All about the beneficial properties of chestnuts: the calorie content of nuts, how are they useful and harmful? Chestnuts and their benefits and harms to the human body, areas of application and culinary recipes.

20.10.2019

Chestnut Is a plant from the Beech genus. It can be of two types: noble (aka sweet or edible) and horse (inedible). The tree grows in America, Europe, Asia. Chestnut is especially revered in France; a holiday is even celebrated in its honor. The fruits are used in cooking, they can be added to the first and second courses, sauces and desserts are prepared from them. Nuts are eaten fried, boiled and baked. They help with a number of diseases, they are used in alternative medicine and pharmacology.

We will also tell you about which chestnuts can be eaten and how to use them to treat diseases.

Nutritional value of chestnut

Chestnuts contain the most carbohydrates. The calorie content of the product varies depending on the cooking method - raw product contains 165 kcal, stewed or boiled - 130 kcal, while frying - 180 kcal per 100 grams.

Steamed chestnuts are considered dietary - they contain only 56 kcal, despite the fact that there are no less nutrients in them.

Chestnuts contain 2-3% fiber and 3% minerals. In addition, chestnuts are rich in vitamins A, C and B.
Chestnut seeds contain a lot of cumanic glycosides, triterpene saponin, escin, fatty oil (up to 7%), protein substances (up to 10%), starch (up to 50%) and tannins (1%).

The chestnut fruit is considered a nut, but it contains much less fat than the rest of the family. Despite this, this fruit is very satisfying and nutritious, and therefore more useful. Due to its texture, it is included in vegetarian diets.

Chestnuts have long been used as food, their benefits and harm to the body are very great. Distinguishing the noble from the wild is quite simple. In noble fruits, the capsule is covered with a dense layer of needles. Inside each box are several pointed nuts.

Noble varieties are used in cooking for cooking different dishes, flour. But not only fried chestnuts are popular, useful properties are observed even in raw fruits, which taste very similar to potatoes.

Each of the fruits contains many vitamins of group A, B, C, fats, sugar, starch. Chestnuts have a short shelf life. It is best to eat nuts in the fall, when they begin to ripen.

Why is edible chestnut useful:

used in the treatment of atherosclerosis;
strengthens blood vessels, improves blood circulation;
effective for thrombophlebitis, ulcers, inflammation of hemorrhoids;
eating raw fruits can cure malaria, constipation, diarrhea;
if you roast the nuts, they can stop the bleeding.

The benefits of wild chestnut

Although wild chestnut cannot be consumed due to its toxicity, bitter taste, it also has its own beneficial properties. Horse chestnut got its name back in the 16th century, when the health properties of the nut on horses were first noticed.

A few years later, the walnut began to be used for the manufacture of medicines, tinctures, and decoctions. Thanks to the beneficial substances eculin, escin, chestnut fruits have been used in some areas of medicine for:

regulation of blood clotting;
splitting blood clots;
removal of inflammatory processes, edema.

Horse chestnut is one of the main components for the manufacture of ointments, tablets, injections, drops used in the treatment of varicose veins, diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Almost every part of the chestnut (inflorescence, bark, nut) is used in the treatment of:

inflammation, pulmonary edema;
bronchitis;
anemia;
stopping bleeding;
diseases of the gallbladder;
inflammatory processes of internal organs;

Horse chestnut is one of the strongest, but at the same time controversial fruits. If you collect medicinal raw materials correctly, they can get rid of many serious health problems, no worse than expensive drugs. If this is done illiterately, the medicine may be useless or even poisonous.

Collect the fruits, bark, leaves and inflorescences of the horse chestnut away from the city, highways and large settlements. A tree that grows in the forest, in the mountains, away from roads and industrial plants is best suited. The first step is to collect the inflorescences when the chestnut blossoms - in May.

Flowers need to be picked, laid out in direct sunlight and dried in a ventilated and warm place for a couple of days. Store in a canvas bag. The bark is also harvested in spring, when the first juices begin to collect under it. It is better to cut the bark from young branches, and then dry it thoroughly in the sun.

The bark is stored for no more than a year, then it gradually loses its useful properties. Leaves can be harvested at almost any time - from the appearance of young leaves and up to their yellowing. But the fruits are suitable only when ripe - as soon as they begin to fall to the ground. The green unripe chestnut fruit can be dangerous.

Slimming with horse chestnut

While losing weight, chestnuts will be beneficial when applied topically as it improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.

With the help of this product, women who watch their figure get rid of cellulite and edema.
Undoubtedly, the effect of using chestnut will be much more noticeable if used in combination with exercise and anti-cellulite massage.

Chestnut Slimming Recipes

Powdered dried chestnut bark is mixed with oil and used for anti-cellulite massage. The bark in this case acts as an exfoliating and stimulating agent.
The combination of chestnut with chamomile decoction and green tea infusion significantly enhances its effect.
With prolonged storage, the massage mixture loses its beneficial properties and may even release toxins, so it should be prepared in small portions and stored in the refrigerator.
Special attention should be paid to problem areas during massage - before the procedure, they need to be cleaned of skin secretions.

It is enough to do such a massage every 2 days for a month, increasing the portion of the mixture applied every week, and the result will not be long in coming. A stronger effect can be obtained if you take a bath before each procedure.

On the issue of using chestnut during pregnancy, doctors are unanimous against.

The fact is that this product has a very strong effect on the blood vessels, and any sudden change during pregnancy is unacceptable. It is not even recommended to relieve swelling with medications containing chestnut extract.

Horse chestnut medicinal use

After studying healing properties chestnut, it becomes clear that its use in medicine has no analogues. Each part of the plant contains a whole range of useful substances, and therefore it is widely used in official medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Therapy using horse chestnut preparations for diseases of increased capillary fragility, inflammation of the veins, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis is very effective.

The presence of biologically active substances in fruits, leaves and inflorescences allows preparations based on horse chestnut to be used in the treatment of neuralgia, since the plant has a calming, hypnotic effect on the body.

The drug promotes tissue nutrition by improving blood circulation in the vessels. A chestnut-based remedy is used in the treatment of thrombosis that occurs in the postoperative period, inflammation, and thromboembolism.

Pharmacological agents, which include this plant, are effective in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They eliminate the symptoms of diarrhea, normalize the processes of bile secretion from the gallbladder. Chestnut-based preparations are used for angina, bronchial disease and tonsillitis.

It was experimentally revealed that the most effective drug is an alcoholic extract of seeds, which, along with this, also has the lowest toxicity. One of the main effects on the body is the escin glycoside, with a pronounced venotropic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effect.

From pharmaceutical preparations for oral use, the following are distinguished:

Aescuzana hydroalcoholic extract;
Esflazid tablet preparation;
Anavenol - comes in the form of drops or pills.

For external use, creams and gels containing horse chestnut extract are used: Venitan cream and Dr. Tais's gels, Essaven.

The health benefits of chestnuts are very high, so in folk medicine it has been in use for years.

Phlebeurysm

50 g flowers;
0.5 liters of vodka.

Preparation

Place chestnut flowers in a glass jar;
Pour in vodka.
Insist 2 weeks, shaking occasionally.
Strain the infusion.
Take 30 drops 3 times a day half an hour before meals.
The course of treatment is 1 month.

Thrombophlebitis

100 g of vodka;
10 g chopped chestnuts.

Preparation

Pour vodka over the chestnut flour.
Remove to a dark place for 10 days.
Strain the infusion.
Drink an infusion diluted with water 30 drops per 60 ml of water before each meal.

Joint pain

50 g of chopped fruits;
0.5 liters of vodka.

Preparation

Mix chestnut with vodka.
Insist 3 weeks.
Consume 20 ml 3 times a day before meals.
Rub into sore joints.
The course of treatment is 1 month.

Gastritis

0.5 tbsp. l. chopped chestnut bark;
400 g of water.

Preparation

Place water and bark in a saucepan.
Instruct 8 o'clock.
Boil.
Strain.
Consume during the day 4 doses before meals.

Chestnut oil

15 g of chopped fruits;
150 g olive oil(vegetable).

Preparation

Mix the butter with the chestnut powder.
Insist for 14 days.
Simmer in a water bath for 3 hours.
Drink 3 times a day, 10 ml diluted in 100 ml of warm water.
Lubricate sore areas of the body.

Horse chestnut application in cosmetology

Through experiments, it has been proven that cosmetics based on chestnut extract help protect the skin from the oxidative effect of free radicals, slow down the aging process of the skin, strengthen the walls of skin capillaries, normalize microcirculation in the capillaries and vessels of the face, soothe the skin.

In addition, shampoos based on chestnut extract affect the condition of the hair follicles and dermis of the scalp, helping to strengthen hair and prevent hair loss.

Horse chestnut has UV protection and a moisturizing effect and is therefore used as a component in tanning creams. There are many anti-cellulite body wraps available as it improves blood circulation.

Some foot creams contain plant extract, which is necessary to fight varicose veins and relieve puffiness.

It is important to remember that chestnut cosmetics should be stored in tightly closed containers and in a cool place.

Chestnut has taken its rightful place in cosmetology. It is found in many creams, gels and shampoos. Horse chestnut masks and shampoos make hair strong, strong, shiny and supple.

The shampoo is light enough, rinses off quickly, promotes accelerated hair growth. Horse chestnut-based creams are also very popular. The medicine has a beneficial effect on the capillaries and blood vessels, which allows you to get rid of spider veins, hematomas and dark circles under the eyes.

The absorbing effect of chestnut is used in the fight against cellulite - it perfectly removes fluid from lymphoid tissues. Creams and masks based on horse chestnut rejuvenate and tone the skin, make it more elastic and elastic, with constant use, the face contour is tightened.

Chestnut has bactericidal properties, therefore it is effectively used in the fight against acne, and even fungal infections of the scalp. Perfectly removes dandruff and protects against hair loss.

Contraindications for chestnuts

Chestnut fruits have a wide range of medicinal properties and applications, but they have a number of contraindications.

Although chestnut nut is in demand, its use is not recommended for:

hypertension;
violation of the menstrual cycle;
pregnancy;
diabetes mellitus;
internal bleeding.

Fruits, inflorescences, leaves, chestnut bark are not recommended to be picked near roads, in areas with poor ecology (factories, landfills), in the city center. Chestnut, like all representatives of flora, absorbs harmful substances from the environment, soil.

Eating nuts can cause serious damage to the body, because chestnut nuts are on a fine line, benefits and harms. First of all, the nut will be harmful for overweight people.

Chestnuts have a very high calorie content, so you need to carefully use their fruits to lose weight. They contain a large amount of starch, carbohydrates, so the product contributes to obesity and seriously loads the cardiovascular system.

The nut causes serious harm to the body when abused or misused. Misuse is when horse (wild) chestnut is used for cooking. Due to the high concentration of tannins, horse chestnut can cause serious poisoning.

Chestnut nut is useful for everyone, because this product is an excellent medicine and prevention of many serious diseases. Before starting treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor, because chestnut has a number of contraindications, which must be taken into account.

Chestnut is a plant belonging to the beech genus. It grows in North America, Asia and other European countries. In France, the chestnut is considered a symbol of the country, so a national holiday is celebrated in its honor. In nature, two types of chestnut are known, one of which is called "noble". It is it that can be consumed in food and added to various dishes.

On the territory of Russia, edible chestnuts grow in the southern regions of the country. Edible chestnut, its benefits and harms are known in Europe, is actively used in the cuisine of national restaurants and in alternative medicine. The offbeat taste of roasted chestnuts adds a bit of spice to Christmas dishes.

Chemical composition

Chestnut benefits and harms are determined depending on the components that are included in its composition. For example, chestnuts contain more useful minerals such as carbohydrates and starch. Based on this, you can equate their beneficial properties with those of rice. You can cook chestnuts with the addition of both sugar and salt. The ingredients presented will not spoil the gastronomic taste of the fruit. Chestnuts are considered peculiar energy product, in which tannins, fats, starch and proteins are concentrated.

Calorie chestnuts

Chestnuts are edible, the benefits and harms can be determined based on their calorie content. People who control their weight should constantly consume chestnut nuts. After all, it has a low calorie content. It can be safely added to your menu for vegetarians who do not eat animal proteins. Chestnut perfectly fulfills this need of the body thanks to its plant analogue of protein.

Chestnut benefits and harms

The benefits of this product are determined by its active use in medicine, cooking and cosmetology.

The use of chestnut in medicine

The presented product is characterized by excellent medicinal properties. Typically, this statement applies to horse chestnut. Due to its rich composition, it has the following effects:

Anti-inflammatory action. It is necessary to use a decoction of fruits or leaves for inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract. Fresh leaves are used for whooping cough.
The vasoconstrictive effect is the expansion of the artery. As a result, blood flow accelerates, blood clotting decreases, capillary fragility decreases, the tone of dilated veins increases, and the resulting blood clots dissolve. In pharmaceuticals, bark and seeds are used in the treatment of thrombophlebitis and hemorrhoids.
Chestnut perfectly eliminates leg fatigue, increases muscle tone. Varicose veins can be treated by ingesting flower juice and taking a foot bath with its infusion.
For the treatment of dilated veins of the nasopharynx, it is necessary to take a decoction of chestnut bark. For this, 50 g of dry finely chopped raw materials are taken and poured with a liter of boiling water. Insist half an hour. Use the prepared broth to flush the nasopharynx in the morning and evening.
For the treatment of hemorrhoids, take a chestnut decoction from the bark and fruits. You should take 5 g of finely chopped raw materials and pour a cup of boiling water. Insist for half an hour. Strain and top up boiled water to bring back to original volume. Take the medicine in the amount of a tablespoon 2-3 times a day.
In case of climatic bleeding, fresh juice from chestnut flowers is an excellent remedy. The medication is taken in 30 drops per tablespoon of water 2 times a day.
A high content of tannins, chestnut broth has an astringent, wound healing and anti-burn effect. Infusion of bark and seeds is actively used in the treatment of diseases of the gallbladder, rheumatic ailments, indigestion, non-healing wounds.
Thanks to the energetic properties of the product, ailments are eliminated and strength is given. To feed the natural energy of the chestnut, you can carry 2 nuts with you. And if you have breast diseases, put a small chestnut in your bra. You can also use nuts to massage your breasts.

The use of chestnut in cosmetology

Healing properties horse chestnut extract made it possible to use it to obtain many creams for oily and normal skin, bath foams, hair shampoos, anti-cellulite masks. When using a foot cream with such an extract, edema is eliminated, there is a soothing effect in sports injuries and sprains.

Chestnut can withstand the negative effects of UV rays. It is for this reason that it is often incorporated into many sunscreens. The oil extract is used to care for aging skin. To carry out such a manipulation, it is enough to moisten a cotton swab in the extract and apply to problem areas for 10-15 minutes.

The chestnut decoction has a lifting effect on the skin of the face. It is enough to prepare a decoction (finely chop 2 tablespoons of chestnut fruit and pour a glass of boiling water) and rub it over your face. This procedure is carried out every other day.

Chestnut is an effective weight loss remedy

Chestnut, unlike many nuts, contains starch. It is considered to be natural " energy bar". Thanks to such nutritional value, it is enough to eat it for dinner in the amount of 2 pieces and be completely satisfied. In this case, the stomach will not be overloaded.

However, use this product in order to lose weight, you need to be extremely careful.

Contraindications to the use of chestnut

individual intolerance,
chronic renal failure,
pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Most of the difficulties arise due to the fact that people often confuse and use horse chestnuts instead of sweets. In this situation, poisoning can occur. However, excessive consumption of sugary fruits can also lead to stomach problems such as constipation and bloating.

The chestnut family has approximately 30 species, which grow in the temperate and tropical zones. The most common is the common chestnut, which can be found in the temperate and subtropical latitudes of the northern hemisphere. People use not only fruits that they eat, but also wood, which is very valuable in carpentry due to its strength. By the way, the age of some representatives of this species can reach 1000 years.
With so many varieties, it is important to know that they are edible and decorative. Ornamental fruits growing on city streets are not suitable for food; there are special varieties for this, for example, sweet chestnuts. Its homeland is the Balkan Peninsula, where it grows mainly in mountainous regions. Its main requirements for the climate are humidity and heat.
Sweet chestnut is especially popular before the Christmas holidays. According to an old tradition, hot baked chestnuts are sold right on the streets. Before cooking, they are peeled and rubbed with a brush to remove dirt, after which, after making several cuts and put on an open fire or in a special frying pan.

Nutritional value of chestnut

Chestnuts contain the most carbohydrates. The calorie content of the product varies depending on the cooking method - the raw product contains 165 kcal, stewed or boiled - 130 kcal, while frying - 180 kcal per 100 grams. Steamed chestnuts are considered dietary - they contain only 56 kcal, while the nutrients in them are not decreasing.
Chestnuts contain 2-3% fiber and 3% minerals. In addition, chestnuts are rich in vitamins A, C and B.
Chestnut seeds contain a lot of cumanic glycosides, triterpene saponin, escin, fatty oil (up to 7%), protein substances (up to 10%), starch (up to 50%) and tannins (1%). The bark also contains sugar and ascorbic acid. The leaves contain carotenoids, glycosides and pectin. The flowers contain flavonoids, pectin and tannins, as well as mucus.
The chestnut fruit is considered a nut, but it contains much less fat than the rest of the family. Despite this, this fruit is very satisfying and nutritious, and therefore more useful. Due to its texture, it is included in vegetarian diets.

Useful properties of chestnuts

It is well known that the infusion of horse chestnut on alcohol has an anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effect, thins the blood, is able to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and lower blood pressure. With its help, you can significantly reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, thus preventing the formation of fatty plaques. The extract can be used for vasoconstriction and as a pain reliever. On the basis of the chestnut extract, many medicines for external use are made.

The main use of chestnut is, of course, aimed at improving blood vessels. For example, for the treatment of varicose veins, atherosclerosis and hemorrhoids, the juice of chestnut flowers is used, and with the help of the infusion of the fruits, they get rid of diarrhea, malaria and chronic bronchitis. Uterine bleeding can stop the chestnut peel decoction.
Raw materials for the preparation of chestnut medicines can be harvested in the spring, and the fruits - in the fall, when they are fully ripe. A large number of these products are exported.

Dangerous properties of chestnuts

Even such an abundance of useful properties does not negate the fact that chestnut is an allergen, and therefore individual tolerance must be taken into account before starting its use. For the same reason, it is obviously not worth using it for children during pregnancy and lactation.
Due to its strong effect on the circulatory system, an overdose of chestnut can cause seizures. If a person has poor blood clotting, hypotension, thrombocytopenia, gastritis, menstrual irregularities, atonic constipation or kidney disease, it is better to refuse chestnuts, as they can only aggravate the ailment.

Slimming with horse chestnut

While losing weight, chestnuts will be beneficial when applied topically as it improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. With the help of this product, women who watch their figure get rid of cellulite and edema.
Undoubtedly, the effect of using chestnut will be much more noticeable if used in combination with exercise and anti-cellulite massage.

Chestnut Slimming Recipes

Powdered dried chestnut bark is mixed with oil and used for anti-cellulite massage. The bark in this case acts as an exfoliating and stimulating agent.
The combination of chestnut with chamomile decoction and green tea infusion significantly enhances its effect.
With prolonged storage, the massage mixture loses its beneficial properties and may even release toxins, so it should be prepared in small portions and stored in the refrigerator.
Special attention should be paid to problem areas during massage - before the procedure, they need to be cleaned of skin secretions.

Chestnut during pregnancy

On the issue of using chestnut during pregnancy, doctors are unanimous against. The fact is that this product has a very strong effect on the blood vessels, and any sudden change during pregnancy is unacceptable. It is not even recommended to relieve swelling with medications containing chestnut extract.

The chestnut plant, which produces fruits that are suitable for human consumption, is popularly called by the people.In another way, it is called noble. What are chestnuts edible? These are the species that can be found only in the south of Europe, in the countries of Asia, North America. You cannot find such a tree in our country. It only grows here, however, it is not suitable for human consumption.

The noble properties of which are used in French cooking are a national product in this European country.

The fruits of these trees are baked. Often this happens right on the street, especially before there is a holiday that is dedicated to the chestnut. By its taste, the fruit of this tree is a neutral product. Use edible chestnuts for salads and appetizers, as well as desserts. They are also included in the recipes for a variety of pastries. Chestnut fruits are also added to soups. In their raw form, chestnuts resemble nuts in their taste, and when baked, they resemble potatoes.

The benefit lies in his rich chemical composition... A large amount of starch is present in the fruits of the plant. They contain fiber, sugars, minerals, vitamin A and a complex of group B, as well as ascorbic acid. Edible chestnut is poor in fat. However, it is high in protein and carbohydrates. In this regard, chestnuts are very nutritious food. The mineral elements found in the edible fruits of the plant are represented by potassium and iron, phosphorus and sodium, copper and calcium, magnesium and some other substances.

The benefits of the edible chestnut are most evident in its leaves. This part of the plant is rich in pectins and tannins, glycosides and vitamins B and K. Infusions, as well as decoctions made from edible chestnut leaves, are often used by folk healers as a hemostatic agent. Dry nuts also find their use. A decoction made from them is used to treat respiratory diseases. To obtain a healing potion, crushed dry raw materials in the amount of fifty grams are poured with a liter of water. The mixture is boiled for half an hour. After cooling, the broth is filtered and used to rinse the nasopharynx. This remedy, made with fresh nuts, helps with whooping cough.

When used externally, the broth is an excellent medicine that saves from skin diseases that are pustular in nature. It helps with furunculosis. The benefits of edible chestnut are also manifested when using an alcoholic infusion made from its fruits. relieves intestinal disorders and cystitis.

In folk medicine, the benefits of edible chestnut have long been known. Therefore, it is used to get rid of many pathologies. In particular, its use allows narrowed arteries to expand. Healing plant accelerates blood flow in the body and strengthens the capillary walls. Chestnut fruits and bark help in eliminating gastrointestinal problems. They are able to remove puffiness associated with kidney pathologies. An alcoholic tincture of dried flowers is an excellent remedy for bladder catarrh and chronic dysentery. A decoction of chestnut fruit treats wounds and burns.

Chestnut is a sturdy tree with a powerful root system. You can meet chestnut in the wild in the southern latitudes of the northern hemisphere of our planet. The fruits of the tree are chestnut nuts, prized for their high nutritional value and are used as food. Bark, foliage and fruits are valuable raw materials in the pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic industries.

Enthusiasts calmly grow chestnuts in mid-latitudes, getting a nut harvest unusual for central Russia. Chestnut nuts, in addition to food, are in demand in folk medicine, which reveals their medicinal properties.

This article will focus on nuts, which are no less common than walnuts. This is a chestnut. You will learn more about how to cook it correctly, what can be made of it, what it will be useful for. Is it possible to eat it for children or expectant mothers. And you will also learn how you can easily grow chestnuts right on your site or even at home.

What is chestnut

Chestnut is a tree belonging to the Beech family. It can reach a height of fifty meters. And the diameter is about two meters. The bark of the tree is dark brown, thick and deeply grooved.

The chestnut tree reaches a height of 20-50 m from the base of the trunk, often 2 m in diameter. The bark is often reticulate with deep grooves or cracks spiraling in both directions along the trunk. The long lanceolate, toothed leaves are 16-28 cm long and 5-9 cm wide.

The leaves of this tree have an oblong shape and sharp "teeth". Light green in summer, in autumn they change their color to yellow. The length of the sheet plate can be up to twenty centimeters. As for the chestnut flowers, they are collected in inflorescences up to fifteen centimeters long, and resemble spikelets.

The chestnut begins to bear fruit only after reaching the age of about twelve years. But it's wild. If we talk about the "domesticated" chestnut, then it begins to bear fruit at about the age of four to ten years. In the first decade of its life, the tree grows rather slowly. And it bears fruit once every couple of years, in the first two autumn months.

Sometimes in the name of a chestnut you can hear such additional words as noble, real, edible.

What kind of chestnut does it look like?

The fruits of this tree are spherical, surrounded by a shell, densely covered with thorns. During the ripening period, the shell is green, and when it is ripe it is brown. There are up to four nuts inside the shell. When the fruit is fully ripe, the shell cracks and the fruit falls out.

The nut itself has a spherical or slightly flattened shape. Its surface is dark brown and smooth. The nut can be up to six centimeters in diameter.

In what area does chestnut grow

Chestnuts love warmth and moisture. And the soil with a weak level of acidity. This tree does not withstand long heat and drought in the best way.

Chestnut can often be found in America, eastern Asia, the Mediterranean, Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Interestingly, the size of the chestnut may depend on where it grows. So, for example, in Armenia, chestnuts rarely grow to the size of a walnut, and in some European countries, on the contrary, this nut can compete in size, for example, with a large tangerine.

How to find an edible chestnut

Please note that you should not confuse edible chestnut with horse chestnut. The last type of chestnut should not be eaten. Distinguishing them is not that difficult. These chestnuts differ from each other literally in everything - both in the structures of the inflorescences, and in the shape of the leaves, and in the way the nuts themselves look.

Remember that the leaves of the edible chestnut are elongated and have spines at the ends. And the inflorescences look like long and narrow female earrings. In contrast to him, the horse chestnut blooms more magnificently, therefore it plays a more decorative role.

chestnut edible photo

The edible chestnut is covered with a brown shell covered with many thorns. And the horse chestnut has a bright green shell, which is more bumpy than thorny. And finally, taste. Edible fruits - they are mealy sweet. And inedible ones - with bitterness.

horse chestnut photo

Composition of nuts

Vitamins: A, B, C;
Chemical elements: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine, zinc;
Other useful elements: proteins, tannins, fats, fiber, pectins, carbohydrates,

One hundred grams of raw chestnut nuts contain 165 calories. And fried - 16 more calories.

The benefits of chestnut for the human body

The main beneficial qualities of chestnut are its enriched composition. Nuts have the ability to relieve inflammation, fever, relieve pain, and soothe a cough. These fruits are widely used to treat colds. Chestnut is able to relieve the lungs of a debilitating cough in record time. Additionally, chestnuts also support digestion.

They can improve appetite and eliminate diarrhea. In addition, chestnut nuts can stabilize kidney function. They are also used to lower blood pressure, to strengthen the vascular walls. Chestnut can help treat varicose veins, stop bleeding, and heal small wounds. The fruits help you recover faster from burns or cut wounds.

edible chestnut and

Use of chestnut

The main application of chestnut is, of course, traditional medicine. Chestnuts help heal ailments related to digestion, respiration, and nerves. These nuts will help fight arthritis and sciatica. In the process of treatment, whole nuts and compresses from the ground mass are used.

And, of course, chestnuts are often used in the culinary business. They are used to prepare first courses, second courses and even sweets! European cuisine is rich in dishes with chestnuts. For example, they simply adore chestnuts in sweet syrup.

How to cook chestnuts correctly

There are two options for how to cook chestnut nuts: you can either boil them or fry them. The only thing that matters is that the chestnuts need to be peeled from the shell and film. If you do not do this, then the nuts will be bitter.

To clean the chestnuts well, you need to make cuts on them, and then boil them in boiling water for literally five minutes. Then remove from the stove, cover and leave to stand for another fifteen minutes. The nuts will need to be peeled while they are still hot. It will be more convenient and easier this way.

Boiling at medium gas level for fifteen minutes will help to bring the nuts to full readiness. Or they can be fried in a skillet under closed lid... You can also bake chestnuts in the oven. They need to be laid out on a baking sheet and sent to the oven for twenty minutes, maximum half an hour.

Chestnut will help you lose weight

The fat content of chestnuts is quite low, which is why it is often used by nutritionists to help lose weight. Chestnuts even help get rid of cellulite, reduce swelling and improve blood flow.

And chestnut oil often becomes an additive for anti-cellulite creams and lotions. Chestnut tinctures also effectively help to get rid of excess.

Chestnut for children

Conventional medicine provides absolutely no advice on when to add chestnuts to your child's diet. Pediatricians, for example, advise against giving them before the child turns five.

According to experts, before this age, chestnuts can put a great strain on the digestion of the crumbs. Which in turn can cause bloating and even constipation. Be that as it may, giving your child raw chestnuts is not worth it.

The best way to do this is by boiling them and chopping them to a puree state. It is best to add it to mashed potatoes or soup.

Chestnut for expectant and young mothers

It's no secret that chestnuts help to overcome the sudden mood swings that often occur in women during the period of bearing a baby. Chestnuts help to put in order pressure, stabilize sleep, strengthen the skeleton. There is a lot of fiber in chestnuts, which will only benefit the digestion of the expectant mother.

Chestnuts stimulate lactation during breastfeeding. The fruits of this nut are rich in vitamins, which will only improve the quality of breast milk. But before you eat them, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor.

Roasted chestnut

Roasted chestnuts are far from an exotic dish. Southerners happily cook nuts this way using a simple recipe. However, unprepared people should use fried chestnuts with caution. Nuts can be a product with signs of individual intolerance.

In addition, for people who decide to lose a little weight, fried chestnuts should be removed from the diet. The high calorie content and high amount of carbohydrates contained in nuts will lead to the opposite result.

Any product requires an individual approach, chestnut is no exception. Here are a few secrets of the roasted chestnut recipe:

First rule. The main thing is not to overdo it and not overcook, otherwise the chestnuts will turn out to be dry, tough and not tasty.
Do not grease the pan with any oil.
Put the chestnuts in a skillet and put on fire. The trick is that the nuts must be cut with a sharp knife before frying, and the pan should be chosen with a thick bottom.
It is necessary to remove the peel from the finished chestnuts, it is better to do this with a rhinestone, otherwise it will be problematic to remove it from the cooled nuts.
We remove films and membranes.
Don't be greedy. Don't fry a lot. Half-eaten cold chestnuts dry out and become unpalatable.

Chestnut Jam

Chestnut jam is very popular in the culinary field. Not only in itself, but also as a filling for baked goods and other desserts. This sweetness can be stored for up to six months. To increase the shelf life, the jam must be rolled up in sterilized jars or frozen.

Components:

Chestnut fruits - 0.5 kilograms;
Sugar - 0.5 kilograms;
Water - 0.3 liters;
Rum - 1 tablespoon.

Grind the chestnut nuts into a powder through a sieve. Pour water into a saucepan, put on gas and add sugar. Stir frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then add the chestnut crumbs to the syrup and cook for about half an hour, stirring from time to time so that they do not burn.

When the jam becomes thick and darkens to a rich brown color, pour in the rum and boil for just a couple of minutes. After that, you can pour the jam into jars and roll up.

Chestnut honey useful properties and contraindications

Chestnut honey is no less useful than flower or buckwheat honey. First of all, it is a very effective natural antibiotic. You can not only eat it. This honey can be used to treat wounds and burns - chestnut honey perfectly relieves inflammation.

Often it is used to cure diseases associated with breathing or the genitourinary system. Chestnut honey is good for digestion. It will be especially useful in spring and autumn - it will strengthen the immune system and help resist viruses.

Restrictions on use

Undoubtedly this useful product... But even it has its limitations. So, you cannot eat chestnuts in any of their manifestations if you have:

Allergic reaction;
Diabetes;
Bleeding in the stomach;
The cycle of menstruation is broken;
Renal failure

But even if everything is in order, do not exceed the daily intake of forty grams. If you overeat chestnuts, you can get a breakdown in the digestive system: bloating or even constipation.

How to grow a chestnut tree yourself

It is not so difficult to grow a chestnut on your own plot or even in an apartment. At the very beginning, of course, it is necessary to collect ripe chestnuts in the fall. They must be intact.

It is easy to grow a nut on the site. To do this, plant a few nuts at a depth of five centimeters and at a distance of about ten centimeters. In the spring you will see the first shoots.

To grow chestnuts at home, nuts must be left on the balcony until the first frost. And then put it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for the whole winter. Towards the end of February, the nuts should be transferred to pots with soil and placed on the windowsill. The first shoots will appear in a month or two