#Vegan ABC's: Hazelnuts fight heart disease & prevent cancer

As one would guess, hazelnuts come from hazel trees. They are also called cob nuts or filberts. Grown commercially in Washington and Oregon, many of the world's hazelnuts come from Turkey. Hazelnuts are one of the richest sources of vitamin E, as well as essential amino acids, calcium and magnesium, and a powerful antioxidant called proanthocyanidin.

• Vitamin E: Just 25-30 grams of hazelnuts provides 100% of the RDI for vitamin E. Studies have shown vitamin E can reduce cholesterol and prevent cancers of the colon and prostrate. Vitamin E may also reduce cellular aging, prevent blood clots, protect the nervous system, and lower the risk of heart disease.
  
  
• Essential amino acids: Our body builds all the protein it needs from amino acids. Amino acids are the build blocks of protein. Many amino acids can be synthesized but the nine essential amino acids cannot and must come from our foods. Hazelnuts are rich in protein as well as nine essential amino acids, making them an ideal food source.
  
  
• Calcium and magnesium: Many people know the importance of calcium for strong bones, but few know that calcium is useless without adequate magnesium. A single cup of hazelnuts supplies 55% of the daily RDI of magnesium and 15% of the calcium!
  
  
• Proanthocyanidin: "Hazelnuts also have one of the highest Proanthocyanidin (PAC) contents among ”superfoods” and the second highest among nuts." according to the Hazelnut Council. Proanthocyanidins (PAC), or oligomericproanthocyanidins (OPC), are a class of flavonoids that are powerful antioxidants. Research suggests proanthocyanidins prevent atherosclerosis, protect against cancer, and keep our skin looking young!

Even the FDA is jumping on the hazelnut bandwagon! In 2003 the FDA approved the following health claim: “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as hazelnuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Those are pretty strong words for a government agency! So eat your hazelnuts and enjoy a long life!

Sources: Hazel Nut Council, Hazelnut & Health, Vitamin E Information, Nutrition Data, Proanthocyanidin Power, Wikipedia: Hazelnut & Proanthocyanidin