With hazelnuts as part of your daily diet, optimal health isn’t such a hard nut to crack. Here are five science-backed benefits of this popular snack and versatile food ingredient Nuts are a nutrient-dense food that contain healthy fats, protein, fiber, minerals and phenolic compounds. They are thought to offer wide-ranging cardiovascular and metabolic benefits and can be readily integrated into a balanced diet. The hazelnut, which comes from the Corylus tree of the Betulaceae family, offers a sweet flavor and the flexibility of being eaten raw, roasted or as a paste in ground form. It’s considered an excellent anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic treat, being the second richest source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) among nuts and being chock full of vitamin E, magnesium, copper, selenium, L-arginine, folate, fiber and polyphenols, to name a few. Here are five evidence-based benefits of hazelnuts. 1. Antioxidant Protection Hazelnuts have one of the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) scores of any nut, signifying outstanding …