Nuts and Nut-Based Products: A Meta-Analysis from Intake Health Benefits and Functional Characteristics from Recovered Constituents

Tree nuts demand analysis using the LA-AIDS model: A case of the Indian economy paradox

India is one of the world's largest producers of tree nuts, yet it paradoxically remains a net importer of these commodities. This study aims to analyze the demand for imported tree nuts in India, motivated by the need to understand the factors contributing to this imbalance. The primary objective is to calculate income elasticities and own- and cross-price elasticities for five categories of imported tree nuts using the linear approximate almost ideal demand system model. Data is sourced from monthly import records from the United Nations Comtrade database covering 2014 to 2022. The tree nuts considered are almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Key findings reveal all imported tree nuts are normal goods. Cashews exhibit income elasticity (1.2), indicating a significant demand increase with rising incomes, while other nuts show income inelasticity. Cashews are price-elastic (-1.3), while other nuts are price-inelastic. Compensated cross-price elasticities indicate notable substitution effects, particularly between almonds and cashews. The study recommends enhancing domestic cashew production to meet growing demand and developing targeted marketing strategies to address competitive dynamics within the tree nut market. These strategies aim to reduce India's dependency on imports and promote a balanced, sustainable domestic market.

Why Should Pistachio Be a Regular Food in Our Diet?

The pistachio is regarded as a relevant source of biologically active components that, compared to other nuts, possess a healthier nutritional profile with low-fat content composed mainly of monounsaturated fatty acids, a high source of vegetable protein and dietary fibre, remarkable content of minerals, especially potassium, and an excellent source of vitamins, such as vitamins C and E. A rich composition in terms of phytochemicals, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and, importantly, phenolic compounds, makes pistachio a powerful food to explore its involvement in the prevention of prevalent pathologies. Although pistachio has been less explored than other nuts (walnut, almonds, hazelnut, etc.), many studies provide evidence of its beneficial effects on CVD risk factors beyond the lipid-lowering effect. The present review gathers recent data regarding the most beneficial effects of pistachio on lipid and glucose homeostasis, endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation that essentially convey a protective/preventive effect on the onset of pathological conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, CVD, and cancer. Likewise, the influence of pistachio consumption on gut microbiota is reviewed with promising results. However, population nut consumption does not meet current intake recommendations due to the extended belief that they are fattening products, their high cost, or teething problems, among the most critical barriers, which would be solved with more research and information.