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Acorns are the nut of the oak tree – known for their hard outer shells and sharp points. While they may be small, acorns have a surprisingly large number of positive benefits. Here we look at just some of them.

Nutritionally speaking, acorns have a fairly decent amount of vitamins and minerals, and provide humans with energy and fuel through carbohydrates and protein. Acorns are a good source of dietary fiber, too. In addition, they’re low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol. They can be dried, roasted, ground down to flour, or used to produce oil – meaning you can use them in many different ways.

Acorns also offer a number of environmental benefits. Oak trees are known to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon in their woody tissue and roots. Acorns contain the seedling that will eventually grow up into a new oak tree, helping to maintain and restore local ecosystems.

We can also use acorns to create highly absorbent paper products. A company called Acorn Paper has developed a process by which acorn flour can be made and used to make paper products such as tissues and napkins – and this paper is even compostable!

And, finally, acorns can be a great source of crafts. Consider making an acorn necklace or other jewelry, using them as decoration for your garden, or turning them into a game piece. Acorns can also inspire and energize our creative spirit, turning into whatever we can imagine.

All in all, acorns may seem like insignificant little nuts, but they can be quite beneficial for both us and the environment. From their nutrition to their environmental impacts, to their usage within crafts, acorns have many positive benefits to offer.