Hazelnuts for Your Health

Nuts, in general, and hazelnuts, in particular, are very healthy foods. Hazelnuts rank at or near the top of many of the important health categories. They're rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, vitamins E and B, folate, and arginine. Hazelnuts, like other tree nuts, contain no cholesterol. More than 80% of the total fat in hazelnuts is mono-unsaturated.

In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim that links nut consumption to a reduced risk of heart disease.

Hazelnuts have not reached their potential in the U.S. in production or consumption. With wider, sustainable production, they could become a healthy addition to America’s diet.

The charts below compare 1 ounce of hazelnuts to other nuts.