Pecan, polyphenolic compounds, MUFA, PUFA, micronutrients, antioxidant
Description : Pecan is a delicious and nutrient dense nut native to Southern United States and Northern Mexico.
Article Details :
Pecan is a delicious and nutrient dense nut native to Southern United States and Northern Mexico. It is well known for its sensory quality and health promoting activities. It is packed with MUFA, PUFA, polyphenolic compounds, antioxidants and micronutrients, which serve various important functions of the body.
Nutritional overview
- It contains very less amounts of carbohydrates though it contains desirable amount of dietary fibre
- It also contains some proteins
- It contains fat as well. It contains both saturated and unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA and PUFA) but does not contain any cholesterol
- It contains several vitamins, which include Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B9
- It also contains various minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, iron and copper
- It is packed with phytonutrients, which include various monomeric as well as polymeric polyphenolic compounds. These phytonutrient components of pecan are responsible for showing significant nutraceutical activities, which help to prevent several chronic diseases
Biological property
Antioxidant activity
- Polyphenoic compounds (especially flavonoid) and vitamin contents of pecan are considered as principal compounds accountable for exerting antioxidant activities
- Its consumption is very effective for reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases as it helps to protect the body from oxidative damages
- It plays vital role in reducing the concentration of free radicals and reactive oxygen species within body thus helps to reduce oxidative stress
- It also helps to promote cellular functionality by protecting cells from injuries and damages
Anti-inflammatory activity
- Consumption of pecan is extremely beneficial for inhibiting the onset of inflammatory events within body and significantly reduces the prevalence of inflammatory diseases
- Pecan contains desirable amount of magnesium, which plays essential role in preventing inflammation by reducing the concentration of inflammatory indicators within body
- It is also associated with inhibiting swelling and pain
Antimicrobial activity
- It helps to inhibit the growth as well as reproduction of microbes within host and protects the body from the harmful consequences of infectious diseases
- It especially exhibits its antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Anti-carcinogenic activity
- Consumption of pecan significantly reduces the susceptibility of cancers
- This nut is packed with ellagic acid, which has strong anti-proliferative property that helps to prevent the proliferation of cancerous cells
- It also helps to inhibit the binding of carcinogenic compounds (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines etc) to DNA and prevents DNA damages, which helps to decrease the prevalence of cancers as well
- It is also associated with preventing gene mutation (considered as an important causative factor of cancers)
- Consumption of pecan especially reduces the prevalence of breast and colon cancer
Health benefits
Role on immunity
- It plays significant role in strengthening the defense mechanism of body
- Its phytonutrients, antioxidants and vitamin contents are responsible for boosting up the immunity
- It also contains significant amount of zinc, which plays crucial role in promoting the growth, development and functionality of immune cells
- It helps to enhance the resistant power of body as well hence increases diseases fighting ability
Role on digestive health
- Indigestion is a very common problem experienced by a wide range of individual, which causes severe abdominal discomfort and heart burn. Pecan should be consumed for overcoming this digestive issue as it helps to promote digestion of food as well as absorption of nutrients
- Its fibre content plays significant role in enhancing bowel movement that promotes regularity
- It is also associated with increasing colonic motility that helps to move the food materials effectively through colon thus clean the gastrointestinal tract
- It plays important role in preventing various gastrointestinal diseases such as constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis
Role on weight management
- Individual who want to reduce their body weight should include pecan in their diet
- Its fibre content is associated with providing a feeling of satiety that helps to reduce hunger hence decreases excess food consumption, which ultimately facilitates weight reduction
- It is associated with increasing the catabolic rate of body that also aids in weight Read more
