The nutritional quality of hazelnut and the consumption of hazelnuts by university students, determination of nutrition consciousness levels

Hazelnut is one of the most significant resources of our country in economic terms. The research was carried out to acquire extensive information regarding hazelnuts and to explore the level of health knowledge of the university students. This research was conducted with the participation of 400 students between the ages 18 and 28 studying at Haliç University. General information, anthropometric measurements, health status, nutritional status, hazelnut consumption frequency (and of their derivatives), and levels of health knowledge were ascertained along with the results of the survey applied to the participants. A 24-hour food consumption form was utilized. The attitude Scale towards Healthy Nutrition was used as the scale. When the participants' nutritional needs were compared to TUBER (Turkish Nutritional Guide) data, it was observed that vitamin C, vitamin D, potassium, calcium and selenium were insufficient; the intake of saturated fatty acid, niacin, vitamin B12, sodium, phosphorus, omega 3 and cholesterol was higher than required and other values were within the normal range. When the most frequently consumed type of nuts was studied, 26% answered hazelnuts; and it was found that the most preferred type of hazelnut was roasted. It was found that 6% of the students consume no hazelnuts, 10% consume once a day, 20.3% of the students consume once in 15 days, 31.5% consume it 1-2 days a week, 22.3% consume it 3-4 times a week, 5.3% of them consume it 5-6 days a week and 4.8% consume it every day. Their average consumption is 38.53 grams. It was seen that as the amount of hazelnut consumption in a family increased, the average amount of hazelnuts consumed by the participants increased. The average number of correct answers given by women to 21 questions relating to the relationship between hazelnuts and health is 11.82 ± 3.68. The correct answer average of men is 10.55 ± 3.33. It can be stated that women's knowledge levels in this regard are higher than men's (p< .05). Based on the results of this research, only 4.8% of participants think that hazelnuts are highly effective. Although there is a significant relationship between departments studying in the field of health in terms of knowing hazelnuts' effect on health, it has been observed that the department in which the students consume the most hazelnuts every day is the Department of Computer Engineering with 29.4%. Based on the results of this analysis, it can be stated that although the knowledge level of those studying in the field of health is high, its consumption is low.