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DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM NUT-FRIENDLY HEALTH TRENDS
HAZELNUTS: NUTRITIOUS AND INDULGENT
Hazelnuts are valued for their ultra indulgent flavor and upscale appeal, but did you know they are one of the most nutritious nuts? Hazelnuts are a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and heart healthy B vitamins. Thanks to recent media attention about nut consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, consumers are looking for ways to add nuts back into their diets. Hazelnuts can give food products a nutritional boost while adding the indulgence and satisfaction that consumers crave.
Rich in Antioxidants & Disease-Fighting Nutrients
Not only are hazelnuts a high-quality source of protein and fiber, they also contain a variety of antioxidants such as vitamin E and a host of phytonutrients that benefit the immune system. Hazelnuts are a rich source of nutrients that have cardioprotective benefits. These nutrients include arginine, an amino acid that relaxes blood vessels, folate and heart healthy B vitamins. In fact, hazelnuts have the highest concentration of folate among tree nuts. Folate reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects, and may help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Hazelnuts also contain the blood pressure-lowering minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium. Additional research linking nuts to reduced cancer risk has also shown that the amino acid arginine may inhibit tumor growth and boost immunity.
Smart Source of Energy & Healthy Fats
Although nuts received a bad rap for being high in fat, they’re now being praised as an excellent source of energy and a good provider of unsaturated fats or “good fats.” Numerous studies have shown unsaturated fats can lower blood cholesterol and help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hazelnuts are one of the best nut sources of heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) per serving, and hazelnuts have the lowest percentage of saturated fat (along with pinenuts and almonds). Other fats in nuts known as phytosterols actually mimic cholesterol and block food-based cholesterol from being absorbed into the blood stream, lowering LDL cholesterol and further decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Endorsed by Respected Sources
FDA-Approved Label Language:
“Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces of most nuts per day, such as hazelnuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”
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Everyone is talking about the health benefits of nuts. The DASH Eating Plan is recommended in the most recent version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which were jointly issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). The DASH eating plan suggests incorporating 1.5 ounces of healthy nuts, such as hazelnuts, into the diet four to five times per week, depending on caloric intake. Nuts are recommended because they are good sources of energy, magnesium, potassium, protein and fiber.
Don’t Miss the Opportunity to be Part of the Health Trend
According to MarketResearch.com, Inc., “…marketers will miss opportunities if they don’t launch products appealing to the health conscious consumers.” Results from the 2005 Hazelnut Consumer Survey indicate that:
- 90 percent of consumers aware of hazelnuts on an unaided basis perceive them as healthy
- 82 percent of consumers say nutrition is important to the purchase of foods with nuts
- 72 percent are aware of the health benefits of including nuts in their daily diet
Adding hazelnuts is a prefect way to create a healthier product with broad consumer appeal!
Nutritional Comparison of Nuts and Peanuts
Click here to and learn more about the nutritional benefits of hazelnuts.
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