Nutritional Overview Nutritional Analysis Nutrition Seal

Hazelnuts are valued for their ultra indulgent flavor and upscale appeal, but don’t let their rich flavor fool you. They are also one of the most nutritious nuts. Hazelnuts are an excellent source of vitamin E, dietary fiber, magnesium, and heart healthy B vitamins. Recent research also shows that hazelnuts are one of the highest natural sources of antioxidants.

Qualified Health Claim for Hazelnuts
Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States, claiming over one million lives each year. It’s no wonder that the American public is in search of foods that are deemed “heart-healthy.” In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim that linked nut consumption to a reduced risk of heart disease. The claim states:

“Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as hazelnuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Heart Health & Good Fats
Hazelnuts are a rich source of nutrients that have cardioprotective benefits. These nutrients include vitamin E, folate, B vitamins and arginine (an amino acid that relaxes blood vessels).

Hazelnuts also have one the lowest percentages of saturated fat (along with pinenuts and almonds) and one of the best nut sources of heart healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Numerous studies have shown unsaturated fats can lower blood cholesterol and help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. The favorable fatty acid profile is another reason why hazelnuts are great heart-smart snacks.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been touted as an important antioxidant that may have cardioprotective benefits. Consumers have high awareness of vitamin E, placing it among the top-selling vitamin supplements in the United States. The newly revised food guidance system, known as MyPyramid, specifically lists hazelnuts as one of the richest sources of vitamin E and the guidelines suggest choosing hazelnuts more often to help meet vitamin E recommendations.

Click here to download more information about Vitamin E.

Antioxidants
Hazelnuts are one of the highest natural sources of antioxidants among “superfoods” and are one of the most antioxidant-rich nuts. Foods rich in antioxidant content mop-up free radicals in the blood stream that can eventually lead to serious diseases.

Hazelnuts also have one of the highest Proanthocyanidin (PAC) contents among ”superfoods” and the second highest among nuts. PACs are known to have antioxidant capabilities 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times more potent than vitamin E. The antioxidants found in PACs may have t¬he ability to strengthen blood vessels, suppress platelet stickiness in arteries, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, delay the onset of dementia and lower blood pressure.

Click here to download the full research on antioxidants and PAC content.

Other Nutrition Resources
Download the Hazelnut Council’s Health Brochure
Download the Hazelnut Council’s Healthy Snacking Brochure