Ah, Hickory. Some of us love it, some of us would be happy to live without it. The hickory flavor isn’t for everyone, but for those who do enjoy it, you’ll be glad to know that the hickory plant has some really hefty nutritional value.

To wit, some of the benefits that hickory – specifically, the Hickory Nut – provides include improved metabolism, better circulation, protected kidneys, and improved cellular growth and development. But don’t let us just tell you: let’s back it up with facts in today’s article.

Hickory: are they approved for the fast metabolism diet or not?

A LITTLE BACKGROUND FIRST… 

There are actually 18 species of hickory that produce edible Nuts, with a majority of these plants being native to North America, particularly Mexico, though it’s also been known to be found growing in the wild in Indochinese regions of Asia.

The hickory tree is something like the coconut tree of the Atlantic – almost every part of it has a use, from its bark and wood, to its fruit, the hickory nut. Like the coconut fruit, the hickory nut is also rather difficult to extract from its husk, and depending on the species of hickory tree, you may find yourself having trouble getting to the meat of the nut.

Now, all that said, hickory is best known for its rich, smoky flavor, particularly the shagbark and shellbark varieties. Though most hickories are edible, not all hickories are palatable, as some have very bitter flavors or unpleasant aftertastes. Of the variants that were good to taste, however, they were used extensively, with early recorded uses of the hickory made use of the nuts as a brew, creating hickory milk that was a popular ingredient in traditional home cooking at the time.

Today, hickory is used for many purposes, such as flavoring for barbeques and marinades, as hardwood, and sweetened and consumed as snacks on its own.

IS IT HEALTHY?

Right off the bat: hickory nuts aren’t the easiest nut to produce. They’re harvested once a year on average, and they’re very tough nuts to crack. All this effort is worth it, though, because the hickory nut is rich in essential nutrients and minerals.

For example, a 100-gram serving of raw hickory nuts delivers up to 657 calories, as well as 64.37 grams of healthy fats that our body burns for energy. The same serving size also delivers 18.25 grams of carbohydrates and 12.72 grams of protein. This hefty nutritional value is sure to meet your recommended daily allowance for these nutrients, easily!

Hickory nuts also provides 61 mg of calcium, 173 mg of magnesium, 336 mg of phosphorus, and 436 mg of potassium, all of which are essential minerals that keep our body running smoothly and efficiently. As for vitamins, it contains pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamin B6. A small serving of these nuts can provide a great amount of nutrients, making them something of a superfood.

THE VERDICT: HEALTHY AS HECK

The unique nutrient blend found in hickory nuts are particularly helpful for improving metabolic speed, because of its high vitamin B content. It also just tastes really good, so you’ll have no problem adding it into your fast metabolism diet food list for Phase 2.

If you’re looking for a reason to pop a piece of hickory nut or two into your COVID-19 diet, don’t let us stop you – we’re 100% supportive!

The post Hickory Dickory Doc: Is It Healthy or Not? appeared first on The Fast Metabolism Diet Community.