Products
Hazelnuts, hazelnut oil and processed products are available in grocery stores and specialty stores.
Stem plant
The parent plant is the common hazel, a shrub or tree of the birch family native to Europe. For cultivation is also of importance. The two largest and most important producers are Turkey and Italy.
Fruits
The dried hazelnut kernels, freed from the hard shell, are used. Hazelnut kernels are sold with or without the brown skin, blanched, roasted, chopped and ground.
Ingredients
Hazelnut ingredients include:
- Fats / hazelnut oil (60%) with a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA).
- Carbohydrates (16%)
- Proteins (15%)
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Dietary fiber (dietary fiber)
- Antioxidants
- Phytosterols
- Water
Effects
Hazelnuts have lipid-lowering and antioxidant properties and may help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Uses
- As food.
- For the production of processed foods, for sweets such as hazelnut chocolate, Nutella, nougat, brittle, pralines and hazelnut cream.
Hazelnuts also serve as food for mice and squirrels.
Adverse effects
Possible adverse effects include allergic reactions. Hazelnuts have a high caloric value of over 600 kcal / 100 g.
