What Are the Types of Nuts Containing Vitamin D?
Nuts are among the snacks that are frequently consumed in our country. It is very common to use dried nuts in the evening tea, snacks, and desserts. Nuts with different varieties can be consumed at any time of the day, in all seasons.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is one of the vitamins necessary for bone health. Bones are composed of calcium components. Vitamin D is mostly taken through sunlight. Vitamin D, which provides both the use and absorption of phosphorus and calcium in the digestive tract, is a vitamin required at all ages. It increases the absorption of calcium in the digestive system. In this way, it helps to increase the calcium rate in the bones. It also supports the active transport of calcium.
In the medical literature, vitamin D is called calciferol. This vitamin; is stored in the liver and adipose tissues. It is a fat-soluble vitamin. There are two different types as D2 and D3. Vitamin D, which is taken from both food and sunlight, changes the kidneys and liver. After this change, it turns into an effective chemical.
Intestinal tissues in the body contain epithelial cells. Calcium-binding proteins, which support the absorption of calcium in these cells, increase thanks to vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of phosphorus and calcium in the gut.
Vitamin D is essential for both bones and teeth. To ensure the absorption of calcium, vitamin D must be at the level that the body needs. In case of vitamin D deficiency, the whole body is affected.
Sun rays enable the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin. Apart from this, it can also be taken from nuts and foods containing vitamin D. The main nuts containing vitamin D are cashews and hazelnuts.
Nuts Containing Vitamin D: Cashews
With its nutritional value,cashew is one of the most consumed nuts. It is a tropical climate plant, one of the members of the Gumaceae (Anacardiaceae) family. This tree was discovered by the Portuguese in Brazil in the 16th century. The region with the highest density of cashew trees is around the equator.
Cashews were discovered in the 16th century after the Portuguese invaded Brazil. It was thanks to Portuguese sailors that it became widespread in the world. Cashew cultivation was carried out in different regions with the seafarers transporting cashew seeds to West Africa. Necessary climatic conditions for the cultivation of cashew; It is a humid and rainy climate. It grows in the most suitable equatorial climate. Cashew cultivation can be done easily in regions such as the equator region, the west coast of Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Apart from these regions, India is among the countries that grow cashews. Since cashew nuts can be grown in certain climatic conditions compared to other peanut varieties, the price is more expensive than other peanut types. Cashew is obtained by separating the seeds from the collected cashew apples and peeling the skin. The part separated from their shells can also be consumed by roasting.
The harvest season of the cashew tree; is October in Brazil and May in India. The largest cashew producer in the world is the Kerala Cashew Association in India. The largest cashew tree in the world is found in Parnamirim, Brazil. The length of the trees can vary between 6 meters and 14 meters.
Cashew consists of two parts as fruit peanut. fruit; It is frequently used in India, South America, and Brazil. Cashew nut is one of the most popular nut varieties in our country. There are varieties such as raw cashew and roasted salted cashew. Cashew is on the list of nut varieties containing vitamin D.
Types of Nuts Containing Vitamin D: Hazelnut
Hazelnut is a species in the birch family (Betulaceae). It is known as the common name of the trees and shrub species that make up the genus Corylus. The edges of the hazelnut leaves are pointed and double-toothed. It consists of male and female flowers, bloom in spring. The female flowers have a size between 1 mm and 3 mm. Male flowers are between 5 cm and 12 cm in size. Male flowers are cat-shaped, yellow. There is a goblet around the shell part. This goblet completely or partially encloses the shell. The shape of the goblet gives information about the hazelnut type.
The length of the hazelnut tree can grow up to a maximum of 5 meters. Its average length is 3 meters. hazelnuts in Turkey; It grows in cities such as Ordu, Rize, Trabzon, Zonguldak, Düzce, Balıkesir, Erzurum. Our country ranks first in hazelnut production in the world. After Turkey; Countries such as Italy, Azerbaijan, and the USA are coming. A minimum altitude of 10 meters is required for the hazelnut tree to be suitable. The flowering of hazelnut trees in our country is in March and April. As a climatic condition, it prefers regions with warm winter months and moist and humus soil.
Hazelnut varieties are seen in different forms. There are varieties such as chubby hazelnut, pointed hazelnut, almond hazelnut. These varieties are named according to the shape of the hazelnut.
Hazelnut, which is among the shelled nuts, is among the traditional nuts of our country. Turkey, which is also rich in hazelnut cultivation, uses this flavor in many areas. Hazelnut, which is consumed as dried fruit, is also frequently used in desserts in Turkish cuisine. Hazelnut, which is among the types of nuts that are consumed fondly, can be consumed both roasted and raw.
Hazelnut is among the most popular dried nut varieties in our country. There are varieties as roasted hazelnuts and raw hazelnuts. Hazelnut is on the list of nut varieties containing vitamin D.