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Hazelnuts vs Sesame Seeds: How Do They Compare?

This article explains the key similarities and differences between hazelnuts and sesame seeds, foods from the nuts and seeds group. Read on to learn more about the hazelnuts vs sesame seeds comparison.
Dennis Gillett, Health & Fitness Writer

Written by Dennis Gillett, Health & Fitness Writer. Updated on January 4, 2023.

Hazelnuts and sesame 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 hazelnuts and sesame 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.

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).

Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) are the seeds of the sesame plant, which is native to tropical regions of Africa and is now grown in many parts of the world.

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

Sesame 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 sesame seeds into your diet.

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

Sesame seeds are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores.

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

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

Sesame Seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

Hazelnuts vs Sesame Seeds Nutrition

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

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

HazelnutsSesame Seeds
Energy628 kcal573 kcal
Carbs16.7 g23.45 g
Sugar4.34 g0.3 g
Fiber9.7 g11.8 g
Protein15 g17.73 g
Fat60.8 g49.67 g
Saturated Fat4.46 g6.957 g

Hazelnuts vs Sesame Seeds Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for hazelnuts and sesame 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 sesame seeds vs hazelnuts for weight loss, sesame seeds are slightly lower in calories, with 160 calories per serving, compared to 176 calories per serving of hazelnuts.

However, both hazelnuts and sesame 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.

Hazelnuts vs Sesame Seeds Protein

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

Sesame Seeds offer around 16% more protein than hazelnuts.

Sesame Seeds have 17.7 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 5g per serving), while hazelnuts have 15 grams of protein per 100 grams (or 4.2g per serving).

Hazelnuts vs Sesame 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 hazelnuts and sesame seeds.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 29% higher in sesame seeds than in hazelnuts. They have 23.5 grams per 100 grams, compared to 16.7 grams in hazelnuts.

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There’s less sugar in sesame seeds than in hazelnuts, 92% precisely.

One handful of sesame seeds (28 grams) contains 0.1 grams of sugar, while the same amount of hazelnuts contains 1.2 grams.

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

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

With 3.3 grams of fiber per portion, sesame seeds are a better source of fiber than hazelnuts which offer 2.7 grams per portion.

Hazelnuts vs Sesame Seeds Fats

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

Total fat in hazelnuts and sesame seeds:

  • Hazelnuts: 60.8 grams per 100 grams
  • Sesame Seeds: 49.7 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, hazelnuts are 36% lower in saturated fats.

Hazelnuts and sesame seeds contain 4.5 grams and 7 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Hazelnuts vs Sesame Seeds Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of hazelnuts and sesame seeds.

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

Hazelnuts have a higher amount of vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), and vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

However, sesame seeds have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

Hazelnuts and sesame seeds contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

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

HazelnutsSesame Seeds
Vitamin A20 IU9 IU
Vitamin C6.3 mg0
Vitamin D00
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)0.643 mg0.791 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.113 mg0.247 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)1.8 mg4.515 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.918 mg0.05 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine)0.563 mg0.79 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)113 µg97 µg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)00
Vitamin E15 mg0.25 mg
Vitamin K14.2 µg0

Hazelnuts vs Sesame 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 hazelnuts and sesame seeds comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Hazelnuts are a better source of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc than sesame seeds.

On the other hand, sesame seeds have a higher amount of manganese, and potassium.

Hazelnuts and sesame seeds contain the same amount of fluoride.

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

HazelnutsSesame Seeds
Calcium114 mg975 mg
Copper1.72 mg4.082 mg
Fluoride00
Iron4.7 mg14.55 mg
Magnesium163 mg351 mg
Manganese6.18 mg2.46 mg
Phosphorus290 mg629 mg
Potassium680 mg468 mg
Selenium2.4 µg34.4 µg
Sodium011 mg
Zinc2.45 mg7.75 mg

The Final Word

Hazelnuts and sesame 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 hazelnuts and sesame 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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