The benefits and harms of hazelnut or hazel

Hazelnuts are nutritious and delicious with a high calorie content. Nuts are very useful for the body, due to the rich composition of trace elements and vitamins.

One of the most famous types of nuts is hazelnut.

Description of hazelnut

The trunk of the shrub is quite thin, but can grow up to ten meters in height. Leaves are large, heart-shaped along the edges of the notches.

Small round or oval fruits... The shell is light green in color, at the time of ripening it becomes dark brown and hard. The hazelnut kernel is firm with a sweetish taste.

The properties of hazelnut (hazel) are unique due to their composition... It contains a large amount of vegetable fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, trace elements. Oil is obtained from hazelnuts.

Where does the shrub grow when the harvest ripens

The homeland of the shrub is considered Asia Minor, Caucasus, Kuban, Turkey, Crimea and other regions and countries with subtropical or temperate climates. The main factor for plant growth is sun and fertile soil.

There are countries where the plant is grown by farmers, but this happens in small quantities. To harvest a high-quality crop, you need to know the ripening time and how to properly harvest the nut.

The plant is pollinated by the wind... Each variety and species ripens differently, but in general it happens from August to September.

In July, the fruits are fully formed and are full of useful substances, but it is not recommended to collect them. The peel of the unripe fruit is green, so it will not be possible to keep the harvest for a long time.

At the end of August, most of the fruits in the forest ripen, the rind turns brown. This is the most important sign of the ripeness of a hazelnut. Ripe fruits harvested this month will keep well.

The end of September is the time when overripe fruits begin to crumble en masse., which adversely affects the fetus. They begin to rot and be affected by pests. The most important thing in the collection is not to miss the moment.

As soon as the skin of the walnut starts to change color from green to light brown, this is the first sign that it's time to start harvesting.

How can you collect hazelnuts in the forest

The process of harvesting a ripe crop can be schematically divided into several stages:

1. Shaking off and collecting fruits.
2. Cleaning and drying.
3. Storage.

Collecting nuts is hard enough... Since the bush grows high, the yield is large and it is very difficult to pick each nut with your hands.

Therefore, cover the ground in front of the bush with a blanket and shake the tree well. All ripe fruits will fall.

Collect them together with the peel, dry. After the sushi process, separate from the peel and kernel and dry for several weeks.

It is advisable to store the crop in fabric bagswhich allows air to pass through.

If you harvest the crop correctly and on time, the hazelnut will delight you with high-quality and rich nutritional properties.

How to dry a nut crop after harvesting at home

After harvesting, the question immediately arises - how to dry? It is worth noting that a properly dried crop will be stored for a long time.

At home, hazelnuts can be dried in the following ways:

• in a frying pan;
• in the oven;
• in an electric dryer;
• in the sun.

Let's consider each method separately.

Drying nuts in a pan... Remove the shell from the crop and place it in a frying pan. Use a large pan for drying. Fry over low heat, stirring constantly for no more than 5 minutes.

This drying method will preserve all the nutrients and help to increase the shelf life.

Only peeled kernels are suitable for the electric dryer... The drying process lasts no more than 5 hours at a temperature of 90 degrees. At the same time, do not forget to change the position of the baking sheets for even drying of the fruits.

Drying in the oven - this is probably the most common method used by many housewives. In the oven, dry the nuts without the skin.

Preheat the oven to 130 degrees, put the nuts on a baking sheet and leave for several hours.

Drying hazelnuts in the sun... This method is suitable only for those regions in which, even after harvesting, the sun pleases with warmth.

Spread the harvested crop in a thin layer on paper in a ventilated and sunny place. As soon as the sun has hidden, bring the crop into the house so that at night the nuts do not get moisture and dew does not fall on them.

Drying can take several days... Once the crop is dry, place it in a ventilated container.

The benefits and beneficial properties of hazel

Hazelnuts are a source of many nutrients... In the composition, you can find mineral salts, B vitamins, potassium, cobalt, iron, fatty oils, amino acids.

Nut properties are equal to proteins, therefore, it must be eaten separately, except for fruits. Due to their mineral content, hazelnut kernels are recommended to be consumed after physical exertion.

Recommended for people who suffer from vascular disease, nursing mothers will benefit to increase lactation, to maintain children's immunity.

It is essential for people with cancer., since it contains paclitaxel in the composition.

In folk medicine, a nut is used in a grated form.... It is diluted with water and taken orally. Nut water can help you get rid of:

• fever;
• flatulence;
• hemoptysis.

Due to its low carbon content, hazelnut recommended for people with diabetes.

Hazelnuts are useful not only fresh and dried, they provide invaluable assistance in the preparation of medicines. It is used not only in traditional and folk medicine.

The unique properties of the nut contribute to prevention and recovery with diseases of the upper respiratory tract, vascular diseases, skin diseases, dystrophy and much more.

The program “Live Healthy!” Will tell you about hazelnuts:

Harm and contraindications

Despite the rich, beneficial composition of hazelnuts, they can also be harmful. It is contraindicated to eat raw persons with urolithiasis and with diseases of the kidneys and liver.

Decoctions and infusions with hazelnuts raise blood pressure... It is necessary to refuse the use of such funds for people with hypertension.

Before using traditional hazelnut-based preparations consult a doctor.

Medical contraindications:

1. Eat nuts per day no more than 50 grams, otherwise nausea, headache, vomiting may appear.
2. Individual intolerance.
3. Allergic reactions.
4. Diathesis in children.

Medicinal properties and application in traditional medicine

For medicinal purposes, not only the kernel of the nut is used, but also the bark and leaves. The bark is harvested in the fall, cut off, dried and crushed.

Leaves are harvested in spring and dried. The leaves contain vitamin C and essential oil, which has a vasoconstrictor effect.

In folk medicine, hazelnut is used for urolithiasis, rheumatism, anemia, as a general tonic.

A useful nut remedy is oil. I use it for epilepsy and ascariasis, it helps with hair loss.

The oil is used in cosmetology in pure form, and in the constituent ointments, sprays, skin and hair care products.

The oil has a beneficial effect on oily skin. It helps to tighten pores, improve complexion, relieve acne and reduce oil production.

Oil cocktail will help relieve fatigue from legs... It will take 4 tsp. forest oil, 2 tsp. sesame seeds and 1 tsp. oils of calendula and St. John's wort. apply with massage movements.

Bark infusion used for varicose veins, trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis.

Leaves apply for the treatment of intestinal diseases, anemia, rickets, vitamin deficiency, kidney disease.

Hazelnut fruits will help heal wounds after a burn. Grind the kernel, add protein. Apply to the problem area.

Green shell decoction hazelnut will relieve diarrhea.

Infusion from the bark for varicose veins... You will need in equal proportions of hazelnut bark and mountain arnica. Brew at the rate of 3 tbsp. l. mixtures per liter of water. Better to insist in a thermos.

Drink the strained infusion before each meal, 0.5 cups. Make compresses from the infusion at night.

We fight roundworms... For treatment, take orally 1 tbsp. l. 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Fighting colds and fever hazelnut bark. Grind the bark. 3 tbsp. l. pour the powder with a liter of boiling water, hold it in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Cool and take 100 ml 4 times a day.

Collect the gifts of nature on time. Dry nuts correctly and then during the cold weather they replenish your body with useful substances.

Store fruits only in a dry place... Do not eat rancid fruits, they can cause poisoning and lead to serious illness.