Brazil Nuts - Bertholettia Excelsa

An excellent source of Selenium and a good source of Megnesium and Thiamine, the Brazil nut is a actually a seed. In its natural form, it is contained in hard pods, similar in appearance to that of a coconut, containing between 10 and 25 seeds. The Brazil nut trees can reach a height of 60 metres and over 2 metres diameter, reaching over 1000 years of age.

Brazil nuts are most popular in the UK and the USA where they are associated with Christmas time. In-shell nuts are either eaten raw, roasted or salted. They can be used as additional ingredients in ice cream, desserts or nut mixes.

The Brazil nut is also popular with the health & beauty industries, since its high selenium content (about 2,500 times the amount found in other nuts) is a powerful antioxidant which has been found to slow the aging process, stimulate the immune system and protect against heart disease and certain forms of cancer. Brazil nut oil is frequently found in shampoos, conditioners, soaps and skin lotions.

Like all nuts, brazil nuts are an excellent source of protein and fiber, and are a popular source of nutrition and minerals with vegetarians. Brazil nuts are high in minerals including zinc and magnesium, and contain useful amounts of phosphorous, copper and iron.

Nutritional Information for Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts (un-blanched), 6-8 kernels (1 oz. [28g])
Calories: 186
Protein: 4.0g
Carbohydrate: 3.6g
Total Fat: 18.8g
Fibre: 1.5g
*Excellent source of: Selenium (839mcg)
*Good source of: Magnesium (63.8mg), and Thiamine (0.28mg)

*Foods that are an "excellent source" of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a "good source" of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organisation in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

Send Someone a Gift Basket or Hamper with Brazil Nuts

The following Ripe Gifts hampers feature Brazil Nuts:

Nuts About You

Nuts About Christmas