rate of dispersion varies based on factors such as viscosity, vapour pressure, and the molecular weight of the volatile components. Carrier oils do not contain a concentrated aroma, unlike essential oils, though some, such as olive, have a mild distinctive smell. Neither do they evaporate like essential oils, which are more volatile. The carrier oils used should be as natural and unadulterated as possible. Many people feel organic oils are of higher quality. Cold-pressing and maceration are the two main methods of producing carrier oils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nut butter</span> Spreadable paste of nuts

A nut butter is a spreadable foodstuff made by grinding nuts or seeds into a paste. The result has a high fat content and can be spread like dairy butter. True nut butters include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk substitute</span> Alternative substance that resembles milk

A milk substitute is any substance that resembles milk and can be used in the same ways as milk. Such substances may be variously known as non-dairy beverage, nut milk, grain milk, legume milk, mock milk and alternative milk.

The law in the United Kingdom on food information and labelling is multifaceted and is spread over many reforms and parliamentary acts. UK law is based on the relevant European Union rules, chiefly Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, which is implemented in the UK in the Food Information Regulations 2014, the Food Information (Wales) Regulations 2014, the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and the Food Information Regulations 2014. Regulations apply to the labelling of goods pre-packaged for sale and to the provision of information regarding non-prepacked (loose) foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peanut allergy</span> Type of food allergy caused by peanuts

Peanut allergy is a type of food allergy to peanuts. It is different from tree nut allergies, because peanuts are legumes and not true nuts. Physical symptoms of allergic reaction can include itchiness, hives, swelling, eczema, sneezing, asthma attack, abdominal pain, drop in blood pressure, diarrhea, and cardiac arrest. Anaphylaxis may occur. Those with a history of asthma are more likely to be severely affected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almond butter</span> Nut butter made from almonds

Almond butter is a food paste made from grinding almonds into a nut butter. Almond butter may be "crunchy" or "smooth", and is generally "stir" or "no-stir" (emulsified). Almond butter may be either raw or roasted, but this describes the almonds themselves, prior to grinding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixed nuts</span> Snack food containing a mixture of nuts

Mixed nuts are a snack food consisting of any mixture of mechanically or manually combined nuts. Common constituents are peanuts, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts (filberts), and pecans. Mixed nuts may be salted, roasted, cooked, or blanched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crunchy Nut</span> Breakfast cereal made by Kelloggs

Crunchy Nut is a breakfast cereal made by Kellogg's with flakes of corn, honey, three types of sugar, and chopped peanuts. The product was created by Kellogg's employees at their Trafford Park factory in Greater Manchester and first introduced in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tree nut allergy</span> Medical condition

A tree nut allergy is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances from tree nuts and edible tree seeds causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe physical symptoms. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts/hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, shea nuts and walnuts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sesame allergy</span> Food allergy caused by sesame seeds

A food allergy to sesame seeds has prevalence estimates in the range of 0.1–0.2% of the general population, and are higher in the Middle East and other countries where sesame seeds are used in traditional foods. Reporting of sesame seed allergy has increased in the 21st century, either due to a true increase from exposure to more sesame foods or due to an increase in awareness. Increasing sesame allergy rates have induced more countries to regulate food labels to identify sesame ingredients in products and the potential for allergy. In the United States, sesame became the ninth food allergen with mandatory labeling, effective 1 January 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Nut: Plant reproductive body". Encyclopedia Britannica. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Alasalvar, Cesarettin; Shahidi, Fereidoon (17 December 2008). Tree Nuts: Composition, Phytochemicals, and Health Effects (Nutraceutical Science and Technology). CRC. p. 143. ISBN   978-0-8493-3735-2.
  3. ↑ Black, Michael H.; Halmer, Peter (2006). The encyclopedia of seeds: science, technology and uses . Wallingford, UK: CABI. p.  228. ISBN   978-0-85199-723-0.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Nuts". Micronutrient Information Center, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 1 September 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Armstrong, W.P. (15 March 2009). "Fruits Called Nuts". Palomar College. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Production of nuts (use pick lists for Crops/Regions/World list/Production Quantity)". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT). 2019. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  7. ↑ Wilkinson, Jennifer (2005). Nut Grower's Guide: The Complete Handbook for Producers and Hobbyists. Csiro Publishing. p. 14. ISBN   0-643-06963-1. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Motaung, Ntswaki (30 May 2018). "More and more macadamia produced globally". Agriorbit. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Pecans". Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. August 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Geisler, Malinda; Romero, Christina (October 2018). "Pine Nuts". agmrc.org. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Harding, Mary. "Nut Allergy". Patient. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Common Food Allergens". Food Allergy Research & Education. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  13. ↑ REGULATION (EU) No 1169/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (Annex II SUBSTANCES OR PRODUCTS CAUSING ALLERGIES OR INTOLERANCES). European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  14. 1 2 Jaffa, Myer Edward (1908). Nuts and Their Uses as Food. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 14–18. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Whitney, Ellie; Rolfes, Sharon Rady (2018). Understanding Nutrition. Cengage Learning. pp. 755–. ISBN   978-1-337-67237-5. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Kris-Etherton PM, Yu-Poth S, Sabaté J, Ratcliffe HE, Zhao G, Etherton TD (1999). "Nuts and their bioactive constituents: effects on serum lipids and other factors that affect disease risk". Am J Clin Nutr. 70 (3 Suppl): 504S –511S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/70.3.504s . PMID   10479223.
  17. ↑ Aune, D; Keum, N; Giovannucci, E; Fadnes, LT; Boffetta, P; Greenwood, DC; Tonstad, S; Vatten, LJ; Riboli, E; Norat, T (5 December 2016). "Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies". BMC Medicine. 14 (1): 207. doi: 10.1186/s12916-016-0730-3 . PMC   5137221 . PMID   27916000.
  18. ↑ Luo, C; Zhang, Y; Ding, Y; Shan, Z; Chen, S; Yu, M; Hu, FB; Liu, L (July 2014). "Nut consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 100 (1): 256–69. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.076109 . PMID   24847854.
  19. ↑ Balakrishna R, Bjørnerud T, Bemanian M, Aune D, Fadnes LT (2022). "Consumption of Nuts and Seeds and Health Outcomes Including Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, Cancer, and Mortality: an Umbrella Review". Advances in Nutrition. 13 (6): 2136–2148. doi:10.1093/advances/nmac077. PMC   9776667 . PMID   36041171.

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