The hazelnut is a type of nut that comes from the Corylus tree. It has a sweet flavor and can be eaten in so many ways. Hazelnuts are incredibly healthy for human beings. We tend to use them everywhere from treats to beverages. However, are they safe for our beloved feathery pals?
The answer is simply yes. In general, nuts, specifically hazelnuts are safe for parrots. They are available year-round and are a good source of protein. Hazelnuts play a tremendous role in improving your parrot’s wellbeing thanks to its numerous nutrients. However, due to their high-fat content, they should be seen as more of a treat food. Moderation is therefore the key.
Let’s take a closer look at this subject.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Hazelnuts?
Hazelnuts are a part of your recommended parrot’s diet. They are high in omega 3 fats, antioxidants, and phytosterols. Walnuts are good for your parrot’s heart, can help protect against cancer, and are good for the brain aiding in reducing depression. They are a source of:
Vitamin E
This vitamin is required to maintain the body’s immune defenses. It can enhance their immune response and improves their ability to fight common bacterial infections. Vitamin E also improves your feathery pal’s response to stress and it is required for normal growth patterns
Magnesium copper
It is considered an essential nutrient for the body. While working together with iron, it allows the parrot’s body to form red blood cells. It also plays a tremendous role in improving the immune system and maintaining healthy bones. While preserving the blood vessels and nerves in our feathery pal’s bodies, it is preventing cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis.
Healthful fat
These solid fats assume a significant job in the avoidance of atherosclerosis by hindering irritation inside the veins. They additionally diminish plaque arrangement, and by different methods, they preserve the vessels.
Protein
It is one of the most essential components of your parrot’s balanced diet. It is required for any creature’s survival. It is needed for the normal growth of muscle, skin, organs, and bones. Tissue repair, wound healing, blood formation, feather growth, immune system, hormone production, and boosting energy.
Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber intake provides many health benefits among parrots. It is essential for the cardiovascular system. It protects your parrot from strokes and hypertension. Dietary fiber aids in achieving a healthy weight and helps your parrot live longer.
How Can Hazelnuts Endanger Your Parrot’s Wellbeing?
Hazelnuts are rich in nutrients however when taken excessively they can do more bad than good to your parrot and can seriously endanger their wellbeing.
Since hazelnuts are rich in fiber, excessive intake can lead to a digestive disorder, continuous cramps, and diarrhea.
All fats, whether healthy or unhealthy, can lead to disastrous effects on your parrot’s health when taken in excess.
They are still high in calories which are not all absorbed. In the long run, your heathery pall tends to become porky and without enough exercise, he will be facing serious health consequences.
When raised beyond the optimum level, even a protein can affect the parrot’s growth negatively.
Huge protein intake can lead to kidneys damage, and negatively affect bowel efficiency, an inappropriate growth rate, bone abnormalities, and poor resistance to cold.
Do I Have to Crack The Hazelnuts Before Giving Them to My Parrot?
Parrots are social birds who appreciate a difficult task. Breaking into the strong shell of a nut to reach their prize inside is a most loved distraction. You don’t have to crack the nuts, just let your feathery pal do his job and enjoy his treat.
A parrot is considered nature’s nutcracker. Its beak has an estimated bite strength of 500 to 700 pounds per share inch that can crack open nuts.
Can Parrots Eat Roasted Hazelnuts?
Hazelnuts are generally roasted to improve their texture and taste. They can be roasted with or without oil. The crunchier the treat is, the more parrots appreciate it.
When roasted, the hazelnuts preserve nearly the majority of their nutritional values. However, high temperatures and long cooking times might damage healthy fats. It leads to the formation of free radicals that might harm your parrot’s cells. However, you can avoid it by controlling the roasting process (Temperature and time).
The loss of some nutrients is not a major concern, they go nearly unnoticed. Roasted hazelnuts still provide the same health benefits with an extra crunchy texture that attracts your parrot. However, the roasting process shortens the hazelnuts shelf life. Make sure not to store it for so long.
Can Parrots Eat Salted Hazelnuts?
We usually link high sodium intake to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, however, it’s not the case. Salted Hazelnuts still contain all the nutrition and health benefits of raw or natural hazelnuts.
Parrots tend to like salty taste even more. Although the healthy nutrients might offset the negative effects of salt, you still need to serve it in moderation.
Should You Soak The Hazelnuts Before Giving Them To Your Parrot?
Here’s a tip you could use even for yourself. Soaking hazelnuts is a very unique process for so many reasons. It brings huge improvements to both taste and nutritional value.
Reasons to Soak Hazelnuts:
Improved Digestion
Hazelnuts contain permanent enzyme inhibitors that prevent the seed from sprouting prematurely. They can also cause potential digestive disorders among humans. However, soaking the nuts simulates the conditions these foods wait for in nature which results in neutralizing enzyme inhibitors. This process results in sprouting.
Improved Nutritional Value
Soaking the nuts is known to unlock nutrients in hazelnuts. The potency of various vitamins and minerals become more available.
Improved Taste
Soaking hazelnuts also enhances its flavor tremendously. A significant part of the residue, buildup, and tannins from the skins are discharged into the water and the hazelnuts rise with a smoother, increasingly palatable flavor.
How to Soak Hazelnuts?
Hazelnuts are long-soak nuts that need at least 8 hours to be soaked properly. You need warm water which will neutralize many of the enzyme inhibitors and improve the nutritional value.
Just spill the warm water in a jar and add one tablespoon of salt. Let it dissolve properly then add the hazelnuts. Make sure they are completely submerged in the water. Leave it uncovered for at least 8 hours in a warm place.
Finally, it’s time to get rid of moisture. Rinse it in a colander and spread it on a dehydrator sheet. Bake it in the oven at the lowest temperature until it is completely dry.
A Final Thought:
Hazelnuts are full of nutrients. They are rich in protein, vitamins, and dietary fiber. However, they’re also high in unsaturated fats. This is why hazelnuts shouldn’t make more than half of your parrot’s daily food. They are recommended as only a small part of a healthy diet for our feathery pals.
Like any other beneficial thing in life, there’s a drawback and on the off chance that we need our parrots to keep up great wellbeing, at that point, a major portion of balance and caution is required regarding the delicious hazelnuts.