Hazelnut is a dry fruit that comes from the hazel tree. It has a good nutrition content. Hazelnuts are generally loaded with healthy fats and great nutrients but with high-calorie content. It has hard shells, a protective husk, and a single seed. Filbert and cobnut are some of its other famous names.
1.1 million tonnes were the quantity of hazelnut production worldwide in 2020. Turkey took first place in producing hazelnut, which is 62% of the total output. United States, Italy, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Chile also play essential roles as hazelnut producer countries.
From this article, you can get almost all kinds of information about hazelnut, like hazelnut in Tamil, their popularity, benefits, nutritional value, etc.
| Tamil name | Vatumai Kottai Vakai or Jathipathri |
| Scientific name | Corylus avellana |
| Family | Betulaceae |
| Genus | Corylus |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Order | Fagales |
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Benefits of hazelnut
There are so many health benefits of a hazelnut because hazelnut contains good fats, protein, nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. But from this article, you will know some of them –
1. Provides dietary fibre
It contains a good amount of dietary fibre. Eating a sufficient amount of hazelnut helps to control constipation, and it can be a healthy option. A 31 to 50 years old woman should consume 25 grams of dietary fibre daily. A same-aged man should consume 30.5 grams of fibre every day. You can get 2.7 grams of dietary fibre from a 28-gram hazelnut serving.
You can get phosphorus, folate, vitamin B6, zinc, and potassium from hazelnut. It is also a good source of polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. It has a good amount of omega-9 and omega six fatty acids like Oleic acid. Phytic acid helps absorb various nuts’ minerals, like zinc and iron. Phytic acid is present in hazelnut.
2. Contains high antioxidants
A high amount of antioxidants are present in hazelnut. Oxidative stress can promote aging, damage cell structure, and lead to heart disease and cancer. But you can reduce the effect of oxidative stress and protect your body with the help of antioxidants in nuts, including hazelnut.
The phenolic compound is the abundant antioxidant that is present in hazelnut. It helps to reduce inflammation of the body and bad cholesterol. It would help if you consumed hazelnut with its skin because it contains a measured amount of antioxidants.
3. Controls the weight gain procedure
According to a study, it is proven that adding nuts like hazelnut to the diet can help to prevent weight gain. Reducing weight gain and consumption of nuts are directly proportional to each other. You can also low down the obesity risk by eating hazelnut. As compare to people who eat nuts daily are not prone to weight gain or are overweight the people who don’t eat hazelnut.
4. Protects cells from damage
Antioxidant is another source of hazelnut. It works like an antioxidant and protects the body’s cells from damage. It decreases the damage to cell extension from free radicals. Vitamin E works as an antioxidant which is present in hazelnut. Vitamin E can work as a shield for the human body and fight against cell damage due to cancer.
5. Controls cholesterol
You can reduce the problem of cholesterol by consuming hazelnut regularly. Lipoprotein cholesterol can be a cause of various heart problems. But nuts like hazelnut can help to reduce this type of low-density cholesterol and helps the human body to be healthy.
It would help if you consumed hazelnut daily because it decreases the harmful cholesterol level but consults your doctor or dietician first.
6. Boosts insulin sensitivity
You can improve your body’s insulin sensitivity by consuming hazelnut. Consuming 30 grams of mixed nut bowl daily, including hazelnut, in the quantity of 7 to 8 grams can improve your insulin sensitivity within 8 to 10 weeks. Low insulin sensitivity can develop type-2 diabetes. So improvement of insulin sensitivity in the human body is mandatory.
7. Improves heart health
Eating hazelnut every day can keep your heart healthy. You can reduce the high risk of cardiovascular diseases by adding hazelnut-rich food to your diet. To low down blood cholesterol levels and increase the potential for antioxidants, a high concentration of healthy fats and antioxidants can help, which is present in hazelnut.
According to a study, daily eating hazelnut can reduce lousy LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels when the good triglycerides and HDL cholesterols remain the same. The high content of dietary fibres, fatty acids, magnesium, and antioxidants in hazelnut help o control blood pressure.
8. Calm down inflammation
Hazelnut diet can ease the inflammation process in inflammation-prone patients because it has healthy fats in high-concentration processes that fight against the inflammatory makers. If you are suffering from an overweight problem, you should intake 60 grams of hazelnut daily for at least 12 weeks.
9. Helps to improve the count of sperm
According to a study, to improve the quality of sperm and increase the count of sperm, you should eat different types of nuts, including hazelnut. This habit can make you fertile and healthy.
These are some health benefits of hazelnut.
References- healthline.com & webmd.com
Nutritional value of hazelnut
One hundred grams of hazelnut can provide –
| Nutrients | % daily value ( based on 2000 calorie diet ) |
|---|---|
| Calories 628 | – |
| Protein 15 grams | 30% |
| Sugar 4.3 grams | – |
| Dietary fiber 10 grams | 40% |
| Total carbohydrate 17 grams | 5% |
| Potassium 680 mg | 19% |
| Sodium 0 mg | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | 0% |
| Saturated fat 4.5 grams | 22% |
| Total fat 61 grams | 93% |
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cobalamin | 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 10% |
| Calcium | 11% |
| Iron | 26% |
| Magnesium | 40% |
| Vitamin B6 | 30% |
Carbs
The standard serving of 21 hazelnuts have 5 grams of carbohydrate and can provide 178 calories. Fibres are the primary source of hazelnut from where the carbs come from. An exact quantity of carbs, like 1.2 grams, comes from sugar (naturally occurring), and 0.1 grams of carbs come from starch. A serving of hazelnut contains 0 glycemic loads.
Protein
A single serving of hazelnut (21 nuts) can provide more than4 grams of protein.
Fats
The fats of hazelnut mostly come from its calorie. You can find a total of 17 grams of fat from a serving of hazelnut. Most of the fat, which is 13 grams are monounsaturated fats. The quantity of polyunsaturated fat is about 2.2 grams. The healthy form of fat is known as unsaturated fat. A small amount of saturated fat, considered less healthy, is present in hazelnut, about 1.3 grams.
Minerals and vitamins
Hazelnut is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. It also contains thiamin and vitamin E, less quantity of folate and vitamin B6. It is an excellent source of magnesium, copper, and manganese. Hazelnut includes a small amount of zinc, phosphorus, potassium, and iron.
References- verywellfit.com & webmd.com
Types of hazelnuts
Various types of hazelnuts are present in the world including North America, Asia, and Europe.
The textures and colours of hazelnuts may vary depending on their type. You can find three varieties of hazelnut subspecies that differ according to their shape, hardness of their shell, and volume.
1. Corylus avellana Racemosa Lam
These hazelnuts are very voluminous, round, and grouped in clusters. These are in often netted. These are available in acuminate apex, narrow base with a cone shape, and different sizes. Some examples are – San Nicolas, San Juan, San Cono, and Santa Maria de Jesus.
2. Corylus Avellana Glandular Linn
These are available in different sizes with acorn shapes. Its base is cone-shaped and narrow. Its shell is pretty straightforward. Examples are common hazel in Spain, Cannellina, Panuttara, etc.
3. Corylus Avellana Maxima Lam
It is one of the hazelnut species that come under the Betulaceae family. It is the native nut of Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe. You can find it in spherical or round shapes. Its fruits are large or medium. Its shell is very hard.
4. Hybrid hazelnuts
To develop hybrid hazelnuts, which are of high-yielding types and used for commercial purposes, the consortium of hybrid hazelnut is committed. The Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium generally incorporated two varieties of hazelnuts to associate their best traits into a single mixed nut.
Among all types of hazelnuts, there are three main varieties you should know surely. Those are – European hazelnut, beaked hazelnut, and American hazelnut.
5. American hazelnut
Mature American hazelnuts are 1.5 to 3cm ripe. Their branches are generally glandular, which are young. The shell of these nuts is thick.
6. European hazelnut
These hazelnuts are big than American hazelnut and Beaked hazelnut. Another name for European hazelnut is Corylus Avellana.
7. Beaked hazelnut
These are mature and 4 – 7 cm. Branches of these hazelnuts are glandless. Some prickly hairs are present on its involucres. The shells of these nuts are thick and small. These are adaptable in any climate, like Eastern Filbert Blight.
Availability of hazelnut in Tamil areas
Generally, hazelnut is not a production in India. You can find a wild variety of hazelnut in Kashmir and Jammu. But they are of poor quality. So the local people used this variety of hazelnut for cattle feeding. These days, cultivating hazelnut in India improves. Districts of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and Kinnaur are seedling and growing hazelnut.
Hazelnut is not that popular in the South Indian states. But people can buy it from the local market, supermarts, and online. Hazelnut is imported to South India from other cultivated states. So there is no deficiency of hazelnut found there. The hazelnut’s name in Tamil is Vatumai Kottai Vakai or Jathipathri.
Recipes of Hazelnut in Tamil areas
You can use hazelnut in biscuits, cookies, tarts, and cakes. It gives a mindblowing flavour to the dishes. Hazelnut can also use in savoury dishes like pesto, pizza, seafood, and salads. You can make a peanut butter spread from hazelnut, and it is known as hazelnut butter. You can prepare a spicy or sweet dish by coating hazelnut on cinnamon or chocolates. People also use it as a cake topping.
Some dishes prepared with hazelnut are – hazelnut stuffed chocolate pancake, hazelnut blondie, chocolate-hazelnut puff, hazelnut spread, hazelnut milkshake, etc., which are pretty popular among Indian people.
Cost of hazelnut in Tamil areas
The hazelnut price depends upon its quality, size, brand, and variety. You can purchase 1 kg of hazelnut by paying about Rs 300 to Rs 2000 approximately. You can buy it online, and you can get a discount.
Some Photos of Hazelnut
Conclusion
Hazelnuts contain antioxidant compounds, nutrients, vitamins, healthy fats, and minerals. They provide so many health benefits with a delicious taste. You can incorporate hazelnut easily into your diet chart.
Hope you get all the information about hazelnut. Like – hazelnut in Tamil, hazelnut benefits, uses, nutritional value, price, and many more.
Frequently asked questions
Describe hazelnut?
You can find hazelnut from the hazel tree. It is a nut or fruit of that tree. Its one end is pointed. It is a rounded fruit with a hard shell. It has brown lines on its body. It is also famous as the filbert.
What is the taste of hazelnut?
Hazelnut is generally sweet. But it has an earthy and musty flavour init. It smells almost like almond.
What are the types of hazelnut?
The types of hazelnut vary according to their texture and colour. Its main three subspecies are – Corylus avellana Racemosa Lam, Corylus Avellana Glandular Linn, and Corylus Avellana Maxima Lam. three hybrid hazelnut species are – American hazelnut, European hazelnut, and Beaked hazelnut.
How to select the perfect hazelnut?
1. If you want to buy hazelnut with a shell, then first make sure it is heavy and should look complete. This way, you can ensure that the nuts are fresh and young. If they are old and dry, then they feel lighter.
2. The nuts should have tight skin and look plump.
3. The shell should not have any mould growth on it. If the shopkeeper places the nuts in a humid place, it is a high chance of mould on the shells.
4. At last, you should research the hazelnut and the local market well before buying it.
What are the methods to store hazelnut?
If you want to store hazelnuts for a long time, then buy fewer processes hazelnut. It would help if you kept them with shells. With shells, they can last atleast a year. Before using hazelnut, you should grind, slice, chop, or roast it.
What are the allergy symptoms of hazelnut?
If hazelnut doesn’t suit your body, there is a chance of allergy. Some symptoms are – itching, burning in the throat and mouth, and swelling.
