Composition of Nuts and Their Potential Health Benefits—An Overview
Berta Gonçalves,
Teresa Pinto,
Alfredo Aires,
Maria Cristina Morais,
Eunice Bacelar,
Rosário Anjos,
Jorge Ferreira-Cardoso,
Ivo Oliveira,
Alice Vilela,
Fernanda Cosme
Affiliations
Berta Gonçalves
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Teresa Pinto
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Alfredo Aires
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Maria Cristina Morais
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Eunice Bacelar
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Rosário Anjos
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Jorge Ferreira-Cardoso
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Ivo Oliveira
CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Inov4Agro, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production, University of Trás-of-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Alice Vilela
CQ-VR, Chemistry Research Centre—Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Fernanda Cosme
CQ-VR, Chemistry Research Centre—Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
The possibility that nut intake may defend human health is an interesting point of view and has been investigated worldwide. Consequently, nuts are commonly promoted as healthy. In recent decades, the number of investigations proposing a correlation between nut consumption and a decrease in the risk of key chronic diseases has continued to increase. Nuts are a source of intake of fiber, and dietary fiber is associated with a reduced occurrence of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Nuts likewise provide minerals and vitamins to the diet and supply phytochemicals that function as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and phytoestrogens agents and other protective mechanisms. Therefore, the main goal of this overview is to summarize current information and to describe the utmost new investigation concerning the health benefits of certain nuts.