• Categorized under Food,Vegetables & Fruits | Difference Between Nuts and Seeds

Nuts vs Seeds

When you look at this list: Almonds, cashews, flaxseeds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts and sunflower seeds ‘“ can you tell which ones are considered to be nuts, and which ones are seeds? Naturally, the ones with seeds in the end of the phrase belong to the seeds category, but aside from that, what are the distinct differences between the two?

First, how do you define each term? Nuts are hard-shelled fruits of plants which are an important source of nutrients for man. Some examples of nuts are hazelnuts, chestnuts, acorns and hickories ‘“ and they are characterized by the stony fruit wall which is actually a composite of the seed and the fruit.

On the other hand, seeds are the small plant enclosed in the seed coat, which usually has stored food. As you may already know, there are some edible seeds which are a crucial part of the human diet, because they are a great source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which are good for the body.

As far as nutrient content is concerned, nuts are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fat; while seeds are rich in protein, vitamin B, minerals, fat and dietary fibers. One common misconception that people have about peanuts and ground nuts, is that they are part of the nuts family, but they are actually categorized as legumes.

There are some seeds like sesame and poppy seeds which do not require the husks to be removed when eaten ‘“ while other seeds will require the husk to be removed. No matter what culinary requirement it is that you have, you will find that nuts are available in a variety of forms, including shelled, raw, roasted and dry roasted. Seeds are also available in raw and roasted varieties ‘“ so take your pick!

Summary:

1. Nuts are a one-seeded fruit, while seeds are the propagative part of a plant.

2. Nuts will typically have one seed or two, while seeds take the form of a small embryonic plant, and are smaller.

3. Nuts are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and fat; while seeds are rich in protein, vitamin B, minerals, fat and dietary fibers.