Nuts are known for their hypocholesterolaemic properties; however, to achieve optimal health benefits, nuts must be consumed regularly and in sufficient quantity. It is therefore important to assess the acceptability of regular consumption of nuts. The present study examined the long-term effects of hazelnut consumption in three different forms on 'desire to consume' and 'overall liking'. A tot...

Between July 2008 and November 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 197 consumer reports of prolonged taste disturbances following consumption of pine nuts. Most consumers consistently reported a delayed bitter or metallic taste with foods beginning 4 to 48 hours after pine nut consumption. This bitter taste recurred with any food consumed, lasting on average 5 to 10 days. S...

Due to low consumer acceptance and possibility of having immature kernels, closed-shell pistachio nuts have to be separated from open-shell pistachio nuts. The feasibility of a system using non-contact impact acoustics as a means for classifying closed-shell nuts from open-shell nuts has already been shown with better discrimination performance than a mechanical system. The accuracy of an impac...

The first results of the PREDIMED (PREvencion con Dieta MEDiterranea) randomized trial, after 3-month intervention, showed that the Mediterranean Diet (MD), supplemented with either virgin olive oil (VOO) or nuts, reduced systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol when compared to a control (low-fat...

In the past many have avoided nuts because of their high fat content. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, however, recommends regular consumption of this food along with seeds and dried beans (4-5 servings per week) as part of a diet to control hypertension. Nuts are nutrient-dense and most of their fat is unsaturated. They are also perhaps the best natural source of vitamin E and...

Tree nuts (almonds, pistachios, and walnuts) are an exceptionally valuable crop, especially in California, with an aggregate value approaching $3.5 billion. Much of this economic value comes from overseas markets, with up to 60% of the crop being exported. The product can be contaminated with aflatoxins or ochratoxins, with the former being of special concern because of the strict regulatory le...

Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) are considered a high nutritious food. Apart from carbohydrates, lipids, sulphur proteins and minerals, Brazil nuts are known to be rich in selenium Se (Barclay et al., 1995; Coutinho et al., 2002, Souza et al., 2004, Pacheco and Scussel, 2007). Despite of that, when their shell are cracked either when pods fall on the ground, or during pod opening for ...

Mineral analysis of seven Pinus species grown in different regions of New Zealand; Armand pine (Pinus armandii Franch), Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.), Mexican pinyon (Pinus cembroides Zucc. var. bicolor Little), Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri D. Don), Johann's pine (Pinus johannis M.F. Robert), Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) and Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana Parry ex Carrière), was carri...

We examined how Japanese monkeys in the wild formed an aversion to food which had been paired with poison. Ten monkeys of various ages and both sexes were chosen as subjects from 105 members of the Shiga-A1 troop at Jigokudani in Shiga Heights in Japan. We gave almond nuts to each subject. Once a monkey ate 10-20 almond nuts, he was captured and moved into an injection cage. Seven experimental ...

INTRODUCTION Previous research has shown inconsistencies in the association of tree nut consumption with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). OBJECTIVE To determine the association of tree nut consumption with risk factors for CVD and for MetS in adults. METHODS NHANES 2005-2010 data were used to examine the associations of tree nut consumption with h...