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Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds: Which Is Healthier?

This article explains the key similarities and differences between brazil nuts and poppy seeds, foods from the nuts and seeds group. Read on to learn more about the brazil nuts vs poppy seeds comparison.
Esther Bumpus, Health Writer

Written by Esther Bumpus, Health Writer. Updated on January 6, 2023.

Brazil Nuts and poppy seeds belong to the nuts and seeds food group, an important group for a healthy diet, as they provide a wide range of essential nutrients, such as protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

In this article, we’ll put a spotlight on brazil nuts and poppy seeds and compare their similarities and differences.

They both provide a variety of nutrients and are relatively high in calories, like other nuts and seeds.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) are a type of nut that is native to the Amazon rainforest in South America.

These nuts have a slightly sweet and slightly nutty flavor, and are often used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Brazil nuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate Brazil nuts into your diet.

They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used in baking or as a topping for salads and other dishes. Brazil nuts are also available in a variety of forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.

Brazil nuts are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores. They are often sold roasted or raw, and can be purchased with or without the shell.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving Brazil nuts a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Brazil Nuts are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), and Vitamin E.

They also contain Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) in a small amount.

Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) are the tiny, black seeds of the poppy plant, native to the Mediterranean region.

These seeds have a slightly nutty and slightly earthy flavor, and are often used in a variety of dishes, including breads, pastries, and savory dishes.

Poppy seeds are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate poppy seeds into your diet.

They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used as a topping for salads and other dishes.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious seed to add to your diet, consider giving poppy seeds a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Poppy Seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin E and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid).

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing brazil nuts vs poppy seeds.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of brazil nuts and poppy seeds and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral contents.

Brazil NutsPoppy Seeds
Energy659 kcal525 kcal
Carbs11.74 g28.1 g
Sugar2.33 g2.99 g
Fiber7.5 g19.5 g
Protein14.32 g18 g
Fat67.1 g41.6 g
Saturated Fat16.134 g4.52 g

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for brazil nuts and poppy seeds, so you should consume them in moderation.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a proper serving is one ounce, which is roughly equal to 1/4 cup or 28 grams.

To keep the portions under control, the amounts correspond to one serving size: 14 walnut halves, 16 cashews, 24 almonds, 28 peanuts, or 45 pistachios.

Comparing poppy seeds vs brazil nuts for weight loss, poppy seeds are slightly lower in calories, with 147 calories per serving, compared to 185 calories per serving of brazil nuts.

However, both brazil nuts and poppy seeds can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight. It’s just important to eat them in moderation.

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Protein

Nuts and seeds, including brazil nuts and poppy seeds, are an important source of plant-based protein.

Poppy Seeds offer around 20% more protein than brazil nuts.

Poppy Seeds have 18 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 5g per serving), while brazil nuts have 14.3 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 4g per serving).

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in brazil nuts and poppy seeds.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 58% higher in poppy seeds than in brazil nuts. They have 28.1 grams per 100 grams, compared to 11.7 grams in brazil nuts.

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There’s less sugar in brazil nuts than in poppy seeds, 13% precisely.

One handful of brazil nuts (28 grams) contains 0.7 grams of sugar, while the same amount of poppy seeds contains 0.8 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in brazil nuts and poppy seeds.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 5.5 grams of fiber per portion, poppy seeds are a better source of fiber than brazil nuts which offer 2.1 grams per portion.

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Fats

Like the other nuts and seeds, fats in brazil nuts and poppy seeds are a great source of healthy unsaturated fats, naturally cholesterol free, and free of trans fats.

Total fat in brazil nuts and poppy seeds:

  • Brazil Nuts: 67.1 grams per 100 grams
  • Poppy Seeds: 41.6 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, poppy seeds are 72% lower in saturated fats.

Poppy Seeds and brazil nuts contain 4.5 grams and 16.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of brazil nuts and poppy seeds.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Brazil Nuts have a higher amount of vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

However, poppy seeds have a higher amount of vitamin E.

Brazil Nuts and poppy seeds contain the same amount of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), and vitamin K.

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins brazil nuts and poppy seeds contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Brazil NutsPoppy Seeds
Vitamin A00
Vitamin C0.7 mg1 mg
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)0.617 mg0.854 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.035 mg0.1 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)0.295 mg0.896 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.184 mg0.324 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.101 mg0.247 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)22 µg82 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E5.65 mg1.77 mg
Vitamin K00

Brazil Nuts vs Poppy Seeds Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the brazil nuts and poppy seeds comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Brazil Nuts are a better source of calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc than poppy seeds.

On the other hand, poppy seeds have a higher amount of copper, magnesium, and selenium.

Brazil Nuts and poppy seeds contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how brazil nuts and poppy seeds compare when it comes to mineral contents.

Brazil NutsPoppy Seeds
Calcium160 mg1440 mg
Copper1.743 mg1.63 mg
Fluoride00
Iron2.43 mg9.76 mg
Magnesium376 mg347 mg
Manganese1.223 mg6.71 mg
Phosphorus725 mg870 mg
Potassium659 mg719 mg
Selenium1917 µg13.5 µg
Sodium3 mg26 mg
Zinc4.06 mg7.9 mg

The Final Word

Brazil Nuts and poppy seeds are highly nutritious and excellent sources of plant-based protein and healthy fats.

Although they are relatively high in calories, they are essential to a healthy, plant-based diet and are linked to many health benefits.

Both brazil nuts and poppy seeds are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods, and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Sources

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