All about the beneficial properties of chestnut: calorie content of nuts, how are they useful and harmful? Pharmaceutical preparations from horse chestnut. In what cases are the healing properties of chestnut effective?

Chestnut is a strong 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, chestnut nuts, are valued for their high nutritional value and are consumed as food. The bark, foliage and fruits are valuable raw materials in the pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic industries.

Enthusiasts calmly grow chestnuts in the middle latitudes, getting a walnut crop that is 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 a nut that is no less common than walnut. This is chestnut. You will learn more about how to cook it properly, what can be done from it, what it will be useful for. Is it possible to eat it for children or future mothers. And you will also learn how easy it is to grow a chestnut right on your site or even at home.

What is chestnut

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

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 furrows or fissures that spiral in both directions along the trunk. The long lanceolate, serrated 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. In length, the leaf plate can reach up to twenty centimeters. As for chestnut flowers, they are collected in inflorescences up to fifteen centimeters long, and resemble spikelets.

The chestnut begins to bear fruit only when it reaches the age of about twelve years. But it's wild. If we talk about the "domesticated" chestnut, then it begins to bear fruit already 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 even 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 type of chestnut

The fruits of this tree are spherical in shape, surrounded by a shell densely covered with thorns. During the ripening period, the shell has a green color, and already in mature fruits 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 diameter of the nut can be up to six centimeters.

Where does chestnut grow?

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

Chestnut can often be found in America, in the east of Asia, in the Mediterranean, Russia, Ukraine and the Transcaucasus. Interestingly, the size of a chestnut may depend on where exactly 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 the edible chestnut with the horse chestnut. The last variety of chestnut should not be eaten. It's not that hard to tell them apart. These chestnuts differ from each other in literally 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 edible chestnut leaves have an elongated shape and thorns at the ends. And the inflorescences look like long and narrow women's earrings. In contrast, horse chestnut blooms more luxuriantly, because it performs more of a 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 that is more bumpy than prickly. And finally, the taste. Edible fruits - they are mealy-sweet. And inedible - with bitterness.

horse chestnut fruit 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 kilocalories. And in fried - 16 calories more.

The benefits of chestnut for the human body

The main useful qualities of chestnut are its enriched composition. Nuts have the ability to relieve inflammation, fever, eliminate pain and soothe cough. These fruits are widely used to treat colds. Chestnut is able to rid 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 activity. They are also used to lower blood pressure, strengthen the vascular walls. Chestnut will help to cope with varicose veins, stop bleeding and heal small wounds. Fruits help to recover faster after burns or cut wounds.

edible chestnut and

Uses of chestnut

The main use of chestnut, of course, is traditional medicine. Chestnuts help treat diseases related to digestion, breathing and nerves. These nuts will help in the fight against arthritis and sciatica. In the process of treatment, both whole nuts and compresses from the ground mass are used.

And, of course, chestnuts are often used in culinary business. With their help, 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

There are two options for how to cook chestnut nuts: they can either be boiled or fried. The only thing that is important 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 fruits of 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. Nuts will need to be peeled while they are still warm. This will make it easier and more convenient.

Boiling at an average gas level for fifteen minutes will help bring the nuts to full readiness. Or you can fry them in a frying pan with a 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, a maximum of half an hour.

chestnut helps you lose weight

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

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

Chestnut for children

Conventional medicine provides absolutely no advice on when to add chestnuts to a child's diet. Pediatricians, for example, do not advise giving them before the child is five years old.

According to experts, before this age, the chestnut can put a lot of stress on the digestion of the crumbs. Which in turn can cause bloating and even constipation. Be that as it may, you should not give your child raw chestnuts.

The best way to do this is to boil them and grind them to a puree. It is best to add it to mashed potatoes or soup.

Chestnut for future and young mothers

It's no secret that chestnuts help to overcome the mood swings that women often experience during the period of bearing a baby. Chestnuts help to tidy up the 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 being an exotic dish. Southerners are happy to prepare nuts in a similar way using a simple recipe. However, unprepared people should use roasted chestnuts with caution. Nuts can be a product with signs of individual intolerance.

In addition, people who decide to lose weight a little, it is better to remove roasted chestnuts 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 recipe secrets for roasted chestnuts:

First rule. The main thing is not to overdo it and not overcook, otherwise the chestnuts will turn out dry, tough and not tasty.
Do not grease the pan with any oil.
Pour the chestnuts into the pan and put on the 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 ready 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 too much. Half-eaten cold chestnuts dry up and become tasteless.

chestnut jam

Chestnut jam is very popular in the culinary field. Not only by itself, but also as a filling for pastries and other desserts. This sweet 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 chestnut nuts into powder through a sieve. Pour water into a saucepan, put on gas and pour sugar. Stir frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then add 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 more 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 able to put in order digestion. It will be especially useful in spring and autumn - it will strengthen the immune system and help resist viruses.

Restrictions for use

Undoubtedly, this is a useful product. But even he has his limitations. So, you should not eat chestnuts in any of their manifestations if you have:

Allergic reaction;
Diabetes;
Bleeding in the stomach;
Violated menstruation cycle;
Renal failure.

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

How to grow a chestnut tree yourself

Chestnut is not so difficult to grow 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 whole.

It is easy to grow a walnut 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. Toward the end of February, the nuts should be transferred to pots with soil and placed on the windowsill. The first sprouts will appear in a month or two

The Chinese consume more than 50% of the world's chestnut crop, the French celebrate a real chestnut festival and fry the fruits, going to the central squares, in huge pans.

In Russia, chestnuts are not grown, so European treats can only be found in supermarkets.

There are 2 types of chestnuts:

1) Horse chestnut - poisonous, unsuitable for food, but is actively used in medicine and cosmetology.

2) Noble ("real")- Its fruits are edible.

We will talk about the fruits of the edible chestnut. How useful and what harm can they bring to our health?

Edible chestnut: composition, how to use

Outwardly, chestnuts are easily confused with hazelnuts - brown, rounded, with a strong shell. Its consistency is similar to mashed potatoes, and the taste is somewhat reminiscent of potatoes or corn. Pleasant and sweet in taste, the composition of the chestnut is rich in healthy substances.

The composition of chestnuts is as follows:

Minerals (carbohydrates, starch)

Cellulose

Carbohydrates

Proteins

Vitamins A, B, C

beta carotene

Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc.

Edible chestnut: what are the benefits for the body?

Useful for vegetarians property of chestnut - a huge content of vegetable protein in it. Therefore, it will serve as an excellent substitute for animal protein in the human body.

Chestnut is medicine! Not only chestnut fruits bring benefits to human health, but also bark, leaves and buds. A decoction of chestnut is perfect for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, for the treatment of hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis and dilated veins of the nasopharynx. It increases vascular tone, reduces capillary fragility, and blood flow is accelerated.

A decoction of chestnut refreshes the skin remarkably. It is enough to take two tablespoons of crushed chestnut and pour a glass of boiling water. Ready! We wipe the face every 2-3 days. A month later, the skin ceases to be dry, inflammation and redness disappear, fine wrinkles are eliminated.

Chestnut is an energy bar! Yes, yes, it's hard to believe, but only 2-3 chestnuts for dinner saturate our body, and there will be no feeling of hunger. The ideal option is to freeze the worm and moderate the appetite that wakes up at night. Chestnut also helps to get rid of malaise and fatigue.

There is an interesting fact that direct contact with a chestnut can charge you with vigor, strength and good mood. Go to Southern France, Spain or Italy, where chestnut fruits are grown, and be sure to check the veracity of the statement.

Chestnut is an assistant in the diet! It contains a small amount of fat, so this product must be added to the list of the first when compiling a vegetarian diet, because it promotes weight loss. It is almost impossible to recover even from a large number of chestnuts eaten. Chestnut is also useful for athletes before and after training.

Chestnuts - garnish for roast. The French consider chestnuts indispensable assistants in the preparation of their culinary masterpieces. Chestnuts are baked, boiled, fried until golden brown. Add to salads, cereals and even wine. Getting into the same container with meat, they give it an excellent aroma and unusual taste. Chestnut is a favorite product of kitchen masters. At the same time, chestnuts baked in the oven can also be an independent dish.

Chestnut is the perfect dessert for ice cream! To prepare it, you need only 4 ingredients: 500 g of chestnuts, 80 ml of cognac or wine, 3 tablespoons of butter, 2 teaspoons of sugar. Chestnut nuts are pre-boiled for 5 minutes in boiling water, then cleaned and put into a mold with butter and sugar. The form is sent to the oven and baked for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees. Cooked fruits should be sprinkled with cognac and served with ice cream.

Chestnut is a panacea for many diseases. Doctors often talk about the incredible healing energy of chestnuts, which not only act as a preventive measure, but also treat diseases such as mastitis and mastopathy. The fruits of this plant are also used in massage of the mammary glands. However, self-medication is not worth it, any therapy must necessarily take place under the supervision of a doctor.

In order to cope with cellulite, it is enough to do a simple chestnut scrub: mix olive oil, basil or other herbs, essential oil and the chestnut itself, previously ground.

Health benefits for people with back pain. Enough for sciatica sleep on chestnut trees. The body will receive a natural massage that will strengthen the nerve roots, and the pain will begin to subside. With diseased joints, you can make a bracelet from dried chestnuts and wear it on your hands. There are enough 6-7 pieces in the bracelet.

Rheumatism is considered one of the most dangerous and widespread diseases of mankind. For rheumatism, a good prevention is the constant sorting of chestnuts with your fingers. By making the hands work, the motor skills of the fingers improve, and the bones are strengthened.

Chestnut cleanses the body, removes harmful substances and promotes the proper functioning of the internal system of the body. Chestnut tincture can be used as a diuretic and anti-edema agent. Tannins in chestnuts help with furunculosis. Chestnut-based products treat wounds and burns.

Supporters of traditional medicine advise carrying a chestnut in your pockets to protect yourself from illnesses, protect yourself from life's troubles and health problems.

Another useful property of chestnut for sensitive people prone to depression and stress is that a few pieces of chestnut a day charge with tone and strengthen the body from the inside.

Calorie chestnut

Chestnuts are a great alternative to high-calorie nuts, chocolate bars, and seeds. Chestnut is a very low calorie product - 166 kcal per 100 g product. Roasted chestnuts, of course, are more nutritious. Their energy value rises to 202 kcal.

Edible chestnut: what is the harm to health?

When introducing chestnuts into the diet, be sure to consult a specialist so as not to harm your health. Since chestnut fruits have a large number of contraindications. If in doubt, it is better to refuse the product so as not to harm your body.

Individual intolerance

allergies

kidney failure

Pregnancy and during lactation

Menstrual irregularities

stomach bleeding

Diabetes

stomach ulcer

As in everything, you need to observe the measure when eating chestnuts. Excessive consumption of them can lead to cramps and problems with the digestive system: constipation, heaviness in the abdomen, nausea and bloating.

Be careful when buying chestnuts. After all, there is a second kind: horse chestnut. Being poisonous, it should not be eaten. Outwardly, it is very difficult to distinguish them, but there is one small clue: the edible chestnut has a pointed end, which contains the cotyledon. Eating a poisonous chestnut can cause poisoning, so buy chestnuts only from trusted stores, carefully examining the packaging.

Eating chestnuts can harm people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Due to the high content of carbohydrates and starch in them (almost 60%), the load on the heart and blood vessels increases.

Chestnut reduces blood pressure. Therefore, hypotensive patients should refrain from using it.

Chestnut is a heavy food to digest. Poorly fried fruits can harm the intestines and cause diarrhea. Therefore, people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should not eat chestnuts in any form.

A chestnut-based scrub can dry out the skin, so it's important not to overdo it and avoid aggressive lotions and creams before applying the scrub.

Edible chestnut for children: good or bad

Is it possible to give chestnuts to children? And in what form?

Unfortunately, there are no official recommendations regarding the introduction of chestnuts into the diet of children. Whether it will benefit or harm is not fully known. However, experts are inclined to believe that the child's stomach is able to perceive this kind of food only starting from 4-5 years. Being a difficult product to digest, chestnuts are poorly digested and harm the baby's digestive tract. There may be problems with the liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is best to cook for children a homogeneous mass of pre-cooked chestnuts and add, for example, to mashed potatoes or soups. Chestnuts can cause bloating and constipation in your baby, so be sure to check with your pediatrician to avoid harm to your growing body.

How to clean chestnuts?

There are a few tips that will make cleaning chestnuts much easier:

1) First you need to cut the top of the chestnut, put in boiling water and cook for 3 minutes.

2) Put them in the freezer of the refrigerator for 4-5 hours, then dip them in boiling water and put them under a stream of cold water.

The positive and negative properties of chestnuts are not fully understood. As can be seen from the article, the benefits of chestnuts are significant, and the harm is almost minimal. Chestnut is a delicious sweetness, an effective medicine and a fruit with beneficial properties. Eat chestnut fruits and be healthy!

Horse chestnut is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown, which is formed by large, complex, opposite leaves with long petioles, five- or seven-fingered, stipules are absent. An adult plant reaches an average of 25 m in height. May is the time of tree flowering. Bell-shaped, bisexual, irregular flowers may be white or pale pink, petals fringed along the edge. The flowers are collected in erect large cone-shaped inflorescences with a double flower cover.

Fruits ripen from September to October - three-winged boxes with spikes, round in shape. Each box contains one, rarely two seeds - flattened, shiny, dark brown with a gray spot. Horse chestnut in the wild grows in broad-leaved forests, it is specially grown in parks, squares in the middle zone of the European part of the CIS countries, in the Caucasus, in Central Asia.

Useful properties of horse chestnut

For medicinal purposes, flowers, seeds, bark, leaves are used. Flowers and leaves are harvested in May: carefully cut and dried, constantly turning over and covering from direct sunlight. Seeds begin to be harvested in early September, dried for two to four weeks, scattered in a thin layer. Spring time is suitable for harvesting the bark, it is removed from the branches after pruning trees. The bark cut into pieces is dried under a canopy or in well-ventilated areas.

The seeds contain coumarin glycosides such as esculin, fraxin, escin. There are tannins, starch. The presence of fatty oil, triterpene saponin escin was revealed. The bark is rich in escin, tannins. In addition to esculin and fraxin, it contains vitamin C and thiamine. Horse chestnut leaves are endowed with glycosides, pectins and carotenoids. Flowers can saturate the human body with flavonoids. The effect of mucus, tannins and pectin substances is also useful.

The use of horse chestnut

Traditional medicine has accumulated rich experience in the use of horse chestnut, official medicine also widely uses the beneficial properties of this medicinal plant. Due to the low toxicity and useful esculin, fraxin and excin, the pharmacological properties of the plant have an excellent effect on the body in many ailments. Alcoholic tinctures of seeds and flowers are popular. Chestnut relieves inflammation and swelling.

As a result of the action of horse chestnut, blood clotting slows down, so it is incredibly effective in thrombosis, it affects the decrease in capillary permeability. Esculin stimulates the production of a substance that prevents the formation of blood clots. A decoction of the bark effectively helps with malaria, diarrhea, diseases of the spleen, normalizes the acidity of gastric juice, is ideal for treating uterine bleeding, removes vasospasm, and copes with violations of the secretory function of the gallbladder. Chestnut bark can also be used to treat acute bronchitis. From the flowers of horse chestnut, a wonderful tincture is obtained, used for rubbing with rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and sciatica. A tincture of flowers on vodka or a decoction is a real elixir for disorders of the heart and liver. Gastritis, pulmonary tuberculosis, anemia and shortness of breath are well cured.

Taking 20 to 30 drops of fresh juice of chestnut flowers per 1 tablespoon of water 2 times a day, you can eliminate the stagnation of venous blood with varicose veins, hemorrhoids and trophic ulcers. In the fight against atherosclerosis of the vessels of the extremities, the effect of juice cannot be overestimated.

Horse chestnut is not edible! When it is ingested, you can get poisoning of the body! Horse chestnut and preparations on it are again used only in folk and official medicine! Only the fruits of the edible chestnut (sowing, noble) are used for food.

horse chestnut tincture

There are actually many recipes, they are all different .. Someone advises taking 5 chestnuts, others more by 0.5 liters of vodka. Should I use the upper prickly shell, crush finely or coarsely, should I strain? And, finally, how to use it correctly - rub it into the joints or make compresses? Can it be taken internally and should it be?

Recipe 1. The preparations prepared from the brownish skin of the fruit are most effective. To obtain the correct extract, take 50 g of fruit skins crushed to 3-5 mm, pour 0.5 liters of vodka and incubate for 2 weeks. Shaking daily. Further filter. All!

This tincture relieves inflammation and swelling, reduces viscosity, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, increases their elasticity. During treatment with chestnut preparations, fatty deposits on the walls of arteries and in the liver decrease, pain in the area of inflamed veins and joints decreases.

How to use? The tincture is taken orally first, 30 drops per 30 ml of water 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. A week later, already 4 times, and in the future they switch to a 4-single reception. The duration of treatment varies from one month to one and a half.

If the tincture is also applied externally in the form of gentle rubbing on inflamed veins (thrombophlebitis) 2-3 times a day or compresses are applied to them (the tincture is diluted 1: 1 with water) for 1.5-2 hours in the morning and evening, recovery will come faster.

In the pharmacy network you will find a certain number of preparations from chestnut. But folk and medical practice suggests that total extracts (alcohol, water) are more effective, cheap and affordable. Only use raw materials collected from chestnuts outside the city limits.

Recipe 2: Tincture for external use: skip the mature grains in a meat grinder along with the peel, pour into a glass container. For 1 liter of infusion, you will need 300 g of twisted chestnut fruits filled with vodka. It is necessary to insist the composition in a dark place for 7 days. It is good to treat sciatica, thrombophlebitis, muscle inflammation and salt deposition with this remedy.

Recipe 3: 20 g of chestnut flowers should be poured into 500 ml of vodka, insisted for 14 days and used 2 times a day for rubbing diseased joints.

horse chestnut fruit

Unripe fruits are endowed with malic, citric and lactic acids, lecithin, calcium, and iron. They contain globulin and vitamin C. The fleshy nuclei of a medicinal plant have many useful substances, such as zinc, chromium, barium, selenium, nickel, silver, iodine, and boron. The fruits of this wonderful tree give people an energy boost. There are many ways to use this gift of nature. If you just carry 2-3 chestnut fruits in your pocket, then pain in articular rheumatism decreases. You can make applications from ground chestnut kernels with the addition of clay, a warming mass can relieve inflammation of the joints.

Fruit tincture: chestnut fruits cut into four parts should be placed in a jar, pour vodka, filling to the top, close tightly and insist on the sun for three days, then 40 days at room temperature in the room. The resulting remedy is recommended to rub the joints, apply it to diseased veins.

chestnut seeds- an excellent diuretic and hemostatic agent for hemoptysis and nosebleeds. A decoction of dried chestnuts acts as a diaphoretic for colds.

horse chestnut extract

Horse chestnut extract contains escin, which relieves swelling and fatigue of the legs in the treatment of varicose veins. The agent contains triterpensaponins, is characterized by capillary protective activity and has an anti-inflammatory effect, increases the tone of the veins. The extract normalizes blood pressure, regulates cholesterol levels in the blood.

horse chestnut leaves

Chestnut leaves differ in the content of glycosides, pectin and tannins, vitamin K. They are used in folk medicine as a raw material for the preparation of decoctions and infusions for internal bleeding. Horse chestnut leaves are harvested from May to September. They are dried, laying out a thin layer in attics or under a canopy. The finished raw material should have a green color and a pleasant smell.

Horse chestnut for varicose veins

Horse chestnut is able to increase the resistance of blood vessels. A striking therapeutic effect is obtained in the treatment of veins that have undergone varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. Traditional medicine recommends taking horse chestnut remedies for the prevention of thrombosis, but if the disease has already caused suffering, then decoctions, infusions and tinctures are excellent for resolving blood clots and lowering blood pressure. Medicinal properties show flowers, fruits and leaves of the tree.

Horse chestnut recipes

Infusion of horse chestnut bark: you will need 1 teaspoon of crushed bark to 2 cups (400 ml) of chilled boiled water. The composition should be insisted for 8 hours, then strain and take 2 tablespoons 4 times a day.

Infusion of bark for external use: you need to take 50 g of bark per 1 liter of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes and leave for 8 hours, and then strain. The resulting remedy is sitz cool baths for hemorrhoidal bleeding for 15 minutes after emptying the intestines.

Infusion of fruits or flowers of chestnut: take 50 g of raw materials per 0.5 l of vodka, insist for two to three weeks, it is necessary to take 3-4 times a day, 30-40 drops each.

Fruit peel decoction: it will require 5 g of peel per glass (200 ml) of boiling water, boil the composition for 15 minutes, take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

In the treatment of hemorrhoids, it is recommended to chew fresh chestnut fruits. With hemorrhoidal bleeding cones, baths from a decoction of chestnut branches should be used.

Branch decoction: you will need 50 grams of chestnut branches, 1 liter of water with the addition of water pepper grass. You need to sit in the bath for 5-15 minutes, the water should be at room temperature.

Fruit infusion: crush 2 fruits of horse chestnut and pour a glass of boiling water in a thermos, leave for 2 hours. Take the medicine 2 tablespoons 5 times a day for chronic diarrhea and kidney disease, for inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

horse chestnut flowers

With a therapeutic purpose, horse chestnut flowers are used for many diseases, this is an ideal raw material for the preparation of tinctures and decoctions. Chestnut flowers have unique properties that allow you to achieve excellent results in endarteritis, hemorrhoids, leg ulcers, vein lesions caused by various injuries. Horse chestnut flowers are useful for radiation sickness. Tinctures and decoctions can be used to treat adenoma and prostatitis. The ability of substances contained in flowers to restore the amount of protein in the blood structure favors recovery from cystic-fibrous mastopathy, brain tumors.

Infusion of chestnut flowers: 1 tablespoon of dried flowers and 200 g of water should be brought to a boil, insist 6-8 hours. Take the remedy in sips throughout the day. It is necessary to drink from 1 to 1.5 liters per day.

Cream with horse chestnut

Cream with chestnut helps to restore the structure of the skin and strengthens the walls of blood vessels, exhibits the properties of a lymphatic drainage agent. It is a good prevention of varicose veins and serves to maintain skin tone. At home, creams can be prepared on the basis of fatty oils, for example, cream, or olive oil, essential oils and infusions are also suitable. All components of the cream are mixed, such a mixture can be stored for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Ointment based on horse chestnut

horse chestnut- a real miracle of nature, this is one of the most beautiful trees that gives coolness in summer and heals from all sorts of ailments. From its fruits, flowers and leaves, many different remedies can be prepared. Lubricating sore spots on the skin with a special ointment with horse chestnut, you can quickly remove inflammation and eliminate venous diseases.

Ointment recipe: it is necessary to grind 5 pieces of chestnuts or 5 tablespoons of chestnut flowers, pour 0.5 liters of vegetable oil, boil in a water bath for 1 hour, cool and strain.

Contraindications to the use of horse chestnut

When taking funds based on horse chestnut, nausea, heartburn may occur. Therefore, they should be taken only after visiting a doctor, performing blood prothrombin control. Contraindications may be atonic constipation, gastritis, menstrual irregularities and hypertension.

Chestnut is a tree that everyone has heard of, but not everyone knows about its amazing properties and features. In this article, you will learn about the incredible benefits of this tree, discover its healing properties, learn how to identify edible chestnut fruits by their appearance and be sure to want to try them.

In this article, the main place is given to the edible chestnut. But horse chestnut, which is well known to the inhabitants of the European part of Russia, will also be mentioned.

Appearance

Sowing chestnut has several names: edible, noble, real. Beech family, genus Chestnut.

Deciduous tree. Its height reaches 35 m, and the circumference of the trunk is 2 m. The bark is thick, brown in color with deep longitudinal cracks.

The leaves are sharp-toothed, up to 30 cm long. In summer, the leaves are yellowish-green, and in autumn they become bright yellow. Inflorescences of light yellow or green color resemble long narrow catkins, in the lower part of which there are female branches, and in the upper part - male ones.

Chestnut fruits are edible nuts that ripen in brown cupules, protected on the outside by numerous long spines, and covered with silky felt inside. In each cupule, 1-4 rounded or flattened nuts with a smooth, shiny surface of dark brown color ripen.

How to distinguish edible from inedible

Also in nature there are inedible chestnuts. The most famous is horse chestnut. It belongs to the Sapindov family, a subfamily of Horse chestnuts.

The main differences between horse and edible chestnuts:

Leaf shape and size.

inflorescences;
the taste of fruits: in horse chestnut they are bitter, in sowing chestnut they are sweetish;
the number of fruits in the nut.
the outer shell of the plush: in horse chestnut it is bright green in color with small tubercles, and in sowing chestnut it is brown, with long spikes.

The only similarity between horse chestnut and seed chestnut is the external similarity of the fruits: they are dark brown in color, with a smooth, shiny surface, decorated with a light spot.

Types of edible chestnuts

There are about 30 species of chestnut trees and shrubs in the world.

The most popular types of sowing chestnut, the fruits of which can be eaten, are:

European seed;
Japanese, or city;
Chinese softest.

Each species differs from each other in habitat, trunk height, size and shape of leaves and fruits, flowering and fruiting.

Chinese Softest Chestnut

Where does it grow?

Edible chestnut is a tree with a capricious character. For a rich harvest, this fastidious crop needs a warm climate, air humidity of at least 70% and slightly acidic, moist soil.

Chestnut does not withstand well not only drought and summer heat, but also a decrease in air temperature in spring and summer. He loves the light, but this does not prevent him from growing in the shade.

In Russia, these chestnuts can only be found in the Krasnodar Territory. It also grows on the territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan. But chestnut fruits from these areas rarely reach the size of even a walnut.

Things are quite different in Italy, France and Spain. The fruits of European chestnuts grow to the size of a large mandarin, as the climate and soils of these countries are ideal for this wonderful tree. The edible chestnut is also cultivated in southern Ukraine, the Balkans, East Asia and the Atlantic coast of the United States.

Collection and storage

The harvest from one adult tree is from 60 to 200 kg. Fruiting begins from 3-15 years.

By the time of full ripening, chestnut fruits contain the maximum amount of nutrients. The degree of maturity can be determined by the color of the fruit - they become dark brown. This is the perfect time to start collecting.

The fruits are harvested before they fall from the tree, by the time they are almost fully developed:

Freshly picked chestnuts are much more valuable than dried ones. They contain a maximum of useful substances, and they are also more pleasant to the taste. Storage of fruits of a fresh crop is permissible only at a temperature close to zero.

For the purpose of long-term storage, the collected nuts are dried in the open sun, or in special dryers and placed in dry, well-ventilated rooms.

Leaves are harvested in August - September. They should be no more than 20 cm in length. Then they are laid out in loose layers and dried in shaded places. Storage takes place in cardboard containers or linen bags and always in a dry room.

How to choose and where to buy

The edible chestnut season runs from August to November. At this time, fresh chestnut fruits and seeds can be purchased in the markets, as well as in supermarkets. Fresh chestnuts have a short shelf life and spoil quickly. Pickled or frozen chestnuts are available throughout the year.

When choosing edible chestnut fruits, pay attention to:

For shape and size. Nuts should be large, the same size;
For weight and hardness. Quality chestnuts are heavy and firm;
To the surface. Nuts should be glossy, dark brown.

When buying edible chestnuts from the market, make sure you buy them. The seeds and fruits of the horse chestnut, which is unfit for human consumption, are also sold in the markets.

Characteristics of the edible species

fresh fruits have a sweet, pleasant taste;
after heat treatment, the taste of the fruits resembles potatoes;
beginning of flowering: June, July;
the first flowering occurs at 3-12 years of age;
the diameter of a mature plush in forest chestnuts is up to 6 cm, in cultivated chestnuts - up to 10 cm.

Nutritional value and calories

The fruits of the sowing chestnut are a unique food product. They have a high energy value and are very nutritious. Due to their lower fat content than other nuts, chestnuts are considered healthier and less oily.

In 100 gr. fresh nuts contain:

proteins - 1.6 grams;
fats - 1.25 grams;
carbohydrates - 44 grams.

Calorie chestnut fruit:

fried - 182 kcal / 100 gr;
fresh - 166 kcal / 100 gr;
stewed or boiled - 131 kcal / 100 gr;
for a couple - 56 kcal / 100 gr.

Chemical composition

Edible chestnut fruits contain:

carbohydrates - up to 62%;
proteins - up to 6%;
fats - up to 5%;
various trace elements: titanium, molybdenum, cobalt, barium, fluorine, aluminum, zinc, copper;
essential mineral salts; phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium;
fiber - from 2.5 to 3.5%;
sugar - up to 17%;
various vitamins - B1 and B2, C, PP, A;
acids: lactic, citric, malic;
tannins;
oils;
pectins;
flavonoids.

The bark of the trunk and branches of the edible chestnut contains:

glycosides;
oils;
tannins.

Edible chestnut leaves contain:

glycosides;
pectins;
routine;
vitamin K;
ascorbic acid;
flavone compounds;
tannins.

Beneficial features

Chestnut has earned the love of a person not only because of its beauty and delicious taste of the fruit. The amazing abilities of this tree have been discovered for a long time.

Edible chestnut has a beneficial effect on human health, as it has the following medicinal properties:

anti-inflammatory;
antitussive;
wound healing;
painkiller;
antipyretic;
astringent;
hemostatic;
diuretic;
saturation of the body with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber and minerals.

See the next video for more on edible chestnuts.

Horse chestnut has more powerful healing properties. The spectrum of its action is the widest and is used as such means as:

anti-inflammatory;
decongestant;
anticonvulsant;
venotonic;
hemostatic;
astringent;
bactericidal;
wound healing;
debilitating;
sedative;
antioxidant;
antitumor;
tonic;
diuretic;
diaphoretic;
antipyretic;
antithrombotic;
anti-sclerotic;
immuno-strengthening.

Harm

Despite such an impressive list of useful properties of chestnut, it is necessary to say about the contraindications and possible harm that can be done to your health by eating chestnut fruits or using medicines based on this plant.

When eating chestnuts, the following complications may occur:

violation of the digestive tract due to excessive use: constipation, diarrhea, bloating.
convulsions;
exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, blood, liver and kidneys;
allergic reactions.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of edible chestnut in dosage form and as a food product:

individual intolerance;
hypotension;
reduced blood clotting;
overweight;
chronic renal failure;
pregnancy and breastfeeding (due to the risk of allergic reactions);
diabetes mellitus is a contraindication for the use of chestnut honey.
menstrual irregularities.

Also, eating horse chestnut fruits can cause harm to health, when a person unknowingly takes them for edible chestnuts. In case of poisoning, nausea appears and digestion is disturbed. It is also possible the occurrence of allergic reactions with the external use of horse chestnut.

Oil

Since the flesh of the chestnut contains little fat, it is impossible to obtain a large amount of oil from it. Chestnut oil is used in cosmetology for the production of creams and shampoos.

Chestnut oil cares for dry hair and protects it from drying out. It is also used to care for oily skin, restoring its balance. Chestnut oil is able to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation.

Application

In cooking

Taste and useful qualities of a chestnut nut have made it very popular in the food industry and cookery. As a source of vegetable protein, vegetarians include chestnuts in their diet.

Edible chestnut fruit:

eaten raw, boiled, stewed, smoked or fried;
ground into flour and coffee drink;
grated is used to make marzipan and chocolate;
processed into alcohol.

Chestnut nuts are a real find for creating both modest dishes and gourmet ones. In the kitchen it is used as:

seasoning, filling and side dish for meat dishes;
addition to first courses;
seasoning for wheat and oatmeal;
chestnut paste for making toast and sandwiches;
component for the preparation of confectionery and bakery products, pasta and various desserts;
variety of standalone meals.

How to bake chestnuts in the oven, see the following video.

Souffle

Two yolks are ground with 50 gr. sugar, add vanillin, cinnamon and 20 gr. liquor and mixed with chestnut puree. Then two well-whipped proteins are gradually introduced into the dough and everything is mixed.

Grease a souffle mold with oil, sprinkle with flour and spread the resulting mass. Then they are sent to the oven, heated to 200 degrees, for 20-25 minutes. The finished dish is taken out of the mold, sprinkled with powdered sugar and immediately served.

French cream soup

500 gr. Peeled chestnuts are boiled over high heat for 5 minutes, then the skin is removed from them and lowered into 1 liter of boiling meat broth. One onion is sautéed in butter and two grated carrots and one turnip (or celery) are added to it.

Put the vegetables in a saucepan, add salt and cook for another 10 minutes. until the chestnuts are done. Allow the soup to cool slightly and beat it with a blender. Before serving, season with sour cream and garnish with dill or other herbs.

In medicine

The role of edible chestnut in medicine is also invaluable.

Parts of the tree are used fresh and dried in the form of infusions, decoctions and alcoholic tinctures for the treatment of many diseases:

inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract;
whooping cough;
varicose veins;
diseases of the stomach and intestines;
edema associated with kidney disease;
epistaxis;
wounds and cuts;
abscesses and boils;
wounds and cuts;
catarrh of the bladder and dysentery;
expansion of the veins of the anus and rectum;
dilated veins of the nasopharynx;
painful menstruation;
climax.

Flowers for painful menstruation

Dilute 30 drops of juice from chestnut blossoms with two teaspoons of water and take twice a day.

Leaves for severe cough and whooping cough

A mixture of two teaspoons of crushed chestnut leaves and 250 ml. Bring water to a boil and cook for 3-5 minutes. Then filter and take a sip during the day.

Separately, it must be said about chestnut bee honey: rare and incredibly useful. Its taste is specific: tart and bitter. But its healing properties are undeniable. It saturates the body with vitamins B, C and D, enzymes, various amino acids, as well as calcium, manganese, iron and copper.

Chestnut honey is used:

as a prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, to improve appetite and stimulate bile secretion;
with asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis and other respiratory diseases;
to strengthen the organs of the cardiovascular system, as well as normalize blood pressure;
with disorders of the nervous system, as it has a calming and relaxing effect;
for various skin lesions as an antibacterial agent.

To eliminate the bitterness in the taste of chestnut honey, you need to warm it up a little on the fire. But in this case, all valuable properties will be lost. Chestnut honey does not crystallize and can be stored for up to three years.

Horse chestnut in medicine

The medicinal properties of horse chestnut have long been used in alternative medicine, and are also widely used in pharmaceuticals.

Medicines and traditional medicine based on horse chestnut help with the following diseases:

varicose veins and varicose ulcers;
sinusitis;
haemorrhoids;
arthritic and rheumatic pains;
diarrhea;
malaria;
uterine bleeding;
salts and radionuclides in the body.

Fruit decoction bath

A bath with a decoction of horse chestnut fruits is effective for the treatment of mastopathy, varicose veins, peripheral circulation disorders, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, thrombophlebitis and vasospasm.

One kilogram of fruits and 5 liters of water are brought to a boil, and then boiled over low heat for 30 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered, poured into a bath, where it cools to 37-38 degrees. Such a bath is taken for 10-15 minutes before going to bed. Course - 10 - 12 baths, daily or every other day.

Infusion of fruits on the water

Take 2 tbsp. chopped fruits of horse chestnut, pour boiling water. Put in a water bath for 15 minutes. Strain the broth and take 2 tbsp. 4 times a day for the following diseases:

cough,
bronchitis,
diarrhea
inflammation of the kidneys.

Treat until you recover.

Oil for varicose veins, bruises

5 tbsp crushed fruits pour 0.5 liters. vegetable oil. Put in a water bath for 1 hour. Cool and strain. Rub 2-3 times a day on problem areas.

Treat until you recover.

Alcohol tincture on flowers

Put fresh horse chestnut flowers in a bottle at 1/3 volume, top up with alcohol and cork well. Insist 1 month in a dark warm place. Shake daily. Strain. Place in refrigerator for storage.

Fruit tincture

30 pcs. Peel off the brown skin of horse chestnuts and chop, pour 0.5 l. vodka. Cork and put for 1 week in a dark place. Strain.

Rub into problem areas 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-2 months.

Inside, the tincture is taken with the addition of boiled water, 20 drops 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 4-8 weeks.

Medicinal properties of this tincture:

thins the blood
with varicose veins,
thrombophlebitis,
bruises,
gcmorroe,
hypertension,
sciatica,
arthrosis,
osteochondrosis,
ligament stretching.

Infusion of bark on water

1/2 member chopped bark of horse cashew pour 1 tbsp. boiled water at room temperature. Insist 8 hours, strain. Take an infusion 3-4 times a day, 2 tbsp. 30 minutes before meals for the following diseases:

hemorrhoids (applied both internally and externally),
lung and bronchial diseases
diarrhea
back diseases (applied both internally and externally),
runny nose,
internal bleeding,
gout,
rheumatism.

The course of treatment is from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the disease.

Sitz bath for hemorrhoids

50 gr. horse chestnut bark or branches pour 3 liters. water and bring to a boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes. Strain and pour into a bath of cool water.

Before going to bed, after emptying the bowels, take a bath for 15 minutes. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Take 1 tsp at the same time. juice or alcoholic tincture of flowers, diluted with water, 2 times a day during the entire course of treatment.

Treatment of sinusitis

Peel fresh horse chestnut fruit. Shape the fetus into a "pencil" sized to fit in the nostril. Lubricate the "pencil" with honey and insert into the nostril.

After 5 minutes, there will be a burning sensation, sneezing. Lots of mucus will come out. Remove the pencil immediately and insert it into the other nostril, leave it until mucus is released.

The procedure is done every other day until recovery. Every time you need to use fresh chestnuts.

The remedy is used on initial diseases in addition to the appointments of the attending physician.

Attention! A prerequisite for the use of chestnut as a medicine is to consult a doctor.

In production

Chestnut wood is highly valued in construction and furniture production due to its strength, aesthetic appearance and resistance to various fungi. It is more durable than oak, so it is recognized as the best for making barrels for aging wine.

Leaves, bark and puffs act as raw materials for obtaining natural dyes and extracts for vegetable tanning of leather.

Extracted chestnut chips are used in pulp production, and chestnut oil has been used in soap making.

At home

In everyday life, chestnut trees are used as a decorative element for garden and summer cottages. Often chestnut is grown at home.

Varieties

There are over 400 crops suitable for cultivation. The most common varieties are:

Large-fruited. Fruit weight - 7-12 g. Grows in Azerbaijan;
Small-fruited. Fruit weight - 4.5-6.5 g. Grows in Azerbaijan;
Lyon, Storm de Lilyak, Neapolitan. Fruit weight - 20-60 g. Cultivated in Italy, southern France and the Iberian Peninsula.

Chestnuts with large fruits in the natural environment are not found.

About the red-colored chestnut, which is not afraid of the chestnut moth, see the following video.

Cultivation and care

For the cultivation of seed chestnut, certain climatic conditions and soil composition are necessary. However, there are edible chestnut cultivars adapted for wintering that are grown in temperate climates.

There are several ways to grow chestnuts:

seedlings;
seeds in spring;
seeds in autumn.

seedlings

For the first method, you need to purchase chestnut seedlings. This can be done at flower markets, but to be completely sure of their quality, it is recommended to contact a specialized nursery.

For planting, a special soil substrate is used, consisting of forest land (50%), humus (50%), special dolomite flour and slaked lime, 0.5 kg per 50 cm3. This mass is placed in the ground, seedlings are planted to a depth of about 10 cm and watered abundantly with water at a comfortable temperature. Keep in mind that for the best fruiting, one seedling needs an area of \u200b\u200babout 3 meters in diameter.

Seeds in spring

For the spring method of cultivation, the fruits of the last harvest are used, which were kept in temperature conditions from + 5 to 6 ° C for 5 months. Five days before planting in the ground, it is necessary to soak the fruits in warm water. Then their shell swells, and inside the process of development of the embryo begins. Then these seeds are planted in the ground without shelter.

Seeds in autumn

For the autumn growing method, crumbled nuts are collected and a stratification procedure is carried out. The fruits are placed in an open container and sprinkled with sand, and then removed in the cold for 10-12 days. The best temperature regime for seed stratification: from + 5 to 6 °С.

After that, the seeds are planted in well-moistened soil to a depth of 5 or 6 cm, every 10 or 15 cm, and are covered with fallen leaves from above. In the spring it is necessary to thin out the seedlings.

Care

When caring for a chestnut tree, produce:

watering young trees as the soil dries;
single fertilizer in early spring;
loosening the soil 2 or 3 times during the season;
mulching the soil around the trunk with fallen leaves, sawdust or peat.

For growing chestnuts at home, see the following video.

the beams of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame in Reims are made of Colchis chestnut wood;
during the reign of Alexander the Great, the army's food supplies were provided by crops from numerous chestnut groves that were planted specifically for these needs;
more than 75% of the world production of chestnut nuts comes from China (69%) and Korea (7%). The share of Russia is 2%;
the life of the seed chestnut under optimal conditions is 500 years or more;
spiders never weave webs in buildings made of this wood. Thanks to this valuable property, chestnut wood beams were used to build most of the medieval castles in Europe;
edible chestnut nuts cooked on fire are eaten hot and washed down with grape juice. This combination is the most perfect for gourmets;
horse chestnut flowers are endowed with valuable properties only the first 2 days of flowering.

The chestnut is one of the most beautiful plants in the world. Its large flowers, openwork leaves and fruits in prickly shells are reminiscent of something mythical. Indeed, ancient legend says that this tree was created by Jupiter. The loving god pursued the beautiful nymph Nea for a long time, and she, unable to withstand his onslaught, committed suicide. Feeling guilty, Jupiter turned the nymph into an amazingly beautiful tree. And so it began to be called Castanea (from the Latin "casta" - virgin, "Nea" - the name of the nymph).

Oh Paris...

For many, edible chestnuts are associated with the city of lovers - Paris. After all, it is in France that these fruits are considered a national product. Every year, a traditional festival dedicated to the sweet chestnut is held here. If someone has never visited it, still come to mind frames from French films, where sellers roast edible chestnuts in huge frying pans right on the street. One can only imagine what a wonderful aroma fills the Parisian streets at this time.

For many, the smell of roasted chestnuts evokes thoughts of distant childhood, reminiscent of potatoes baked in a fire, the aroma of hazelnuts, the fragrance of baked bread and something else elusive.

This delicacy is prepared quite simply. Today, chestnuts can be bought in the market and in the supermarket. In Europe, until Christmas, these fried fruits are sold right on the streets.

types of chestnut

The noble (sweet) chestnut is a fast-growing, long-lived tree. It was brought to England from Asia Minor and southern Europe. The plant grows in America and Asia. In Russia, it can be found on the Black Sea coast. The chestnut grows for twenty years, reaching a height of thirty meters. The leaves of the plant are carved, beautiful, long - up to 25 cm. At the height of summer, earrings appear on the branches, which then turn into fruits. Unripe chestnuts are hidden in prickly shells. They ripen in autumn and fall to the ground along with the leaves. It was then that edible chestnuts were harvested. The benefits and harms of these fruits depend on the type of plant.

There is an inedible type of chestnut - horse. It is not suitable for food, but medicines are made from its leaves, bark, fruits, flowers, which help with many ailments. So, horse chestnut extract is useful as:

Anti-inflammatory agent. Fresh leaves are used for whooping cough, and a decoction of leaves and fruits - for various inflammations of the respiratory tract.
Vascular strengthening. Accelerates blood flow, dilates arteries, reduces blood clotting, strengthens capillaries.
An indispensable remedy for relieving tired legs. Helps with varicose veins.

Edible chestnut: useful properties

The fruits of the chestnut tree are nuts. In their composition, they contain 60% starch, 17% sugar, 3.5% fiber, 6% protein, only 2% fat, a huge amount of mineral and biologically active substances, flavonoids, tannins, oils, vitamins A, B, C. Edible chestnuts have useful substances not only in fruits, but also in leaves (carotenoids, rutin), bark, flowers (flavonoid glycosides, escin).

This plant is widely used in folk medicine. Decoctions, infusions, alcohol tinctures are made from it. The tree has the strongest energy thanks to the generous southern sun. Medicines prepared on the basis of edible chestnut have anti-inflammatory, astringent, antitussive, hemostatic and diuretic properties.

Sweet chestnut flowers are the rarest honey plants. Caucasian bees produce a unique product from their nectar. Chestnut honey can only be tasted in the mountains of the Caucasus. Its taste and medicinal qualities have made this product especially popular among visitors to local honey shops.

According to supporters of traditional medicine, the benefits of edible chestnuts are palpable even if you just carry raw fruits in your pocket. The energy of the southern plant protects against ailments and improves well-being.

Can eating chestnuts be harmful?

Do not confuse horse chestnut and edible chestnuts, the benefits and harms in this case can go hand in hand. Only Castanea sativa is edible. In our country, it grows on the Black Sea coast. Eating horse chestnut can even cause poisoning. Often, sweet chestnut is confused with an ordinary stomach, be careful, because the second product can also adversely affect health. To be sure of the benefits of fruits, it is better to buy them in the market or in a store.

Do not abuse sweet chestnut as a food product. Too much fruit eaten can cause an allergic reaction, discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract: bloating, nausea, diarrhea. It is strictly contraindicated to use chestnut fruits for people suffering from:

Kidney disease, kidney failure.
Urolithiasis.
Hypotension.
Kidney dysfunction.

You should also exclude chestnuts from the diet for people with individual intolerance to any of the components that make up the product. These fruits should not be consumed by pregnant women and nursing mothers.

edible chestnut calories

Edible chestnuts are unlikely to be suitable for fasting days or any diets. Everyone knows that any nut in itself is very high in calories. The chestnut is no exception to this rule. The high content of starch and protein provides a high calorie content of this product, it reaches up to 200 calories per 100 grams. Roasted nuts are even more nutritious. In its composition, 100 g of a fresh product has protein - 1.63 g, carbohydrates - 44.17 g, fat - 1.25 g.

Edible chestnuts: how to cook?

How are these fruits used in cooking? So, chestnuts are prepared in a variety of ways:

Bake.
They brew.
Roast.
Add to desserts, mousses, souffles, ice cream.
Ground dry nuts are used in baking.
Use as an appetizer for wine, beer.
Cooked with meat, vegetables, herbs, cereals.
Chestnuts are added to soups, pilaf, they are stuffed with poultry.
Coffee drink is made from ground nuts, flour is made.

The most common cooking method is roasting chestnuts. How to do it right? It is necessary to cut off the tip of each fruit or cut the chestnut a little. This is done so that it does not burst when heated. Then you need to lay the fruits in an even layer on a baking sheet and put in a hot oven. After 10-15 minutes, edible roasted chestnuts are ready to eat. Do not overdry the product: if all the moisture evaporates, the nuts will turn out to be too hard.

You can roast chestnuts directly on the fire in a dry frying pan. The process takes half an hour.

It is better to peel chestnuts while hot, after cooling the peel becomes more rigid.

Before serving, peeled roasted nuts can be seasoned with butter.

Recipes

Chefs of the most prestigious restaurants use ordinary edible chestnuts in cooking. Recipes can be very diverse. Despite the simplicity of preparation, the dishes are very refined. Let's consider a few of them.

Chestnut dessert. Canned chestnuts are mashed together with brandy. Pieces of meringue and whipped cream are added on top. Dessert is topped with hot chocolate.
Berishon. For cooking you will need:

500 gr. pork belly;
500 gr. cabbage;
300g chestnuts;
300 gr. Luke;
100 gr. wine sauce.

Disassemble the boiled head of cabbage into individual leaves. Wrap a little pork breast in each leaf, stew. Slightly sauté the onion in the oil. Roast the chestnuts in a dry frying pan. Separate all ingredients on a large plate. Serve the sauce separately in a gravy boat.

3. Roasted chestnuts and Brussels sprouts.

We will need:

200 gr. chestnuts
400 gr. Brussels sprouts;
20 gr. butter;
a few strips of bacon.

Roast the chestnuts in a dry frying pan. Slightly boil the cabbage in salted water. Fry bacon with cabbage in oil. At the end add chestnuts.

Do not eat raw edible chestnuts.

Before frying or baking, the fruits must be cut or pierced to avoid an “explosion”. You don't have to do this before cooking.

Nuts should be consumed immediately after cleaning. Cleaned for future use, they dry out and lose their taste.

Don't overcook the chestnuts. The product becomes too hard.

Store chestnuts in a dark, cool place after purchase.

If you are overweight, it is not recommended to get involved in chestnuts, as they are too high in calories.