February 22, 2005

English 10A #4

Writing Portfolio

Brazil Nuts

            Brazil nuts are my favorite nut. They also have a peculiar shape, triangular. Most of the nuts you find are in a circular or oval shape. Are they like oranges where the nuts we get at the grocery store are just segments of the nut? Are there any health benefits from the Brazil nut? Where are they traditionally grown? What does the tree look like? Does it even grow on a tree?

            Interestingly enough, the Brazil nut is like an orange. It has about eight to twenty-five three-sided nuts inside the shell which is about a quarter inch thick. It is approximately four to six inches in diameter.  The shell is black like a walnut when ripe and is in a round or pear-like shape. The empty seed pods are often called “Monkey’s pots”. The indigenous people of the Amazon use these empty seed pods for cups, to carry small smoky fires to discourage black flies, and as a container to collect rubber latex from tapped trees. They also use the husks as part of a tea to treat stomachaches.

            The tree grows 75 to 250 feet tall. The trunk at the base is approximately four to six feet in diameter. The trunk is long and straight and it towers high above all the neighboring growth. The leaves are bight green in color, leathery, and often two feet long by six inches wide. The tree can get to ages varying from 500 to 800 years old. It grows very slowly. It usually takes ten to thirty years before it starts producing nuts. The tree will produce anywhere from 63 to 216 seed pods. They also require a special type of bee to pollinate its flowers. Also, the only creature that has teeth sharp enough to get through the nut and spread the seeds about on the forest floor is the Agouti, a rat that can get up to the weight of ten pounds. With these disadvantages the tree is not a good for plantation cultivation. The majority of the harvesting comes from wild forest trees and wild-harvesting.

            The Brazil nut’s flesh is 70 percent fat and 17 percent protein. The nut contains a good amount of selenium. Selenium is an essential trace mineral that is an antioxidant, anticancer, and has cancer preventative properties. When used in skin creams it helps prevent dryness. In South America they also use Brazil nuts in making soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and other hair repair products. Though, you have to be careful. Those who are allergic to nuts, especially peanuts, have a pretty good chance of being allergic to Brazil nuts.

            What did I learn about Brazil nuts? I learned that my theory was right. I also learned that I probably want to wear a helmet if I ever go harvesting the nuts. I discovered that the nuts are good for me. I was amazed to find out that they have cancer preventing properties. It was neat learning the uses that the indigenous people use the nuts and their shells for. All in all, I made a pretty good choice for a favorite nut. One that has things I never even knew. I’m sure that there is plenty more that I don’t know.