Chestnuts vs Poppy Seeds: Which Is Healthier?

Chestnuts 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 chestnuts 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.

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).

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).

Chestnuts 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 chestnuts vs poppy seeds.

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

Chestnuts vs Poppy Seeds Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for chestnuts 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 chestnuts vs poppy seeds for weight loss, chestnuts are slightly lower in calories, with 63 calories per serving, compared to 147 calories per serving of poppy seeds.

However, both chestnuts 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.

Chestnuts vs Poppy Seeds Protein

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

Poppy Seeds offer around 76% more protein than chestnuts.

Poppy Seeds have 18 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 5g per serving), while chestnuts have 4.2 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 1.2g per serving).

Chestnuts 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 chestnuts and poppy seeds.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 43% higher in chestnuts than in poppy seeds. They have 49.1 grams per 100 grams, compared to 28.1 grams in poppy seeds.

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

One handful of chestnuts (28 grams) contains 0 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 chestnuts 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 chestnuts which offer 0 grams per portion.

Chestnuts vs Poppy Seeds Fats

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

Total fat in chestnuts and poppy seeds:

• Chestnuts: 1.1 grams per 100 grams
• Poppy Seeds: 41.6 per 100 grams

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

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

Chestnuts vs Poppy Seeds Vitamins Content

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

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 B9 (Folate), and vitamin E.

However, poppy seeds have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

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

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

Chestnuts 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 chestnuts and poppy seeds comparison focuses on their mineral content.

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

Chestnuts and poppy seeds contain the same amount of fluoride.

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

The Final Word

Chestnuts 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 chestnuts 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.