Energy assessment of some nuts and dried fruits grown in Pakistan’s climate and their role for weight control management

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess the energy contents of different dry fruits consumed in Pakistan.  Six samples of tree nuts (walnut, almond, pine nut, pistachio, cashew nut, and coconut), one sample of the ground nut (peanut), and four samples of dried fruits (figs, apricot, dates, and raisins) were selected for this purpose. The energy contents of nuts and dried fruits were estimated using oxygen bomb calorimeter. Peanut was identified as the energy rich fruit (875.86 Cal/100g), followed by walnut (818.84 Cal/100g), coconut (787.36 Cal/100g), almond (785.61 Cal/100g), pine nut (772.31 Cal/100g), Pistachio (624.72 Cal/100g), and the cashew nut (616.46 Cal/100g). The energy values of the dry fruits were found higher in nuts (875.86-616.46 Cal/100g), compare to dried fruits (352.04–505.31 Cal/100g). Protein and fats contribute to the energy values of nuts; while carbohydrates make a valuable contribution to the energy content of dried fruits. The recommended serving of dry fruits was found to fulfill 20.26−4.40 % of the minimum estimated energy requirement (EER) of persons of different life styles. On the basis of the caloric content of the studied dry fruits, one can easily calculate the required amount of a particular dry fruit per day in accordance to gender, age and PAL life style. Therefore, the study would be helpful to plan weight balance strategies for individuals interested in energy dense food.