|
Did
you know ?
Dried coconut contains about 70% of oil. It is extensively used in the
preparation of vegetable ghee and margarine. About 73% of coconut oil
fatty acids are saturated, which tends to increase plasma cholesterol.
Typhoid fever and other salmonella infections have been traced
occasionally to desiccated (contaminated with fungus) coconut
The quantity of groundnut consumed should be increased gradually,
otherwise flatulence and intestinal colic may occur.
|
| Beware
!
Stored
groundnut may be contaminated with the fungus (aspergillus flavus) which
produces toxins known as aflatoxins. There is an increasing fear that
aflatoxins contaminated foods may be responsible for human cirrhosis and
primary liver cancer. If food highly contaminated with aflatoxins for few
days, it produces acute liver toxicity characterised by jaundice, fever,
loss of appetite and vomiting; and later by portal hypertension, ascites,
and swelling of legs. Ex: Mozambique, liver cancer accounts for 65% of all
cancers amongst blacks; their staple diet of groundnut and maize is
contaminated with aflatoxin B
|
|
Nuts
and Dried Fruits
Nut
is a fruit; its edible seed or kernel is enclosed in a hard
shell. The common nuts consumed are coconut, groundnut, cashewnut,
walnut, almonds and pistachios. They are rich in proteins, fats,
carbohydrates, minerals and factors of vitamin B complex. Nuts
approach an ideal food by supplying high calories in a palatable form.
The large proportion of fat which they contain is surrounded by a
compact cellulose matrix.
 |
Common Nuts
- Coconut
ground nut
- Cashew nut
- Walnut
- Almond
- Pistachios
|
Coconut
Consists of an outer husk, middle hard shell, an inner sweet kernel
and coconut water. A mature coconut may supply about 1000 kcal. Coconuts
provide more calories per acre of lank than any other food.
Groundnut
is relatively
inexpensive. It has a high content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates
and calories. Ground nut is palatable and cheap. Served with half to
one cup of milk or a tablespoon of milk powder, it can be an excellent
source of food for protein deficient children.
Cashew nut, walnut,
almond and pistachios.
These nuts have
a high caloric value, but are expensive and so consumed only by the
rich
NUTS
| Name |
Average
portion |
Weight
(g) |
Protein
(g) |
Fat
(g) |
Carbohydrates
(g) |
Calories
(kcal) |
Calories
(kJ) |
| Almonds |
12-15 |
15 |
2.8 |
8.1 |
2.9 |
90 |
378 |
| Brazil
nuts, shelled |
4
medium |
15 |
2.2 |
9.9 |
1.7 |
97 |
407 |
| Butter
nuts |
4-5 |
15 |
3.6 |
9.2 |
1.3 |
96 |
4.3 |
| Cashew
nuts |
6-8 |
15 |
2.8 |
7.2 |
4.1 |
88 |
370 |
| Chestnuts,
fresh |
3
small |
15 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
6.2 |
29 |
122 |
| Coconut,
fresh |
1
piece |
15 |
0.5 |
5.2 |
2.1 |
54 |
227 |
| Coconut
water |
1
glass |
240 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
10.8 |
46 |
193 |
| Hazel
nuts |
10-12 |
15 |
1.6 |
9.5 |
3.0 |
97 |
407 |
| Hickory
nuts |
15
small |
15 |
2.1 |
10.1 |
2.0 |
101 |
424 |
| Peanuts
(groundnuts), roasted |
1
tablespoon |
15 |
4.0 |
7.0 |
3.3 |
86 |
361 |
| Peanut
butter |
1
tablespoon |
15 |
3.9 |
7.2 |
3.2 |
86 |
361 |
| Pistachio
nuts |
30 |
15 |
2.9 |
8.0 |
2.8 |
88 |
370 |
| Walnuts |
8
halves |
20 |
3.2 |
12.8 |
3.2 |
128 |
538 |
|
