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Basic Information: The betel nut palm, also known as areca, is a genus of about 50 species of palms in the family Arecaceae. It is an unbranched palm reaching 12-30 meters in height. The stem has scars of fallen leaves and becomes visible only when the palm is about 3 years old. The adult palm has 7-12 open leaves. The flowers can either be small but numerous with three petals or solitary where only two or three sit at the base. The fruit is either smooth orange or scarlet when ripe and has a fibrous outer layer. The nuts are known for their bitter and tangy taste, both raw and dried, and are routinely used for chewing in combination with the leaves of betel and dried tobacco leaves.
Nutrition, Traditional Use and Research
The statements below describe nutrition facts, traditional use and published research. They are not health claims for our products.
- The betel nut (areca nut) is part of a long-standing social and cultural tradition in many parts of Asia, including Sumatra, where it is chewed, often in a quid with betel leaf and lime.
- Traditionally, chewing betel nut is described as stimulating the appetite and saliva flow and as a mild stimulant. These are traditional descriptions and are not confirmed health benefits.
- Important health note: the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies areca nut and betel quid as carcinogenic to humans. Regular chewing is associated with oral health problems and addiction. We therefore do not recommend consuming betel nut and do not make any health claims for it.
- In traditional folk practice, betel nut has been used for many purposes, for example against intestinal worms. Because of the health risks, these uses are not recommended.
Fun Facts:
- The areca nut or betel nut is not actually a nut, but rather a drupe fruit
- Consumption of betel nuts have many harmful effects to humans including effects to the immune system and to the foetus during pregnancy. It can also cause neuronal injury, hepatotoxicity, asthma, obesity, diabetes, gum irritation, and tooth decay
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_nut
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Areca_catechu.PDF
https://www.organicfacts.net/betel-nuts.html
http://blog.nurserylive.com/2016/12/08/facts-about-hard-nutty-betel-nut-and-gardening-in-india