Preface

This edited volume is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters concerning the latest developments in nut crops. It includes scholarly contributions written by horticulture experts and reviewed by experts in the biological sciences. Chapters address such topics as nut crop cultivation, dietotherapy with nuts, and the nutritional composition and health-promoting effects of nuts.

> **Dr. Muhammad Akram** Associate Professor, Department of Eastern Medicine, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

**1**

**Chapter 1**

**Abstract**

the diet.

**1. Introduction**

The Beneficial Health Effects

*Sabira Sultana, Muhammad Akram, Nosheen Aslam,* 

*Walaa Fikry Elbossaty, Rida Zainab and Umme Laila*

**Keywords:** crops nut, beneficial effects, peanut, walnut, nutrition

Nuts are a rich source of protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, they contain an amount of unsaturated fats that reduce heart disease. Nuts are difficult to characterize in a way to be acceptable by the botanists and compatible for general use. The groundnut or peanut, for example, is a legume, whereas the chufa nut, which is found in southern Europe and Africa, is a tuber. In some languages, such as French, don't even have a generic term for nuts. In French, "Noix" appears like one, but it simply means walnuts. Nuts consist of dry fruits consisting of one or two edible kernels inside a hard shell. They are included Brazil nuts; cashew nuts; hazelnuts; macadamias; pecans; pine nuts; pistachios; Walnuts; peanuts. They are a rich source

*Naheed Akhter, Abdul Wadood Chishti, Muhammad Riaz,* 

Nuts are nutritional containing foods that nature has gifted with complex matrix of bioactives and beneficial nutrients including poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidant phenolics, phytosterols, tocopherols, minerals, fibers, and highquality proteins. Because of their unique nutritional composition, they are beneficial to human health. Many epidemiological studies reported the beneficial effect of nuts on coronary heart diseases as well as in diabetes for both males and females. Nut crops also have good effects on inflammation, vascular damage, oxidative stress, cancer, and hypertension. Interventional studies reported that nut consumption has lipid lowering effect. Nuts are thus among the most highly nutritious foods available. When left in their shells, many nuts have a long lifespan and can be easily kept for winter use. Much research has been conducted on nuts and their beneficial effects on health. This chapter discusses the current knowledge of nuts crops and their beneficial effects on health. Currently available literature suggests that consumption of nuts particularly as part of healthy diet is associated with beneficial outcomes such as better cognitive function, decreased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities, and cancer. Further, long-term and interventional studies are required to make a definitive conclusion on the health-promoting effects of nuts consumption through

of Nuts in the Diet

### **Chapter 1**
