Hazelnut, antioxidant activity, anti-carcinogenic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, unsaturated fatty acid contents and hypolipidemic effects
Description : Hazelnut is a nutrient dense nut with potential health benefits. It has been traditionally used for
Article Details :
Hazelnut is a nutrient dense nut with potential health benefits. It has been traditionally used for its numerous therapeutic advantages.
Nutritional profile
- It contains fewer amounts of carbohydrate and desirable amount of fibre
- It also contains proteins
- It contains significant amount of fat but the fat present in hazelnut is considered as healthy fat as it contains adequate amount of MUFA and PUFA. It also contains too some extent of saturated fat but totally free from cholesterol
- It contains numerous micronutrients, which include Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, calcium, magnesium and iron
Biological property
Antioxidant property
- It is packed with antioxidants
- Its consumption is very effective for reducing oxidative stress
- It helps to decrease the concentration of free radicals within body and protects the body from their harmful consequences
- It also helps to prevent lipid peroxidation thus spares the lipid from oxidation and helps to sustain their functionality in body
- It helps to protect every cell of body from oxidative damages hence helps to sustain their functionality and decreases the risk of developing chronic diseases
Anti-inflammatory property
- It helps to protect the body from various inflammatory damages and decreases the susceptibility of developing chronic inflammatory diseases
- It is associated with delaying the onset of inflammatory events in body
- It has seen that it is related with reducing the concentration of inflammatory markers in body (especially C-reactive protein) that help to prevent inflammation
- It helps to reduce swelling and pain too
Anti-carcinogenic property
- Its micronutrients and antioxidant components are considered as the main components that exert potent anti-carcinogenic activities
- Proanthocyanidins is another important compound present in hazelnut also exerts anti-carcinogenic activity
- It helps to suppress the growth of malignant cells and tumor cells
- It helps to stimulate the regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis that helps to kill cancerous cells
- Its Vitamin E content also helps to prevent cellular damages thus decreases the risk of developing cancers
Health benefits
Role on digestive health
- It contains significant amount of fibre, which plays vital role in enhancing bowel movement hence prevents constipation
- It helps to improve colonic motility, which is associated with cleaning up the bowel and also promotes colonic health
- It helps to protect the gastrointestinal tract from the oxidative and inflammatory damages thus decreases the risk of developing gastrointestinal disorders
Role on reproductive system
- It plays crucial role in promoting reproductive functions especially male reproductive functions
- It helps to improve sperm quality as well as sperm count and thus facilitates fertilization
Role on regulating cholesterol level
- Hazelnut has strong lipid lowering activities
- It has seen that consumption of hazelnut is related with reducing the concentration of LDL and triglyceride in body about 7%
- This reduction in lipid content significantly decreases the risk of developing hypercholesterolemia, arthrosclerosis and coronary artery disease
- It also helps to increase the level of HDL in blood, which helps to decrease the susceptibility of metabolic syndrome
- Individual with elevated lipid profile should consume hazelnut for obtaining a healthy lipid status
Role on muscle
- Being a good source of protein it plays vital role in the growth and development of muscles
- Its magnesium content is also related with strengthening the muscle
- It helps in muscle contraction as it contributes adequate amount of calcium
- It helps to reduce overstress on muscle that helps to ease muscular tension
- It is also related with preventing muscle fatigue, cramp, spasm and soreness
- It has seen that individuals who consume hazel nut significantly increase their lean muscle mass
Role on nervous system
- Its consumption is closely related with promoting the function of nervous system as it contains desirable amount of Vitamin B6
- This vitamin of hazelnut plays significant role in the synthesis of myelin sheath that helps to improve the swiftness and efficiency of electrical impulses
- It is also associated with stimulating the release of various neurotransmitters such as melatonin, epinephrine and serotonin, which help to improve the transduction of nerve impulses throughout the Read more
