Health benefits of Hickory nut

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Some of the most intriguing health benefits of hickory nut include its ability to help with weight gain, protect the heart, ensure healthy growth and development, boost metabolism, increase circulation, calm nerves, and protect your kidneys.

The hickory nut, as the name implies, comes from hickory trees, which all fall within a broad genus, Carya, which is composed of approximately 18 species of hickory trees, all of whose nuts are quite similar in nutrient composition and possible applications, although the strength of their shells varies widely. The different species of these trees are native to everywhere from Indochina, India, and China, to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Although hickory nut is the broadly used term, the “fruit” of this tree is actually a nut that grows within a tough outer husk, and is considered by some to be a drupe fruit, rather than a classic “nut”. Regardless of that dispute, the value of the hickory tree is widely known, including the use of its bark, wood, bark extract, and nuts stretch across the world.
In terms of its beneficial effects on human health, hickory nuts not only have many of the traditional values of nuts, but also some unique qualities that make them stand out. You don’t find hickory nuts in every grocery or health food store, as the outer husk is quite difficult to crack and extract the meat of the nut, but if you search hard enough, you can usually locate some. Once you manage to get to the meat inside, the calorie-rich nuts are delicious and well worth the extra effort. That being said, not every species of hickory nut is palatable. There are some that are downright bitter and unpleasant, but varieties like shagbark and shellbark hickory have long been a favorite for their culinary applications. Adding hickory nuts provide a unique source of numerous essential minerals, organic compounds, and nutrients, so let’s take a closer look at the many health benefits of hickory nuts.

Health Benefits of Hickory Nuts

Weight Gain: While many people are more concerned with losing weight, hickory nuts are a great option if you want to pack on calories and pounds quickly, such as if you are recovering from an injury or surgery of some kind. A small handful of hickory nuts has nearly 200 calories, which is perfect for a health snack, as well as a filling serving that will keep your snacking urges down by making you feel full. Oddly enough, this is a snack that can also help people lose weight, if they monitor their intake and use hickory nuts as appetite satisfiers, rather than loading up on these calorie-rich nuts.
Healthy Fats: It is a common misconception that all “fat” is bad, but in fact, our bodies require certain “good” types of fat to function properly. A single serving of hickory nuts contain nearly 18g of fat, but only 12-15% of that fat is the “bad” variety. This means that hickory nuts can help re-balance your cholesterol and fatty acid balance in the body, promoting cardiovascular health and lowering your chances of developing atherosclerosis or suffering from a heart attack/stroke.
Energy Boost: With more than 5 grams of carbohydrates in a typical serving of hickory nuts, you can count on a solid energy boost when you reach for these nuts rather than a sugary snack. Simple sugars break down quickly in your system, promoting a “sugar rush” or energy boost, but that is usually short-lived and is followed by a crash. hickory nuts provide more complex carbohydrates that will not cause insulin and glucose levels to fluctuate so much, which causes a more controlled and healthy energy increase, while also helping to prevent the onset of diabetes.
Growth and Development: Like most nuts, hickory nuts provide an impressive amount of protein, making this an essential snack for vegetarians and other people practicing protein-deficient diets. Animal and vegetable proteins are crucial for our growth and development, as protein can be deconstructed and re-formed for our body’s purposes, such as proper growth of bone, muscle, and organ systems, thus making a satisfactory amount of protein vital for health and wellness. Furthermore, the vitamin B-6 found in hickory nuts facilitates protein metabolism, which increases the efficiency with which proteins are processed by the body.
Metabolic Activity: The vitamin B family has long been known as a key part of the body’s metabolism and general functioning. Hickory nuts contain a significant amount of vitamin B-1, which we need to ensure the proper functioning of our muscles, heart, and nervous system. This is the type of vitamin that is easily overlooked or forgotten, making it even more important to pop a few hickory nuts from time to time!
Bone Growth: Magnesium is one of those versatile minerals that seems to play an important part in many bodily functions, but in particular, magnesium improves enzymatic activity in the body, regulates calcium levels, and aids in metabolic optimization. The combination of magnesium, phosphorous, and calcium regulation makes hickory nuts great for protecting bone mineral density and delaying/preventing the onset of osteoporosis and other degenerative bone disorders.
Digestion: The combination of natural fiber and specific minerals make hickory nuts great for promoting digestion and gastrointestinal health. It can eliminate constipation and promote regular excretion, effectively reducing flatulence, cramping, bloating, and more serious conditions that can affect the stomach.
A Final Word of Warning: As with any variety of nut, hickory nut allergies do exist, and can be serious. If you have a known nut allergy, avoid hickory nuts. For those with selective nut allergies, speak to your allergist or trained medical professional before consuming hickory nuts or using them in any way.