Future Foods (Dec 2021)
Non-conventional nuts: An overview of reported composition and bioactivity and new approaches for its consumption and valorization of co-products
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to demonstrate how the unexplored nuts native to Brazil can contribute positively to biodiversity and human nutrition. This review presents data on the composition of macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds of non-conventional nuts native from Brazil (baru, chichá, gurguéia, monguba, pracaxi and sapucaia). The knowledge about these underutilized raw materials is important to stimulate their production, commercialization and consumption, as well as generate interest among researchers from various scientific fields. Non-conventional nuts are rich in lipids such as unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, and tocopherols. In addition, they provide high levels of energy, fiber, minerals, and amino acids. Bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified and quantified from non-conventional nuts. Several of these nuts are native from Brazil and have the potential for further research that encourage their production, commercialization, consumption and use the valorization of co-products as ingredients in foods.
