Perhaps many of us are familiar with Brazil nuts - this food product is found everywhere, since it has found its use in almost all culinary areas. It can be used alone or be the perfect complement to all sorts of salty and sweet dishes. However, not many people know that, besides valuable features for taste receptors, this nut possesses a whole bunch of substances useful for the female body. Therefore, in this article we will try to disclose in more detail the properties of this product, as well as find out when you can use it and how to choose.
What is brazil nut
The fruits of the Brazil nut, or, as it is also called, bertolecii, is an extremely fragrant product found in many dishes that both adults and children readily enjoy.
Did you know? The plant got its scientific name "bertoleciya" in honor of the famous French chemist Claude Louis Berthollet.
How does it look
Brazil nut grows on one of the largest trees in the humid tropical zone of the Amazon. This species reaches a height of about 40 meters, while the diameter of the trunk can vary between 1-2 meters. Often the tree trunk is straight, and the side branches grow closer to the top: this creates a characteristic cap of the correct rounded shape. 
The bark is smooth, its color is predominantly grayish. The leaves are simple, whole, in some conditions may be toothed, elongated. Their length is about 20-35 cm, and the width is 10-15 cm. During the flowering period, the crown is covered with small greenish-white flowers about 10 cm long.
After flowering on the plant ripen numerous fruit-boxes with a diameter of 10-15 cm, covered with thick and dense tree-skinned. Its thickness often reaches about 10 cm. The appearance of the fruit resembles a coconut, the weight of each such fruit reaches about 2 kg.
Discover the beneficial properties of black, cedar, walnut, Manchurian, nutmeg, as well as cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia and pistachios.
Inside the fruit contains from 8 to 24 small triangular grains about 3-4 cm long, which in their form resemble citrus slices. An adult average tree during the growing season can produce about 300 kg of fruit.
Where is growing
The traditional zone for growing and exporting this product is considered to be tropical humid regions of South America. 
Mostly this is the territory of eastern Peru and Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana. Here, the plant is ubiquitous among densely planted forest plantations.
You can meet lonely trees in Rio Negru, Orinoco, as well as along the Amazon River, in Sri Lanka and Trinidad, but in the wild, this type of vegetation is found exclusively in South America.
Did you know? Bertoletia is one of the few agricultural species pollinated exclusively in the wild. That is why Brazil nuts are ecologically pure products.
Taste qualities
For most people in the northern regions, the taste of this fruit is rather atypical, due to its significant difference from the other nuts. In most cases, this product can be identified due to the characteristic taste - these are the so-called "earthy" notes of aftertaste, which are inherent only in the bertoletia grains. 
However, many gourmets around the world claim that a quality fruit, besides the basic aftertaste, has a bright taste of flavor that gives it similarity to cashews. This uncharacteristic combination was the main reason for its popularization in many cuisines of the world.
The composition and nutritional value of the Brazil nut
In addition to its botanical records, Brazil nut amazes with its nutritional value, as well as a huge amount of beneficial substances for the body and valuable elements. That is why nutritionists advise to include it in the daily diet at any age, with almost no restrictions.
Calorie content
Bertolecium grains are champions in their nutritional properties, so only 2-3 pieces of these fruits are able to satisfy hunger for quite a long period, as well as satiate the body with a huge amount of energy. 
And this is not surprising, since 69% of the total weight of the nut are complex oily compounds. That is why 100 g of nuts contain about 700 kilocalories, which is about 3000 kJ of pure energy.
Did you know? Despite the fact that in everyday life bertolecii fruits are considered nuts, modern botany refers them to grains, since in a nut the shell is divided into halves, and the pulp is separated from it, which is not observed in this fruit.
Water, Fat, Protein, Carbohydrate
100 g of brazil nut contains:
- proteins - 14.3 g;
- fat 66.4 g;
- carbohydrate - 4.8 g;
- water - 3.4 g;
- mono - and disaccharides - 2.3 g
Vitamins, minerals and other ingredients
The product is rich in various microelements, as well as valuable vitamins, which is the reason for its over-usefulness for the female body.
As part of the nut found:
- vitamins - B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, PP;
- trace elements - selenium (record content), manganese, copper, zinc, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium.
- choline;
- amino acids - arginine and betaine;
- a huge amount of fiber that helps cleanse and support the digestive tract.
Selenium is also found in foods such as garlic, corn, chicken eggs, beans, peas, and red cabbage.
What is the use of nuts for women
As mentioned above, the daily use of the Brazil nut has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body, and besides, it makes it possible to avoid many ailments, as well as to alleviate the course of chronic diseases. 
The most important for the body of each woman are the following useful properties:
- has an immunomodulating effect - due to the high content of readily available selenium, the product contributes to the synthesis of various specific cells of the immune system;
- improves digestion and gastrointestinal activity - achieved due to the high content of fiber and its cleansing effect on the intestines;
- removes complex toxins - nut components are able to bind and instantly remove heavy metals from the body, including arsenic compounds;
The use of swede, daikon, amaranth, horseradish, plum, fig, pumpkin honey, home fern, Tibetan lofanta and flax oil also contributes to the removal of toxins from their bodies.
- protects the cells of the body - the components of the product prevent pathological mutations at the gene level;
- protects against atherosclerosis and diabetes - achieved by reducing high blood sugar levels;
- prolongs youth and protects against premature aging due to inactivation of free radicals.
Important! The nut shell contains many toxic substances for the body, so if you have acquired unpeeled fruits, you should carefully remove the husk and also avoid using it for any economic purposes.
In addition, the product supports the thyroid gland, which is incredibly important during pregnancy, supplies the body with vitamin E, without which it is impossible to maintain a healthy appearance of skin, hair and nails, and also reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, which helps to quickly get rid of extra pounds .
Eggplants, smyt, homogenate, goji berries, apples, safflower, calendula, golden mustache, beans, lagenaria and blueberries will help lower cholesterol.
Separately about the benefits of selenium
As mentioned above, the Brazil nut is the record for the content of such an important trace element as selenium, without which the healthy functioning of organs and systems is impossible. Compounds based on it are the main component of various biochemical reactions in organs and cells.
Without them, the necessary enzymes are not produced, which is the main cause of various failures in the body. Selenium is also important for the reproductive system, since it is one of the few elements that ensure a safe pregnancy.
His absence during this period threatens serious pathologies of the fetus, miscarriage, and also reduces the protective ability of the female body against infectious diseases. 
In addition, this trace element is involved in the development and maturation of eggs.
Selenium is involved in the synthesis of such important substances for the female body as:
- selenoprotein P - a proteinaceous compound that helps protect the body during stress, also has a powerful antioxidant effect against many toxins;
- selenoprotein W - a substance responsible for the work of the muscles. Without a sufficient amount of compound, laxity of the muscle tissue is observed, which leads to premature aging, as well as the accumulation in the body of excess adipose tissue;
- Iodithyrinine - an amino acid that promotes the proper functioning of hormonal levels.
Can I use a Brazil nut during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Most experienced physicians and nutritionists include Brazil nuts among the products that are especially important for the female body during the period of gestation of the baby, regardless of the period. 
Without arginine, which is rich in the product, it is impossible to fully develop the baby, and in the absence of selenium, it is impossible to bear it safely.
In addition, the body of a woman in a position prone to various infectious diseases, therefore, the immunomodulating properties of the fetus during this period are simply irreplaceable.
Important! Brazil nut is heavy enough for the stomach and highly concentrated fetus, so the ladies in the position should not abuse it: it can adversely affect both the body of a pregnant woman and the health of the child.
When breastfeeding, the beneficial properties of the product are also indispensable: a Brazil nut makes it possible to restore the balance of the necessary substances lost during birth, and also improves the secretion of milk.
However, during the period of breastfeeding to use this nut should be with great caution, as it can adversely affect the health of the newborn. 
When using the Brazil nut during lactation, you should carefully follow the following recommendations:
- the amount of fruit consumed should not exceed 6 grains per day;
- eat nuts is best in its pure form, between the main meals;
- eat nuts with a bright bitter taste is prohibited;
- It is necessary to refuse the product if at least one of the close relatives suffers from an allergy to any kind of nuts.
Harm and contraindications
Like many other foods, bertolecii fruits are not a completely safe product for everyone, so it’s worth using them with caution.
Do not get involved in nuts for obesity, pregnancy and lactation. Include food in the diet should not be allergic to any kind of nuts and hypertension, as this can cause serious health consequences. 
The most optimal amount for consuming the product is no more than 2-3 nuts per day - this amount can fully saturate the body with the necessary substances and will help to support quite effectively during the period of beriberi. During pregnancy, this rate can be increased to 5-6 pieces per day.
However, you should not abuse the nut, otherwise it can cause:
- serious allergic manifestations on the body;
- deterioration of the skin, nails and hair;
- nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal disorders;
- pneumonia;
- liver failure or cirrhosis;
- cancers;
- confusion
Important! In the event of a baby allergies due to the consumption of milk, rich in components of the Brazil nut, it is necessary stop using it completely and Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How to choose and store nuts
Today, the market is overflowing with a variety of foods, and Brazil nuts are no exception. It can be found in supermarkets and specialty stores, but not always the purchased product is of high quality.
Therefore, before buying, be sure to familiarize yourself with the information on how a quality nut should look. The most commonly sold are inshell nuts. To determine their quality, you should take a few nuts and shake them - a sign of a spoiled fruit is a characteristic knock inside.
This means that before you is an old, dried up and absolutely unsuitable food product, as high-quality nuts when shaking does not rattle. Choosing peeled fruit is much easier.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the appearance of the nuts: they must be elastic, fleshy, heavy and with a pronounced aroma. The slightest deviation from the above signs indicates an insufficient quality of the fruit. 
Home-bought nuts are best kept in a glass, porcelain or metal dish with a lid in a dry, dark and cool place, away from fragrant food. In such conditions, Brazil nuts are stored for up to 2 years.
A small amount of fruit can be stored in a plastic or paper bag in the refrigerator, but in this case, after a couple of days, they will absorb all the flavors of nearby food.
Important! Due to the conditions of development, bertolecium fruits contain the radioactive element radium (in the amount of 40 to 260 Bq / kg), therefore, active periods of eating nuts should be combined with food rich in antioxidants.
Brazil Nuts are an important and healthy product that can be included in your daily diet. Its composition contains many highly active substances that help to prolong youth and improve the condition of the epidermis, nails and hair.
In addition, during pregnancy it is indispensable, since its components contribute to the correct course of the process and the favorable development of the child. But you should not get involved in Brazil nuts, as excessive saturation of the body with its components can adversely affect the general health.
