Interesting Facts About Nuts

Nuts are a salty, crunchy and satisfying snack any time or day or night. Nuts are also a good choice as they provide the body with protein, nutrients and vitamins. However, like all snack foods, they should be done in moderation. While you are snacking, here are a few nuts tidbits to help satisfy your mind while you satisfy your cravings:

1. Pistachios split naturally when they are fully ripe and have earned the nickname "laughing nut" because they appear to smile at you before you crack them open (Source: Science Daily).

2. Because of the antiquated harvesting and processing methods of pistachios from the Middle East, the nut is dyed red to help hide blemishes. Further, the cold also helped the pistachio stand out in snack food vending machines when they were competing with such treats as Good and Plenty (Source: The Straight Dope).

3. The peanut is the only nut that is grown underground and is technically a legume (a bean) (Source: Azar Food Service).

4. Americans eat 3,750,000 pounds of peanuts in all forms including baked goods and soups (Source: Azar Food Service).

5. Almonds are mentioned seventy-three times in the Old Testament in the Bible and a branch of the almond tree was used as the staff to the Pope (Source: Nuts for Life).

6. Walnut trees are very hardy and slow to grow. The first production of walnuts does not occur until the tree is fifteen years old; however, they will continue to produce nuts for another forty-five years after (Source: Nuts for Life).

7. You will never see or be able to purchase cashews in their shells. The nut is surrounded by a double shell that contains a toxin similar to poison ivy and will affect the skin the same way in respect to the rash (Source: Nuts for Life).

8. The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that pine nuts were an aphrodisiac and the nut continues to be a standard ingredient in Italian cooking (Source: The Straight Dope).

9. George Washington was fond of Pecans and he carried them in his pocket during the Revolutionary War. Further, the two pecan trees that he planted are still standing today (Source: Germack Pistachio Company).

10. Macadamia nut trees live over sixty years and will start producing after seven years. Mature trees will produce sixty to one hundred and fifty pounds of nuts per year (Source: The Nut Factory).