Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts: How Are They Different?

Chestnuts and hazelnuts 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 chestnuts and hazelnuts and compare their similarities and differences.

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

Chestnuts

Chestnuts (Castanea spp.) are a nut native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

These nuts have a sweet and slightly starchy flavor and are often used in sweet and savory dishes.

Chestnuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

They are lower in fat and calories compared to many other nuts and are a good source of complex carbohydrates, making them a good choice for those watching their carbohydrate intake.

There are many ways to incorporate chestnuts into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often peeled and cooked before use.

Chestnuts are often used in sweet dishes, such as chestnut puree or chestnut flour, and used to make chestnut bread or pastries.

They can also be used in savory dishes, such as chestnut stuffing or soup.

Chestnuts are available fresh or canned and are often sold peeled or unpeeled. It is important to store chestnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh, as they can become rancid quickly.

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

They are versatile, flavorful, and can be easily incorporated into various dishes.

Chestnuts are an excellent source of Vitamin C.

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin A, and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts (Corylus spp.) are a type of nut that is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

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

Hazelnuts 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 hazelnuts 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.

Hazelnuts are also available in a variety of forms, including whole, chopped, and ground into flour.

Hazelnuts are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores and 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 hazelnuts a try.

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

Hazelnuts are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin E.

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin K and some Vitamin C, and Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts Nutrition

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

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

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for chestnuts and hazelnuts, 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 chestnuts vs hazelnuts for weight loss, chestnuts are slightly lower in calories, with 63 calories per serving, compared to 176 calories per serving of hazelnuts.

However, both chestnuts and hazelnuts 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.

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts Protein

Nuts and seeds, including chestnuts and hazelnuts, are an important source of plant-based protein.

Hazelnuts offer around 71% more protein than chestnuts.

Hazelnuts have 15 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 4.2g per serving), while chestnuts have 4.2 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 1.2g per serving).

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts 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 chestnuts and hazelnuts.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 66% higher in chestnuts than in hazelnuts. They have 49.1 grams per 100 grams, compared to 16.7 grams in hazelnuts.

There’s less sugar in chestnuts than in hazelnuts, 100% precisely.

One handful of chestnuts (28 grams) contains 0 grams of sugar, while the same amount of hazelnuts contains 1.2 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in chestnuts and hazelnuts.

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

With 2.7 grams of fiber per portion, hazelnuts are a better source of fiber than chestnuts which offer 0 grams per portion.

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts Fats

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

Total fat in chestnuts and hazelnuts:

• Chestnuts: 1.1 grams per 100 grams
• Hazelnuts: 60.8 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, chestnuts are 96% lower in saturated fats.

Chestnuts and hazelnuts contain 0.2 grams and 4.5 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of chestnuts and hazelnuts.

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

Chestnuts have a higher amount of vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

However, hazelnuts have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).

Chestnuts and hazelnuts contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins chestnuts and hazelnuts contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Chestnuts vs Hazelnuts 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 chestnuts and hazelnuts comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Chestnuts are a better source of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc than hazelnuts.

On the other hand, hazelnuts have a higher amount of sodium.

Chestnuts and hazelnuts contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how chestnuts and hazelnuts compare when it comes to mineral contents.

The Final Word

Chestnuts and hazelnuts 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 chestnuts and hazelnuts 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.