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Hazelnut

Hazelnut intolerance may be due to its unique proteins, fats, or cross-reactivity with pollen. Avoid hazelnuts for 8 weeks, use supplements like digestive enzymes and probiotics, and retest for improvement.

What is Hazelnut?

Hazelnut is a nut commonly enjoyed in chocolates, baked goods, and spreads like hazelnut butter or Nutella. Rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, and magnesium, hazelnuts are a popular choice for snacking and adding flavor to recipes.

🤔 Why Do I Have an Intolerance to Hazelnut and Its Components?

You may experience intolerance to hazelnut due to the following components:

Proteins:

  • Cor a 9 and Cor a 14: Primary storage proteins in hazelnuts that may trigger sensitivity.
  • Cor a 1: Related to birch pollen allergies, this protein can cross-react with immune systems sensitive to pollens.

Fats:

  • Hazelnuts are high in monounsaturated fats, which can be harder for some individuals to digest.

Phenolic Compounds:

  • Naturally occurring compounds in hazelnuts, such as tannins, can cause irritation or inflammation in sensitive systems.

Histamines:

  • Hazelnuts may contain moderate levels of histamines, which can exacerbate symptoms in histamine-sensitive individuals.

🛠️ What Can I Do About It?

  • Avoid hazelnuts and hazelnut-based products for 8 weeks to allow your system to recover.
  • Retest your sensitivity after 8 weeks to evaluate improvements.
  • Use nut-free or other nut substitutes, such as sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, in recipes.

💊 Which Supplements Can Help?

To manage hazelnut intolerance and support your system, consider:

Digestive Enzymes:

  • Help break down hazelnut proteins like Cor a 9 and Cor a 14, reducing digestive symptoms.

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Probiotics:

  • Improve gut bacteria balance and enhance digestion to better process nuts in general.

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Anti-inflammatory Supplements:

  • Curcumin: Reduces inflammation caused by food sensitivities.

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  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Help alleviate inflammatory responses and support overall gut health.

Histamine Blockers:

  • DAO (Diamine Oxidase): Mitigates reactions from histamines present in hazelnuts.

🌟 Why Might I Have an Intolerance to Hazelnut but Not Other Nuts?

If you tolerate other nuts like almonds or cashews but react to hazelnuts, these factors may explain why:

Protein Differences:

  • Hazelnuts have unique proteins (e.g., Cor a 9, Cor a 14) not found in other nuts, making them more reactive for some individuals.
  • Almonds and cashews have different protein structures, which might be easier for your system to handle.

Histamine Levels:

  • Hazelnuts have higher histamine content than some other nuts, potentially triggering reactions in histamine-sensitive individuals.

Fat Composition:

  • Hazelnuts are particularly high in monounsaturated fats, which might be harder to digest than the fat composition in other nuts.

Cross-Reactivity with Pollen Allergies:

  • Hazelnuts share proteins with birch pollen (Cor a 1), leading to sensitivities not present with other nuts.

🍽️ Popular Dishes Containing Hazelnut

  • Nutella and other hazelnut spreads
  • Hazelnut chocolate bars
  • Hazelnut butter
  • Hazelnut coffee

🍽️ Alternatives (if tolerated)

  • Almonds
  • Cashews
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Pumpkin seeds