A Brazil Nut a Day Keeps the Supplements Away | The Epoch Times


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Key Benefits of Brazil Nuts

A single Brazil nut provides the recommended daily intake of selenium, a mineral crucial for thyroid health and immune function. A study showed Brazil nut butter to be as effective as selenium supplements in raising blood selenium levels.

Selenium Content and Consumption

The daily recommended amount of selenium for adults is 55 micrograms; one Brazil nut typically exceeds this. An ounce (6-8 nuts) contains almost ten times the daily requirement, making 1-2 nuts a day sufficient for most individuals.

Effectiveness Compared to Supplements

A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition demonstrated that Brazil nuts are as effective as selenium supplements in increasing blood selenium levels. This makes them a safe, effective and palatable alternative.

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Tasty recipes to boost exposure to this valuable mineral.

Many of us may have picked around the Brazil nuts in a trail mix, not quite sure what to make of them. They’re big, dense, and slightly sweet, but what are they good for? As it turns out, quite a lot.

“Just one Brazil nut a day can meet your full daily selenium needs,” Chantelle van der Merwe, registered dietitian, told The Epoch Times.

It’s a simple way to support your thyroid health and immune system without relying on supplements. Plus, it’s a safe, effective, and tastier source of this important mineral.

Secure Selenium

In a February study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, participants were given either a placebo, a 55 microgram selenium supplement, or 15 grams of Brazil nut butter, containing roughly the same amount of selenium, for two weeks. Both the supplement and the Brazil nut butter raised blood selenium levels, showing that Brazil nuts can be just as effective as supplements.

The recommended daily amount of selenium for adults is 55 micrograms. One Brazil nut usually provides more than that, though the exact amount depends on where the nut was grown. On average, an ounce—about six to eight nuts—contains nearly 10 times the daily requirement, so eating 1 to 2 Brazil nuts per day is enough to meet your needs safely, van der Merwe said.

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