Nuts are touted as one of the healthiest snacks you can have, but they are also really easy to overeat. When that happens, you can experience some strange and unwanted results. Today we are going to look at pecans specifically, but did you know that the pecan isn’t technically classified as a nut at all? It’s really a drupe, which is a fruit with a single stone or pit that’s surrounded by husk. For clarity’s sake, we are going to keep calling them nuts!
But drupe or nut, the reality is that pecans pack a huge nutritional punch and also aren’t always good for you. Sure, you’ll get plenty of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, thiamin, and zinc, plus 10% of your daily fiber. Diets high in these items tend to help prevent against illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
On the other hand, pecans are high in fat and a common allergy trigger. So are pecans right for you? We’ll explore 7 strange things, both wonderful and weird, that can happen to your body when you eat pecans on a regular basis. Item #6 goes in direct opposition to a lot of the hype you’ve probably heard about them.
1. Pecans Make Your Brain Work Better
Pecans contain thiamine and copper, both of which are credited with stopping free radical damage in the brain. A deficiency in thiamine can cause symptoms including confusion and balance issues. Thiamine and copper might also work together to delay the onset of Parkinson’s disease.
Pecans additionally contain manganese, which is known to stabilize the brain’s synaptic process. Synapses are the jumping off points from which information is shuttled around the brain, so getting enough manganese will help you think more clearly. Not enough manganese can exacerbate epilepsy, moods swings, and learning disabilities.
