Brazil nut
Brazil nut tree | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Lecythidaceae |
Genus: | Bertholletia Bonpl. |
Species: | B. excelsa
|
Binomial name | |
Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl.
|
The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is a South American tree in the family Lecythidaceae, and it is also the name of the tree's commercially harvested edible seeds.[2] It is one of the largest and longest-lived trees in the Amazon rainforest. The fruit and its nutshell – containing the edible Brazil nut – are relatively large, possibly weighing as much as 2 kg (4.4 lb) in total weight. As food, Brazil nuts are notable for diverse content of micronutrients, especially a high amount of selenium. The wood of the Brazil nut tree is prized for its quality in carpentry, flooring, and heavy construction.
Common names
In Portuguese-speaking countries, like Brazil, they are variously called "castanha-do-brasil"[3][4] (meaning "chestnuts from Brazil" in Portuguese), "castanha-do-pará" (meaning "chestnuts from Pará" in Portuguese), with other names: castanha-da-amazônia,[5] castanha-do-acre,[6] "noz amazônica" (meaning "Amazonian nut" in Portuguese), noz boliviana, tocari ("probably of Carib origin"[7]), and tururi (from Tupi turu'ri[8]) also used.[2]
In various Spanish-speaking countries of South America, Brazil nuts are called castañas de Brasil, nuez de Brasil, or castañas de Pará (or Para).[2][9]
In North America, as early as 1896, Brazil nuts were sometimes known by the
Description
The Brazil nut is a large tree, reaching 50 metres (160 feet) tall,[15] and with a trunk 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) in diameter, making it among the largest of trees in the Amazon rainforest. It may live for 500 years or more, and can often reach a thousand years of age.[16] The stem is straight and commonly without branches for well over half the tree's height, with a large, emergent crown of long branches above the surrounding canopy of other trees.
The bark is grayish and smooth. The leaves are dry-season
Reproduction
Brazil nut trees produce fruit almost exclusively in pristine forests, as disturbed forests lack the large-bodied bees of the genera
The fruit takes 14 months to mature after pollination of the flowers. The fruit itself is a large
The capsule contains a small hole at one end, which enables large rodents like the
Taxonomy
The Brazil nut family, the Lecythidaceae, is in the order
Distribution and habitat
The Brazil nut is native to the
Production
Brazil nut production – 2020 | |
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Country | (tonnes) |
Brazil | 33,118 |
Bolivia | 30,843 |
Peru | 5,697 |
World | 69,658 |
Source: FAOSTAT of the United Nations[24]
|
In 2020, global production of Brazil nuts (in shells) was 69,658
which produced 92% of the world total (table).Environmental effects of harvesting
Since most of the production for international trade is harvested in the wild,[25][26] the business arrangement has been advanced as a model for generating income from a tropical forest without destroying it.[25] The nuts are most often gathered by migrant workers known as castañeros (in Spanish) or castanheiros (in Portuguese).[25] Logging is a significant threat to the sustainability of the Brazil nut-harvesting industry.[25][26]
Analysis of tree ages in areas that are harvested shows that moderate and intense gathering takes so many seeds that not enough are left to replace older trees as they die.[26] Sites with light gathering activities had many young trees, while sites with intense gathering practices had nearly none.[27]
European Union import regulation
In 2003, the European Union imposed strict regulations on the import of Brazilian-harvested Brazil nuts in their shells, as the shells are considered to contain unsafe levels of aflatoxins, a potential cause of liver cancer.[28]
Toxicity
Brazil nuts are susceptible to contamination by aflatoxins, produced by fungi, once they fall to the ground.[29] Aflatoxins can cause liver damage, including possible cancer, if consumed.[28] Aflatoxin levels have been found in Brazil nuts during inspections that were far higher than the limits set by the EU.[30] However, mechanical sorting and drying was found to eliminate 98% of aflatoxins; a 2003 EU ban on importation[28] was rescinded after new tolerance levels were set.
The nuts often contain
Brazil nuts also contain barium, a metal with a chemical behavior quite similar to radium.[33] While barium, if ingested, can have toxic effects, such as weakness, vomiting, or diarrhea,[34] the amount present in Brazil nuts are orders of magnitude too small to have noticeable health effects.
Uses
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
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Energy | 2,743 kJ (656 kcal) |
12.27 g | |
Starch | 0.25 g |
Sugars | 2.33 g |
Dietary fiber | 7.5 g |
66.43 g | |
Saturated | 15.137 g |
Monounsaturated | 24.548 g |
Polyunsaturated | 20.577 g |
14.32 g | |
Tryptophan | 0.141 g |
Threonine | 0.362 g |
Isoleucine | 0.516 g |
Leucine | 1.155 g |
Lysine | 0.492 g |
Methionine | 1.008 g |
Phenylalanine | 0.630 g |
Tyrosine | 0.420 g |
Valine | 0.756 g |
Arginine | 2.148 g |
Histidine | 0.386 g |
Alanine | 0.577 g |
Aspartic acid | 1.346 g |
Glutamic acid | 3.147 g |
Glycine | 0.718 g |
Proline | 0.657 g |
Serine | 0.683 g |
Niacin (B3) | 2% 0.295 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) | 4% 0.184 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 6% 0.101 mg |
Folate (B9) | 6% 22 μg |
Vitamin C | 1% 0.7 mg |
Vitamin E | 38% 5.73 mg |
Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
Calcium | 12% 160 mg |
Iron | 14% 2.43 mg |
Magnesium | 90% 376 mg |
Manganese | 52% 1.2 mg |
Phosphorus | 58% 725 mg |
Potassium | 14% 659 mg |
Sodium | 0% 3 mg |
Zinc | 37% 4.06 mg |
Other constituents | Quantity |
Water | 3.48 g |
Beta-sitosterol | 64 mg |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults.[35] |
Nutrition
Brazil nuts are 3% water, 14% protein, 12% carbohydrates, and 66% fats (table). The fat components are 16% saturated, 24% monounsaturated, and 24% polyunsaturated (see table for USDA source).
In a 100 grams (3.5 ounces) reference amount, Brazil nuts supply 659
Selenium
Brazil nuts are a particularly rich source of selenium, with just 28 g (1 oz) supplying 544 micrograms of selenium or 10 times the DV of 55 micrograms (see table for USDA source).[36] However, the amount of selenium within batches of nuts may vary considerably.[37]
The high selenium content is used as a biomarker in studies of selenium intake and deficiency.[38][39] Consumption of just one Brazil nut per day over 8 weeks was sufficient to restore selenium blood levels and increase HDL cholesterol in obese women.[39]
Oil
Brazil nut
The following table presents the composition of fatty acids in Brazil nut oil (see USDA source in nutrition table):
Palmitic acid | 10% |
Palmitoleic acid | 0.2% |
Stearic acid | 6% |
Oleic acid | 24% |
Linoleic acid | 24% |
Alpha-linolenic acid |
0.04% |
Saturated fats |
16% |
Unsaturated fats |
48% |
Wood
The
Other uses
Brazil nut oil is used as a
Gallery
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A Brazil nut tree (Castanheira)
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Tree branch
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Brazil nut seeds in shell
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A carved Brazil nut fruit
See also
- Brazil nut cake
- List of culinary nuts
- Official list of endangered flora of Brazil
- Granular convection
References
- . Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Mori, Scott A. "The Brazil Nut Industry – Past, Present, and Future". The New York Botanical Garden. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ^ "Nomes comuns: castanha-do-brasil, castanha-do-pará ou castanha-da-amazônia" (PDF). - Folder Embrapa
- ^ COSTA, J. R. (et al.).Uma das espécies nativas mais valiosas da floresta amazônica de terra firme é a castanha-do-brasil ou castanha-da-amazônia (Bertholletia excelsa), - Acta Amazônica vol. 39(4) 2009: 843 - 850
- ISBN 978-85-00-01357-7. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Negócios para Amazônia sustentável" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2023. - Ministério do Meio Ambiente. Rio de Janeiro, 2003. p. 50.
- S2CID 43465637.
- ^ Ferreira, A. B. H. (1986). Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa (2nd edition). Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira. p. 1729
- ^ PROYECTO PARA DECLARACIÓN DE ALÉRGENOS y SUSTANCIAS QUE PRODUCEN REACCIONES ADVERSAS EN LOS RÓTULOS DE LOS ALIMENTOS, CUALQUIERA SEA SU ORIGEN, ENVASADOS EN AUSENCIA DEL CLIENTE, LISTOS PARA SER OFRECIDOS AL CONSUMIDOR (DEC. 117/006 DEL RBN) [Project for Declaration of Allergens and Substances that produce adverse reactions in food labels, whatever their origin, packaged in the absence of the client, ready to be offered to the consumer] (PDF) (Report). Argentine government. n.d. p. 3.
- ISBN 978-1345211849.
- doi:10.1086/330613.
- ^ ""Nigger", noun and adjective". Oxford English Dictionary. 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ Essig, Laurie (July 12, 2016). "White Like Me, Nice Like Me". Psychology Today. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- S2CID 162318582.
- ^ a b Hennessey, Tim (March 2, 2001). "The Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa)". Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ^ Taitson, Bruno (January 18, 2007). "Harvesting nuts, improving lives in Brazil". World Wildlife Fund. Archived from the original on May 23, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- S2CID 87265447. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ Moritz, A. (1984). Estudos biológicos da floração e da frutificação da castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa HBK) [Biological studies of flowering and fruiting of Brazil nuts (Bertholleira excelsa HKB)] (in Portuguese). Vol. 29. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- .
- ^ Ortiz, Enrique G. "The Brazil Nut Tree: More than just nuts". Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ^ S2CID 84855812.
- S2CID 246307410. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- PMID 34513165.
- ^ "Brazil nut production in 2020; Crops/Regions/World list/Production Quantity (pick lists)". UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT). 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Evans, Kate (November 7, 2013). "Harvesting both timber and Brazil nuts in Peru's Amazon forests: Can they coexist?". Forests News. Center for International Forestry Research. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via CIFOR.org.
- ^ a b c Kivner, Mark (May 11, 2010). "Intensive harvests 'threaten Brazil nut tree future'". BBC News: Science and Environment. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- PMID 16701269.
- ^ a b c "Commission Decision of 4 July 2003 imposing special conditions on the import of Brazil nuts in shell originating in or consigned from Brazil". Official Journal of the European Union: 33–38. July 5, 2003. 2003/493/EC.
- ^ "Aflatoxins in food". European Food Safety Authority. March 1, 2007.
- ^ "Research improves the control of Brazil nut contamination by mycotoxins". AGÊNCIA FAPESP. August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Brazil Nuts". Oak Ridge Associated Universities. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
- ^ Adams, Rod (January 4, 2014). "BBC Bang Goes the Theory demonstrates that NOT all Brazil nuts are radioactive". Atomic Insights. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ "Brazil Nuts". Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity. Retrieved October 6, 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Biomonitoring Summary". www.cdc.gov. September 3, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Selenium". Office of Dietary Supplements, US National Institutes of Health. March 26, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- PMID 7889353.
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- ^ PMID 26011909.
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- ^ a b c "Bertholletia excelsa - Bonpl". Plants for a Future. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Greenpeace Activists Trapped by Loggers in Amazon". Greenpeace. October 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ^ Moncrieff, Virginia M. (September 21, 2015). "A little logging may go a long way". Forest News. Center for International Forestry Research. Retrieved July 8, 2020 – via CIFOR.org.
- ^ de Oliveira Wadt, Lucia Helena; de Souza, Joana Maria Leite. "Árvore do Conhecimento – Castanha-do-Brasil" [Tree of Knowledge – Brazil nut]. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ISBN 978-94-007-2534-8.