Hazelnut

🌰 What Is Hazelnut?
Hazelnut is a nutrient-rich nut commonly used in chocolates, spreads (like hazelnut butter and Nutella), baked goods, and flavored beverages. It contains healthy fats, vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants, making it a popular ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes.

🤔 Why Might a Sensitivity to Hazelnuts Occur?
Some individuals may notice responses to hazelnuts due to their natural components:

Proteins

• Cor a 9 and Cor a 14: Storage proteins that may be more challenging for sensitive systems to break down.

• Cor a 1: A protein that may cross-react in individuals who also respond to birch pollen.

Fats

• Hazelnuts are high in monounsaturated fats, which may feel heavy or difficult to digest for certain individuals.

Phenolic Compounds

• Natural tannins and phenolics in hazelnuts may irritate sensitive digestive systems.

Histamines

• Hazelnuts may contain moderate histamine levels and may act as histamine liberators, which may affect individuals who notice histamine-related responses.

🛠️ What Might Help?

• Avoid hazelnuts and hazelnut-based products for 8 weeks to give your system time to settle.

• After 8 weeks, gradually reintroduce hazelnuts to observe any changes.

• Try alternatives like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, or cashews if tolerated.

💊 Supportive General Supplements
The following supplements may help support overall digestive comfort and wellness:

• Digestive enzymes: May support the breakdown of hazelnut proteins such as Cor a 9 or Cor a 14.

• Probiotics: May help support gut balance and digestion.

• Curcumin: May support a healthy inflammatory response.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: May help support inflammation balance and gut health.

• DAO (Diamine Oxidase): May help support histamine metabolism in histamine-sensitive individuals.

🌟 Why Might I Respond to Hazelnut but Not Other Nuts?

Protein Differences

Hazelnuts contain specific proteins (e.g., Cor a 9, Cor a 14) that differ from those in almonds, cashews, walnuts, or pistachios. These differences may influence how your system responds.

Histamine Levels

Hazelnuts may have higher histamine levels or may act as histamine liberators compared to nuts like cashews or macadamias.

Fat Composition

Their high monounsaturated fat content may feel more difficult to digest than the fat structure in other nuts.

Pollen Cross-Reactivity

Some individuals who respond to birch pollen may also notice responses to hazelnuts due to shared protein similarities (specifically Cor a 1).

🍽️ Popular Dishes Containing Hazelnut

• Hazelnut spreads (e.g., Nutella)

• Hazelnut chocolate bars

• Hazelnut butter

• Hazelnut-flavored coffee

🍽️ Alternatives (if tolerated)

• Almonds

• Cashews

• Sunflower seeds

• Pumpkin seeds