Useful properties and contraindications of pine nuts

Pine nuts have long been considered a valuable nutritious product., rich in vitamins, minerals and other useful substances.

There is a misconception among the people that these nuts are obtained from majestic cedars. In fact, these are the seeds of Siberian cedar pines, which, when they reach maturity, are capable of producing 10-12 kg of nuts from each tree.

The pine nuts are rather miniature in size: 10-14 mm in length and 6-10 mm in width. But as they say, small spool but precious.

What vitamins and minerals are contained, what is the calorie content of pine nuts?

Not only forest birds and animals feed on pine nuts. This the product is a unique delicacy in the human diet... Initially, pine nuts were used in cooking to prepare various dishes.

Later, their nutritional value was studied, which amazes with a variety of nutrients that make up:

• glucose, fructose and sucrose;
• vitamins: A, C, K, E, as well as the group of vitamins B (B₁, B₂, B₃, B₅, B₆, B₉);
• micro and macro elements;
• amino acids.

Pine kernels contain 19 amino acids: histidine, proline, arginine, tyrosine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, tryptophan, glycine and others.

Pine nuts contain 60-63% fats, which are a source of valuable pine nut oil, 14-17% easily digestible proteins and 10-14% carbohydrates.

The energy value of the product is 875 kcal per 100 g.

Pine nuts. Siberian greetings:

Useful properties and benefits for men, women and children

The usefulness of pine nuts allows almost everyone to use them for medicinal or prophylactic purposes, which is explained by a wide range of valuable substances that make up their composition.

What is the use of this little nut:

• has a positive effect on the immune system, helping to recover from a serious illness or intense physical activity;
• it is used to prevent anemia, improves blood composition and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system;
• lowers blood cholesterol levels;
• improves brain activity, increases mental capacity;
• with regular use, strengthens bone tissue and improves visual acuity;
• as a product rich in iodine, it is effective in the treatment and prevention of thyroid dysfunction;
• thanks to the content of the complex of B vitamins, it helps to normalize the functioning of the nervous system: relieves irritability, helps to fight insomnia and stress;
• improves metabolism and work of endocrine glands;
• normalizes the functioning of all organs of the digestive system;
• serves as a prophylactic agent against the development of benign and malignant tumors;
• reduces appetite, which is useful for those who are overweight and those who follow the figure;
• improves the general condition of the skin, helps in the treatment of various skin diseases, promotes rapid wound healing and tissue regeneration;
• increases potency in men and normalizes the activity of the reproductive system;
• slows down the aging process in the body, has a rejuvenating effect;
• is an excellent prophylactic agent for atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus.

Contraindications

Despite the huge list of useful properties, the intake of cedar kernels in food should not be uncontrolledso as not to harm your health.

Pine nuts have a beneficial effect on the mental and physical development of children. However, given the miniature size of the cores, do not give them to babies under the age of 4-5 years - babies can inhale nuts, which will cause blockage of the airways.

Children after 5 years of age should eat nuts in the presence of adults so that they can provide first aid if necessary.

It is not recommended to eat pine nuts at the same time with dairy or meat dishes. The large amount of protein contained in these products puts an excessive load on the digestive organs and does not allow the body to assimilate all the useful substances of nuts.

Sometimes when nuts are consumed, a bitter taste in the mouth appears. A quality product that tastes good, is easy to chew and has a delicate aroma.

The appearance of bitterness indicates that the nuts eaten were rancid. and caused a kind of poisoning of the body.

The feeling of bitterness in the mouth may be present for 2-14 days after consuming the product and will go away on its own without taking medication.

What is the maximum shelf life of peeled nuts? It makes up only 14 days.

When buying pine nuts on the market, give preference to unpeeled - they can be stored without losing their taste and healing properties for up to 1 year.

As a contraindication physicians traditionally call individual intolerance. Sadly, an allergy can develop to pine nuts.

Mild allergies are expressed by vomiting, diarrhea, itching and redness of the skin. In more severe cases, anaphylactic shock develops, accompanied by low blood pressure, general weakness and loss of consciousness.

Pine nuts and their benefits and contraindications:

Application in traditional medicine

For recipes of traditional medicine, all the constituent parts of pine nuts are used: peeled kernels, shells, oil and even cake, which is ground and used as a food supplement.

Cedar flour is made from the cake, and nutritious milk or cream is made from it.that are useful for babies who are allergic to breast milk.

Tinctures are used to treat a wide range of ailments:

• atherosclerosis;
• hypertension;
• digestive and respiratory organs;
• kidney and genitourinary system;
• heart and blood vessels;
• diseases of the skin and hair;
• joints and spine;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• anemia and hypovitaminosis;
• colds;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• hemorrhoids.

The appearance of the cedar seed tincture resembles cognac. Experts say that the taste is not much different from this elite drink.

On the Internet and in literary sources, there are many recipes for making tinctures. Here is one of them:

1. Put 500 g of unpeeled pine nuts in a clean glass jar, pour in vodka or rubbing alcohol. The liquid should completely cover the nuts.
2. Insist the product at room temperature in a dark place for 12-14 days.
3. After two weeks, check the readiness of the tincture - the kernels inside the nuts should completely dissolve under the influence of alcohol. To check, it is enough to get a nut out of the jar and crack it. If there is no kernel inside the nut, the tincture is ready for use.
4. If the nucleus has not completely dissolved, keep the tincture for some time, checking the condition of the nuclei every other day.

The course of treatment usually lasts 1-2 months.... If necessary, they undergo a second course after a 30-day break.

The tincture is taken 3-4 times a day before meals.... The recommended single dose is 2 teaspoons of the product, diluted in 1 tablespoon of boiled water, so that the total amount of tincture is quite enough for the whole course.

As with any medication, the recommended dose should not be exceeded. It is advisable to consult your doctor before using the pine nut folk remedy.

The impact of the nut on health during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Besides the main products it is recommended to add pine nuts to the diet of pregnant women... The expectant mother and baby will receive from them almost all the useful elements necessary for the normal development of the fetus.

At the same time, it is important do not exceed the recommended daily dose - 2 tbsp. spoons - and buy only a high quality product.

After the birth of a child, pine nuts should not be excluded from the mother's diet. They enhance lactation and, getting into the baby's body with mother's milk, strengthen the child's immunity, and have a beneficial effect on his mental and physical development.

Nutshells: medicinal properties for humans

Pine nut shell used for the preparation of environmentally friendly material - cedroplast... It is a composite finishing material, which contains resin and pine nut shells.

Besides the decorative function, cedroplast has unique properties... According to the manufacturers, in the room, decorated with slabs of pine nut waste, workers' fatigue decreases, their work capacity increases, and their clarity of thought improves.

Cedar shells are widely used by gardeners and landscape designers. Shell mulch protects plants from fungal diseases and insect pests, enriches the soil with micro- and macroelements necessary for horticultural crops.

The pharmaceutical industry includes recycled pine nuts in the composition of ointments, creams and tinctures. These drugs have antiseptic properties due to the tannins in the shell. They are used to treat burns, lichen, eczema and purulent skin inflammations.

Alcohol and vodka shell tinctures effective in the complex treatment of anemia, atherosclerosis, leukemia, cardiovascular and genitourinary systems, digestive organs, eye diseases.

Decoctions are prepared from the husks of nuts, which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Their use is recommended for the restoration of the digestive organs, the treatment of allergic cough and runny nose, rheumatism, gout, periodontitis.

The harm of the husk to the body

Therapy with pine nut shells must be agreed with a doctor. Only a specialist can examine the body and confirm whether such treatment is suitable for a specific disease.

A particular caution should be exercised by those who have violations of the composition of the blood.

Treatment with folk remedies based on pine nuts or shells should be combined with traditional medicines.

How to prepare the shell for use

Separating the shell from the kernels is not easy, for this you will have to make some effort. Immediately, you need to dismiss the idea that pine nuts can be gnawed - their shell is hard enough and can break the integrity of the teeth.

In the industrial field for peeling nuts from the shell use special devices (dehumidifiers)... At home, two methods are used to extract nutrient nucleoli.

"Cold" way

For cracking shells use improvised tools - a hammer, pliers, metal pestle... Even an ordinary kitchen garlic crusher can perfectly cope with the role of a nut peel.

When splitting, you need to be careful not to crush the kernels together with the shell.

"Hot" way

Soak nuts in hot water for 10-15 minutes, then spread them out on a cutting board and crack the shells with a wooden rolling pin, rolling the nuts with slight pressure.

How to peel a pine nut:

Some sources suggest before peeling fry nuts in a pan, microwave or oven.

The majestic Siberian pines presented to mankind a unique product - delicious and healthy pine nuts.

These small seeds help in the treatment and prevention of various diseases. In folk recipes, both nut kernels and shells are used.

However, we must not forget that everything needs measure and discretion... There is no need to self-medicate and rely on the miraculous power of healing nuts - only comprehensive treatment will help to defeat the disease or prevent its occurrence.