7 Reasons Why Nut Production is Good for You and the Planet
Nut production is a booming industry that offers many benefits for both human and environmental health. Nuts are nutritious, delicious, and sustainable foods that can help prevent chronic diseases, improve reproductive health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here are seven reasons why you should include nuts in your diet and support nut production.
Key Takeaways
Nuts are nutritious, delicious, and sustainable foods that can benefit your health and the planet.
Nuts can prevent chronic diseases, improve reproductive health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuts can be consumed whole or processed into various products such as butter, milk, flour, oil, paste, or snack bars.
1. Nuts are rich in protein and essential nutrients.
Nuts provide high-quality plant-based protein that can help meet your daily needs. They also contain healthy fats, fiber, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that can support your immune system, lower your cholesterol, and protect your cells from oxidative stress. Some of the nutrients found in nuts include magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin E, folate, and biotin.
2. Nuts can prevent chronic diseases.
Numerous studies have shown that regular nut consumption can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and some cancers. Nuts can help regulate blood sugar levels, blood pressure, inflammation, and endothelial function. They can also modulate gene expression and epigenetic changes that influence disease development.
3. Nuts can improve reproductive health.
Nuts can enhance male fertility by improving sperm quality, quantity, motility, and morphology. They can also increase testosterone levels and reduce oxidative damage to sperm DNA. For women, nuts can improve ovulation rates, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes. They can also reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
4. Nuts are sustainable foods.
Nuts are plant-based foods that require less water, land, and energy than animal-based foods. They also emit less greenhouse gases and generate less waste than other protein sources. Nuts can be grown in diverse agroforestry systems that enhance biodiversity, soil health, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services. Nuts can also provide income and livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers and rural communities.
5. Nuts are versatile and convenient.
Nuts can be consumed whole or processed into various products such as butter, milk, flour, oil, paste, or snack bars. They can be eaten raw or roasted, salted or unsalted, plain or flavored. They can be added to salads, soups, cereals, desserts, or baked goods. They can be stored for a long time without refrigeration and transported easily.
6. Nuts are delicious and satisfying.
Nuts have a crunchy texture, a nutty flavor, and a pleasant aroma that appeal to many people. They can also enhance the taste and texture of other foods when combined with them. Nuts can provide a feeling of fullness and satiety that can help control appetite and prevent overeating.
7. Nuts are affordable and accessible.
Nuts are widely available in most markets and stores around the world. They are also relatively inexpensive compared to other protein sources such as meat or dairy products. You can buy nuts in bulk or in small packages depending on your preference and budget.
Tips
- Choose unsalted and unflavored nuts to avoid excess sodium and sugar intake.
- Soak or sprout nuts before eating to improve their digestibility and nutrient availability.
- Mix different types of nuts to get a variety of nutrients and flavors.
- Enjoy nuts as a snack or as a part of your meals.
Nut Production: A Statistical Report
Nuts are an important source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals for many people around the world. They are also a valuable commodity in the global market, with a growing demand for their consumption and trade. In this report, we will present some statistics on the production, consumption and trade of nuts in the world, based on the latest available data from various sources.
Production
According to Statista, the global production of tree nuts (kernel basis, excluding pistachios in shell) amounted to over 5.36 million metric tons in the marketing year of 2021/22. This was a slight decrease from the previous season’s record of 5.7 million metric tons, but still 50% higher than 10 years before. The main producers of tree nuts in the world were the United States, China, Turkey, Iran and India, accounting for more than 70% of the total production. The most produced tree nuts were almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and pistachios, as shown in the table below:
| Tree nut | Production (metric tons) |
|---|---|
| Almonds | 1,600,000 |
| Walnuts | 1,200,000 |
| Hazelnuts | 800,000 |
| Cashews | 700,000 |
| Pistachios | 600,000 |
By 2022/23, the global production of tree nuts was projected to increase slightly to 5.37 million metric tons, with a higher output of almonds, cashews and pistachios offsetting a lower production of walnuts and hazelnuts.
Consumption
The global consumption of nuts has been rising steadily over the past decade, driven by increasing awareness of their health benefits, changing dietary preferences and growing incomes in developing countries. According to the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), the global per capita consumption of tree nuts (kernel basis) increased from 0.33 kg in 2010/11 to 0.41 kg in 2020/21. The highest consumers of tree nuts in the world were China, the United States, Germany, India and Turkey, with per capita consumption ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 kg. The most consumed tree nuts were almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios and hazelnuts, as shown in the table below:
| Tree nut | Consumption (metric tons) |
|---|---|
| Almonds | 1,400,000 |
| Walnuts | 1,100,000 |
| Cashews | 800,000 |
| Pistachios | 700,000 |
| Hazelnuts | 600,000 |
By 2021/22, the global consumption of tree nuts was expected to reach 5.4 million metric tons, with a higher demand for almonds, cashews and pistachios outweighing a lower demand for walnuts and hazelnuts.
Trade
The global trade of nuts has also been expanding over the past decade, reflecting the increasing integration of the nut industry worldwide. According to the USDA, the global exports of tree nuts (shelled basis) increased from 2.3 million metric tons in 2010/11 to 3.4 million metric tons in 2020/21. The main exporters of tree nuts in the world were the United States, Vietnam, Turkey, India and Iran, accounting for more than 80% of the total exports. The most exported tree nuts were almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts and hazelnuts, as shown in the table below:
| Tree nut | Exports (metric tons) |
|---|---|
| Almonds | 1,100,000 |
| Cashews | 800,000 |
| Pistachios | 500,000 |
| Walnuts | 400,000 |
| Hazelnuts | 300,000 |
By 2021/22, the global exports of tree nuts were forecasted to increase to 3.5 million metric tons, with a higher shipment of almonds, cashews and pistachios compensating a lower shipment of walnuts and hazelnuts.
In conclusion, this report has presented some statistics on the production, consumption and trade of nuts in the world. The main findings are:
- The global production of tree nuts has been growing steadily over the last decade, reaching over 5.3 million metric tons in 2021/22 and 2022/23.
- The global consumption of tree nuts has also been rising steadily over the last decade, reaching 5.4 million metric tons in 2021/22.
- The global trade of tree nuts has also been expanding over the last decade, reaching 3.5 million metric tons in 2021/22.
- The most produced, consumed and traded tree nuts in the world are almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios and hazelnuts.
The nut industry is expected to continue to grow in the future, as more people recognize the nutritional and economic value of nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are some examples of nuts?
A: Some common types of nuts include almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, macadamias, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, pine nuts.
Q: How much nuts should I eat per day?
A: The recommended serving size of nuts is about 28 grams or a handful per day.
Q: Are peanuts considered nuts?
A: No, peanuts are actually legumes that belong to the same family as beans and peas.
Q: Can I be allergic to nuts?
A: Yes, nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies that can cause severe reactions such as anaphylaxis.
Q: How can I store nuts properly?
A: You can store nuts in an airtight container in a cool and dry place for up to six months or in the refrigerator or freezer for longer periods.
References:
https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofse00mich
https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/ecoph8.htm
https://books.google.com/books?id=0WjoH4jchEMC&q=world-wide%20nut%20production&pg=PT14
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230216/Nut-consumption-and-its-impact-on-human-and-environmental-health.aspx
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-022-01146-7
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nut_%28fruit%29
https://www.statista.com/topics/5954/nut-industry-worldwide/
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