Hazelnuts, also known as “filberts,” may mostly be seen nowadays as yummy coffee flavorings or nestled in a candy bar, but really, they have been cultured and harvested in America for roughly 162 years.
According to the Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board, the first cultured hazelnut tree was planted in Oregon by Sam Strictland in 1858. But, before being grown in America, the hazelnut plant was also used as a medicine and a tonic.
It was thought to cure chronic coughing if eaten with honey, to cure the common cold if mixed with black pepper and even used to fix baldness if mashed, burnt hazelnut shells were placed on your head where hair was missing or thinning.
Hazelnuts have a rich history of being used as a cure-all because of all of the amazing properties they have. Hazelnuts are high in fiber, vitamin E, folate and proanthocyanidin, which is a compound that may help reduce the risk of blood clotting and urinary tract infections.
They also have a particularly high amount of the minerals manganese and copper, according to the Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board. Copper is needed to help with the absorption of iron and manganese is important to bone formation.
If you want to get your daily dose of hazelnuts into your diet, an easy and delicious way is with hazelnut spread. Brands like Nutella and Justin’s are blended with cocoa powder and can be found at many grocery stores. If you want something a little healthier, try chopping up hazelnuts and sprinkling them on top of your salads and smoothie bowls!