Edible nuts, the main fruit of trees, are sought after in many forms and for several good reasons. Eating nuts may help reduce risk factors for many chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

Most of the edible nuts are from trees which produce their fruit without any exterior sac, or fleshy "mesocarp" and a thin outer skin or "exocarp". These nuts, or more commony called seeds, are protected due to their delicate nature. These would also be called sometimes "drupes".

All about nuts here at the Nut Growers Association