Chestnuts are not as popular with us as they are in Western Europe, Japan, or East Asian countries, however, it is high time to correct this omission. Healing and nutritious nuts grow in the subtropical zone; therefore, they are not included in the menu of our traditional cuisine. But avocados, and “New Year's fruit” - tangerines, and many other products that often appear on our table are also imported from the southern latitudes.

We think, having learned how chestnuts are useful, our housewives will certainly begin to prepare them for their home. Moreover, the fruits do not require special culinary skills and are delicious just fried or baked.

Nuts that are suitable for eating do not grow in our country and can only be purchased at supermarkets.

Nutritional Information of Chestnuts

Despite the outward resemblance to hazelnuts, the product resembles little of its composition. Chestnuts contain:

• about 60% starch
• 15% sugar
• 6% protein
• 2% fat

The percentage may vary, depending on the variety of fruits. Nevertheless, in its effect on the human body, chestnuts are more reminiscent of rice and potatoes than nuts, in which the proportion of proteins and fats is high.

A carbohydrate-rich product is recommended for athletes and people in need of enhanced nutrition to restore energy. After hearty chestnuts, you don’t feel hungry for a long time, therefore they are often included in weight loss diets, with one caveat: in small quantities.

Vegetarians also appreciate the product as an additional source of vegetable protein.

Also in chestnuts contains:

• cellulose
• tannins
• vitamins A, C, K and group B
• trace elements: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, silicon, selenium, copper, zinc
• folic acid
• pectins
• glycosides

The fact that chestnuts are an important ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, recognized as one of the most wholesome in the world, says a lot. With the regular use of fruits, the metabolism improves, the intestines begin to function more actively, toxins are more quickly eliminated and enzymes necessary for digestion are produced.

Immunity is strengthened, malfunctions in the cardiovascular system are eliminated, blood composition is normalized and the general tone of the body increases. Italians, French and other residents of southern Europe knowingly love chestnuts, because they can protect us from stress and improve our mood during the period of seasonal autumn depression. Despite the high content of carbohydrates and sugars, the fruits can and should be eaten by people who are struggling with excess weight, since in this case fat deposits do not form and the load on the liver is reduced.

History reference

The first seedlings of the chestnut sowing (or noble) was brought from Asian campaigns by Alexander the Great. He noted that by consuming the fruits of this tree, warriors become more alert and suffer less from stomach problems caused by unusual food.

Magic nuts of youth and beauty

Chestnuts are able to turn back the clock and bring us back the charm of youth. They contribute to the production of elastin and collagen - proteins involved in the renewal of cells and tissues.

The trace elements that make up the healing nuts have beneficial effects on the skin, hair and nails, improving their condition and appearance. And zinc and phosphorus, in addition, strengthen teeth and gums.

The cure for many diseases

In the pharmaceutical industry, horse chestnuts, which are usual for us, are used more often, decorating the streets with fragrant "candles" of inflorescences in the spring, and in the autumn they are thrown with fruits in a prickly shell, which are so well suited for crafts.

However, Castánea satíva nuts have healing properties. They are shown with:

1. dysentery;
2. hemorrhoids;
3. cystitis;
4. painful menstruation and menopause;
5. mastopathy;
6. edema of different origin;
7. circulatory disorders and thrombosis, since they thin the blood;
8. spasms of blood vessels;
9. atherosclerosis;
10. neuralgia;
11. respiratory diseases;
12. rheumatism.

Externally chopped edible chestnut pulp can be used as a hemostatic, wound healing and disinfectant. Effectively help fruits and burns, accelerating the process of tissue regeneration.

Calorie content

As can be seen from this table, boiled or baked fruits will bring the greatest benefit, but fried and pickled fruits need to be eaten a little (no more than 40 g at a time).

If you follow a diet, it is better to use chestnuts in the first half of the day, then the energy with which they charge the body will be completely consumed. But for dinner you can allow yourself only 2-3 nuts.

Who should not eat chestnuts

A carbohydrate-rich product, for all its usefulness, is a junk food. Therefore, it is undesirable to give it to children older than five to six years of age. The fragile body of babies is unlikely to be able to fully digest chestnuts, which threatens indigestion, flatulence and colic.

It is better to boil healthy nuts in the children's diet in boiled form, making soup puree. If the product caused discomfort in the child, it is advisable to postpone the “acquaintance” with it for some more time and consult a doctor.

Nursing mothers will also have to give up chestnuts so as not to cause excessive gas formation or an allergic reaction in the baby.


  Fruits are contraindicated in the following diseases:

• diabetes
• kidney stones and bladder
• hypotension
• hepatic and renal failure
• inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract

Attention!

Healthy people need to eat chestnuts, but in moderation, so as not to gain excess weight and not provoke the pancreas.

Raw nuts are recognized as the most difficult for digestion.   They can only be consumed in a ripe form, then we will improve our health and treat ourselves to a delicious product without side effects.

How to choose chestnuts

We found that nuts that have reached full maturity are most beneficial. But how to choose just such fruits in the store or in the market?

1. You need to buy fresh chestnuts in season - from September to February. Nuts deteriorate quickly, so it is not possible to feast on them the rest of the year. If you could not buy fresh fruits, you should pay attention to frozen or pickled fruits - they are, moreover, easier to prepare, because they do not need to be peeled.
2. The nutshell must be hard, smooth, without stains and damage, with a uniform, dark color and glossy shine.
3. Ripe, high-quality chestnuts - heavy and large, about the same size.
4. Round-shaped nuts are tastier than their more flattened "congeners."
5. The freshness of the fruit is determined by clicking on them with a finger. If the shell is soft, the shelf life has clearly been prolonged.

Attention!

The greenish layer between the kernel and the walnut shell is an indicator of insufficient ripeness. Such chestnuts are better to boil, stew or fry, but do not eat raw.

Storage rules

Fresh chestnuts are a capricious and perishable product. At room temperature in a dry, preferably dark place, they can lie for no more than 5 days, after which they dry out and wrinkle.


If you put the fruits in the refrigerator, with other vegetables and fruits, they will "last" 2 weeks, provided that they are wrapped in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation. Otherwise, nuts will quickly mold.

If you want to eat fresh or roasted chestnuts out of season, it is better to freeze them. The product will not lose its qualities within six months.

Attention!

During freezing, fresh chestnuts should be placed in a vacuum container or wrapped with foil, but in no case should you use a plastic bag, otherwise they will deteriorate. This warning does not apply to fried fruits.

Another option: storing raw, unpeeled nuts in sand poured into wooden crates or barrels. Tanks are installed in the cellar and kept at a temperature of 2 - 5ºС until spring.

Instead of sand, you can take dry chestnut leaves.

Chestnuts belong to those products, once you try which, you no longer want to give them up.   Yes, and why limit yourself to such a healthy treat?

Well, buy and start cooking.

Useful video

A small reference material about chestnuts:

In the article we discuss chestnut. You will learn the chemical composition and medicinal properties of walnuts. We will tell you how to eat it during pregnancy and in children. Following our tips, you will learn how to grow chestnuts in the garden and at home.

Chestnut - a deciduous tree of the Beech family (lat. Fagaceae), which reaches a height of 50 meters. Other names: real chestnut, noble chestnut, edible chestnut. The trunk of the tree in diameter reaches 2 meters. It is covered with a thick furrowed bark of dark brown color.

Sharp-toothed leaves of oblong-oval shape. In the summer, light green, in the fall they turn bright yellow. The length of the sheet plate is up to 20 cm.

Chestnut flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, up to 15 cm long. Most of them consist of stamen flowers. Pestaceae are located only at the base of the inflorescence.

Wild chestnut begins to bear fruit from the age of 12-15 years, cultivated - from 4-10 years. In the first 5-8 years of life, the tree grows slowly. It bears fruit every 2-3 years in September - October.

What does chestnut look like?

The spherical fruits of the chestnut are surrounded by a plush, densely covered with long spines. At the ripening stage, it is green; in ripe fruit, it is brown. Inside are 1 to 4 nuts. When ripening, the plus splits, and the fruit falls freely.

Walnut has a rounded or flattened shape. The surface of the fruit is smooth, dark brown. The diameter of the chestnut is from 3 to 6 cm.

Where does chestnut grow

Chestnut prefers a warm climate, moist and slightly acidic soil. The plant does not tolerate drought and prolonged heat.

Chestnut grows on the Atlantic coast of the USA, in East Asia, the Balkans and the Mediterranean coast. It is found in Russia in the Crimea and Transcaucasia. In Europe, chestnut fruits grow to the size of large mandarin, and in Armenia and Azerbaijan rarely reach the size of a walnut.

How to distinguish edible chestnut

Do not confuse edible chestnut with horse chestnut, whose nuts are not eaten. Plants differ in the shape of the leaf plate, the structure of inflorescences and the appearance of the fruit.

The leaves of the edible chestnut are simple, elongated, with spines along the edges. The horse chestnut leaves serrate, more smooth, collected in fan-shaped plates.

Edible chestnut inflorescences are long narrow earrings. Horse chestnut is distinguished by lush inflorescences, so it is often used as an ornamental plant.

The fruits of the edible chestnut are covered with brown needle-shaped croup and look like hedgehogs. The chestnut horse’s plus is bright green, tuberous, with rare spikes. Edible fruits have a characteristic mealy sweet taste, horse chestnut - bitter.

The chemical composition of chestnut

Chestnut contains:

• carbohydrates;
• proteins;
• fats
• fiber;
• vitamin A;
• b vitamins;
• vitamin C;
• tannins;
• pectins;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• titanium;
• cobalt;
• fluorine;
• zinc.

Calorie chestnut

Calorie raw chestnut per 100 g. is 166 kcal. Roasted walnut contains 182 kcal per 100 g.

Useful properties of chestnut

The benefits of chestnut are in its rich composition. Nuts have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antitussive effects.

They are used to treat colds. They quickly relieve painful coughs, clear the bronchi. Chestnuts are no less effective for the digestive system. They improve appetite and help with diarrhea. Nuts have a diuretic effect and normalize kidney function.

Chestnuts reduce blood pressure, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, relieve varicose veins. Nuts have hemostatic and wound healing effects. They are used to restore skin after cuts or burns.

Chestnut application

Chestnuts are used in folk medicine to treat diseases of the respiratory, nervous, digestive systems. Nuts effectively cope with gout, arthritis, radiculitis. For treatment, they use whole fruits, and also make compresses with nut mass.

Chestnuts are used in cooking for preparing soups, side dishes and desserts. Chestnut dishes are very popular in Europe. Europeans' favorite dessert is chestnuts with chocolate syrup.

How to cook chestnuts

Raw chestnuts can be prepared in two ways: boil or fry. The main rule - before cooking, nuts must be freed from the shell and the inner film. If this is not done, then the fruits will become bitter.

To clean the nuts, cuts are made on them, after which the chestnuts are cooked in boiling water for 5 minutes, removed from the heat, covered with a lid and left for another 15 minutes. Then peel the nuts while they are warm.

To bring the peeled nuts to readiness, they are boiled over medium heat for 15 minutes or roasted in a pan under the lid on both sides. In the oven, cooking nuts takes 20-25 minutes.

Slimming Chestnut

Chestnut has a low fat content, it is used in dietetics to reduce excess weight. It relieves cellulite, relieves swelling and improves blood microcirculation.

Nut oil is added to anti-cellulite creams and lotions. From fruits and flowers, plants make tinctures for oral administration, which also help with weight loss.

Chestnut for children

Official medicine does not give clear recommendations regarding the timing of the inclusion of chestnuts in the children's diet. Pediatricians do not recommend introducing nuts before 4-5 years. Doctors believe that until this age, chestnut has a strong burden on the digestive system of the baby, can cause constipation and bloating.

It is best to give the child not raw nut, but boiled in the form of gruel. For example, you can mix it with mashed potatoes or add to soup.

Pregnant Chestnut

Chestnuts help to cope with sudden mood swings, protect against stress and depression, which is especially important during pregnancy.   Nuts normalize pressure and sleep, strengthen bones and teeth. They contain a large amount of fiber, which is useful for digestion.

Chestnuts enhance the production of breast milk during lactation. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it improves milk quality. Before eating nuts, consult your doctor.

Chestnut Jam

In cooking, chestnut jam is often used both in pure form and for the preparation of pastries and desserts. This product is stored for about six months. To extend the shelf life, jam is rolled up in sterile jars or frozen.

You will need:

1. peeled chestnuts - 500 g;
2. sugar - 500 g;
3. water - 350 ml;
4. rum - 20 ml.

How to cook:

1. Grind the prepared peeled nuts into crumbs using a sieve.
2. Pour water into a stewpan, put on a fire, pour sugar in, then stir until completely dissolved.
3. Pour the chopped chestnuts and stir occasionally so that they do not burn, for 20-30 minutes.
4. As soon as the jam thickens and becomes saturated brown, add rum, mix and cook for another 2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and pour into cans.

Calorie content:

Calories 100 gr. chestnut jam - 392 kcal.

Chestnut Honey

Chestnut honey has many beneficial properties. It is a powerful natural antibiotic. It is used internally and used for external treatment of wounds, cuts and burns. The product has an anti-inflammatory effect.

It is often used to treat diseases of the respiratory tract and genitourinary system. Chestnut honey improves appetite and normalizes digestion. The product is indispensable in the fall and spring, it strengthens the immune system and helps to resist viral diseases.

Contraindications and limitations

Contraindications to the use of chestnut:

• renal failure;
• gastric bleeding;
• menstrual irregularities;
• diabetes;
• individual intolerance.

The daily intake of chestnuts is 40 grams. Overeating nuts leads to digestive disorders: bloating, a feeling of heaviness and constipation.

How to grow chestnut from walnut

Chestnut can be grown on a personal plot or at home. For starters, ripened fruits are harvested in autumn. They must be intact, without damage.

In order to grow chestnut in the country, it is enough to plant several nuts at a distance of 10 cm from each other, at a depth of 5 cm in the autumn. In the spring, the plant will sprout.

To grow chestnut at home, first he needs to provide a “winter sleep”. The collected nuts are stored on the balcony until frost, then they are placed in a container with earth and put in the refrigerator on the lower shelf for the whole winter. At the end of February, they are transferred to pots of earth and put on a windowsill.

The plant is periodically watered, and after 1-2 months it sprouts. For the tree to grow at home, it is necessary to periodically prune the roots, since by the year they grow significantly.

We learned about edible chestnut from French films.

At home, he is a favorite delicacy, but for us it remains an unprecedented curiosity, although now this overseas delicacy is available and on sale.

We will talk about the beneficial properties and dangers of fruits today.

This is a tall tree of the Beech family with unusual inflorescences in the form of a pyramid, as well as with edible fruits.

  A sectional fruit is a cream or yellowish nut.

The territory of its distribution is the south of Europe (Balkans, Greece, etc.), Asia and America, in the post-Soviet space - the Caucasus, the Black Sea coast.

Outwardly, this nut looks like horse chestnut, growing in our latitudes, but, unlike it, is not toxic, although both plants have medicinal properties.

Chemistry, calorie content and nutritional value of chestnut

The fetus contains: ascorbic and folic acids, B vitamins, retinol, riboflavin and niacin, and in addition, copper and iron, potassium and calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and manganese.

Nut energy value   - 166 kcal fresh, 182 kcal fried per hundred grams of product.

Unlike other nuts, the fruit contains more carbohydrates and proteins than fats. It also has a lot of starch, fiber and sugars.

Spiders do not like this tree and do not weave cobwebs on its branches. Perhaps that is why most European castle buildings used chestnut wood.

Chestnut is often used for metabolic problems., walnut with its beneficial properties helps to normalize metabolism, stimulates the production of the necessary enzymes, and regulates the water-salt and acid-base balance. It regulates fat metabolism, which reduces the risks of liver disease.

  Edible chestnut has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland, useful properties support the work of the endocrine system, normalize blood flow.

Moderate but regular eating of fruits is an effective prevention of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, thrombophlebitis, venous congestion and varicose veins.

The benefits of chestnuts for men

Horse chestnuts are most useful for men who have problems with the reproductive system. Most potency problems are related to poor circulation in the genitals. Fruit-based medications help solve this problem, as well as cure prostatitis.   Of particular value is that such a medicine does not harm other organs.

Chestnut trees have existed since the prehistoric period; they can live for more than half a century. Written evidence, dated 378 BC, about baking bread from chestnut flour by the ancient Romans, has been preserved.

The benefits of chestnuts for women

Toasted nuts, if consumed during critical days, women feel much better.

They are useful for menopause: improve the hormonal background of women during this period. In gynecology, fruit-based preparations are used for uterine bleeding and edema, and for stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs.

It is interesting how edible chestnuts are useful for women who prefer to walk in heels: how to prepare them for strained joints of the feet and not only - a detailed description below.

The use of chestnuts

Are chestnuts useful? Of course, their use is not limited only to cooking, the fruits are used in medicine (folk and traditional), in cosmetology. It is even procured for the future in order to have raw materials for preparing medicines or dishes.

In folk medicine

What is the health benefits of chestnut from a medical point of view? Traditional medicine uses tinctures, decoctions and ointments based on this nut.

To treat joints, prepare a tincture of fruits, make compresses, rubbing, in the absence of contraindications taken orally. To prepare, take 70 g of flowers, 10 g of chopped fruits and 0.5 l of vodka; insist a week. Inside, take 20 drops before meals. This tincture is useful for varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, arthrosis, rheumatism and osteochondrosis. It is advisable to clarify the dosage in consultation with a doctor.

A similar tincture, with the exception of the flowers in the composition, when taken orally helps with hypertension. For diseased joints, an ointment is also prepared from grated nuts, adding vegetable oil.

In pharmacology, horse chestnut is a part of drugs for various diseases (gynecology, urology, gastrointestinal system, cardiovascular system, respiratory tract).

In cosmetology

Chestnut, due to its properties, benefits and finds application in the care of skin, nails and hair. Many cosmetics: tonics, scrubs, creams and milk have these fruits in their composition.

Walnut in cosmetology exhibits the following properties:

• stimulates the production of elastin and collagen;
• strengthens hair and nails;
• reduces pigmentation;
• relieves swelling and smooths scars and scars;
• normalizes the function of the thyroid gland, which positively affects the general condition of the skin and hair;
• helps relieve inflammation of the eye mucosa;
• slows down the aging of the body.

What is useful chestnut nut for skin? It is an effective antioxidant, in addition, products based on it regenerate and nourish, as well as moisturize the skin and cleanse the pores.

In cooking. How to make chestnuts

From the point of view of cooking, it is a multifaceted product: it is baked, boiled, fried, dried, ground into flour. Desserts (mousses, soufflés), salads are prepared from the fruits, added to second courses, to meat, seafood, and added to baked goods.

  What are the benefits of chestnuts for the body, and how to eat them? Vegetarians make up for the missing protein.

Since there is little fat in the product, it is valuable in terms of diets and rehabilitation measures after an illness or surgery, and also for weight loss.

The simplest dietary salad is made from these nuts., any fresh vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes) and herbs, seasoned with olive oil.

When frying or baking fruits, the skin covering them must be punctured, otherwise they will explode. That the fruits were not too rigid, it is important not to overexpose them.

Harmful properties and contraindications

The fetus has contraindications for pregnant women: do not eat them and use drugs based on them. Do not use the product during lactation, it will cause bloating in the baby.

It is forbidden to use the product and medications with it for the following diseases:

• urolithiasis disease;
• kidney dysfunction;
• hypotension;
• liver disease.

Frequent use in large quantities can lead to gastrointestinal problems: bloating, diarrhea.

How to fry chestnuts at home, see the video:

As soon as overseas fruits appeared in our stores and restaurants, many questions arose about how chestnuts are useful, what kind of fruit they are. It turns out that this is not only an interesting dish, but also a therapeutic and dietary product.

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 - chestnuts, are valued 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 crop unusual for central Russia. Chestnuts, 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 correctly, what can be made of it, why it will be useful. Is it possible to eat it for children or expectant mothers. And also you will learn how to easily grow chestnuts directly in your area or even at home.

What is a chestnut

Chestnut is a tree belonging to the Bukov family. In height can reach fifty meters. 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 with the base of the trunk, often with a diameter of 2 m. The bark often has a mesh shape with deep grooves or cracks spiraling in both directions along the trunk. 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 “denticles”. Light green in the summer, in the autumn they change their color to yellow. The length of the sheet plate can reach up to twenty centimeters. As for the flowers of the chestnut, they are collected in inflorescences up to fifteen centimeters long, and resemble spikelets.

Chestnut begins to bear fruit only after reaching the age of about twelve years. But it is 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, a tree grows rather slowly. And it bears fruit once a couple of years, in the first two autumn months.

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

What kind of chestnut has

The fruits of this tree have a spherical shape, surrounded by a shell, densely covered with thorns. During ripening, the shell has a green color, and already in ripe fruit it is brown. Inside the shell there are up to four nuts. 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.

In what area does chestnut grow

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

Chestnut can often be found in America, in the east of Asia, in 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 large mandarin.

How to find edible chestnut

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

Remember that in edible chestnut leaves are elongated and have thorns at the ends. And inflorescences are similar to long and narrow female earrings. In contrast, horse chestnut blooms more luxuriantly, because it plays a more decorative role.

  edible chestnut photo

Edible chestnut is covered with brown shell, covered with many thorns. A horse chestnut has a bright green shell, which is more tuberous than prickly. And finally, the taste. Edible fruits - they are mealy-sweet. And inedible - 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 contains 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 pressure, strengthen the vascular walls. Chestnut will help to cope with varicose veins, stop the blood and heal small wounds. Fruits help recover faster after burns or getting cut wounds.

  edible chestnut and

Chestnut use

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 radiculitis. In the process of treatment, whole nuts and compresses from ground mass are used.

And, of course, chestnuts are often used in culinary affairs. With their help they prepare first courses, second courses and even sweets! European cuisine is rich in dishes with chestnuts. For example, chestnuts in sweet syrup are simply adored there.

How to cook the fruits of chestnuts

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

To well clean the fruits of chestnuts, you need to make incisions on them, and then boil 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 cleaned before they have cooled. It will be more convenient and easier.

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

Chestnut will help to lose weight

The fat content in chestnut is quite low, because it is often used by nutritionists to help lose weight. Chestnuts even help get rid of cellulite, eliminate swelling and improve blood flow.

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

Chestnut for children

Traditional medicine does not provide any advice on when to add chestnut nuts to a child’s diet. Pediatricians, for example, are not advised to give them before the child is five years old.

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

It is best to do this by boiling them and chopping them to a puree state. It will be best to add it to a mashed potato or soup.

Chestnut for future and young mothers

It's no secret that chestnuts help to overcome the sharp mood swings that women often experience during the period of bearing the 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 future mother.

Chestnuts stimulate lactation during lactation. 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 are happy to cook nuts in this way using a simple recipe. However, untrained people should use roasted chestnut with caution. Nuts may be a product with signs of individual intolerance.

In addition, people who decide to lose weight a little fried chestnuts better to remove from the diet. High calorie content and a large 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 to making a roast chestnut recipe:

1. The first rule. The main thing is not to overdo it and not overcook, otherwise the chestnuts will turn out to be dry, hard and not tasty.
2. We do not lubricate the pan with any oil.
3. Pour chestnuts into a frying pan and set on fire. The trick is that you need to cut the nuts with a sharp knife before frying, and choose a pan with a thick bottom.
4. It is necessary to remove the peel from the finished chestnuts, make it better than a rhinestone, otherwise it will be problematic to remove it from the cooled nuts.
5. We remove films and membranes.
6. Do not be greedy. Do not fry much. Unfinished cold chestnuts dry out become tasteless.

Chestnut jam

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

Powder the nuts of the chestnut through a sieve. Pour water into a saucepan, put on gas and pour sugar. Stir frequently until sugar is completely dissolved. Then add the chestnut crumbs to the syrup and cook for about half an hour, stirring occasionally 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 a few more minutes. After that, you can pour jam into jars and roll up.

Chestnut honey useful properties and contraindications

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

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

Restrictions for use

This is undoubtedly a healthy 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;
• 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 make a failure 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 site or even in an apartment. At the very beginning, of course, it is necessary to collect mature chestnuts in the fall. They should be whole.

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

To grow a chestnut at home, you need to leave the nuts on the balcony until the first frost. And then for the whole winter to remove on the lower shelf of the refrigerator. Toward the end of February, the nuts should be put in pots with soil and put on the windowsill. The first sprouts will appear in a month or two

Chestnuts are the fruits of a beech family plant and are nuts with a low calorie content because they contain less fat than other nuts.

But they differ not only in this, they are rich in irreplaceable nutrients.

They are very rich in starch, which makes them look more like than the rest of the nuts. In addition, they contain a lot of fiber.

One hundred grams of chestnuts give 165 kcal and only two grams of fat.

You will be amazed at the result if you include chestnuts in your diet, there are good reasons for this.

Chestnuts during pregnancy

Benefit

Eating chestnuts is suitable for almost everyone, and especially recommended for people who suffer from stress or. It is also beneficial to eat chestnuts during lactation and pregnancy.

They are suitable for people with liver disease and those who suffer from high blood pressure and watch for low salt intake.

Chestnut is a very healthy product and is suitable for people of any age, with the exception of people who suffer from diabetes.

The combination of trace elements makes this nut an ideal “antidote” against fatigue.

In particular, they help improve blood circulation and regulate blood pressure.

Here are the benefits of using chestnuts:

• thanks to vitamin B2 they reduce the effects of skin aging;

• strengthen bones and teeth due to the high content of phosphorus;

• prevents due to the presence of an amino acid such as tryptophan;

• protect the nervous system with its high content of vitamin B and phosphorus;

• vitamin B2 also has a positive effect on eye health;

• high fiber helps digestion;

• they are recommended for kidney diseases, due to the high potassium content;

• contribute to improving memory;

• good for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Harm

Chestnuts are rich in carbohydrates, so they are not recommended for those suffering from. Also, they should be used with caution for overweight people.

Indications

Indications for eating chestnuts are:

• stress, depression;
• pregnancy, breastfeeding;
• cardiovascular problems;
• memory problems
• physical fatigue;
• as an anti-inflammatory agent;
• as a tonic and restorative.

Chestnuts are rich, which affects the increase in breast milk in women.

Chestnut contains a lot of protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins.that can regulate blood flow, stimulate the kidneys and provide the body with energy and nutrients.

Therefore, chestnuts can be considered as part of the diet during pregnancy and lactation.

Contraindications

A chestnut does not have many contraindications. Them not recommended for nutrition of people diagnosed with diabetes, in this case, experts advise against chestnuts, as they are very rich in carbohydrates.

Should also avoid chestnuts in cases of indigestion, because they can cause bloating, especially when consumed raw.

Ways to use

Oven-baked chestnuts in charcoal or grill. So that the shell does not burst the chestnuts, it must be incised. Chestnuts prepared in this way can replace part of the baking.

Boiled chestnuts. A great side dish for any kind of red meat, poultry or roast beef.

For cooking, chestnuts are boiled in water with a small amount of anise, or in milk with the addition of cinnamon or vanilla to taste. Also boiled chestnuts can be served in the form of mashed potatoes.

Raw chestnuts. It can be consumed only when fully ripened.

Candied fruit. They are used to make cakes and candied chestnuts in the glaze. To prepare this French dessert, the chestnuts are peeled, soaked in sugar syrup and coated with glaze.

Chestnut Flour   used for baking.

Precautionary measures

You should use chestnuts with caution, if your body is not used to such foods, they can cause an allergic reaction.

In addition, the use of a large number of chestnuts can adversely affect the functions of the pancreas.

If you tend to be overweight, keep in mind that chestnuts are rich in carbohydrates.

Be careful and do not confuse edible chestnut with horse. Raw horse chestnuts can lead to poisoning.

Chestnuts are a good product that should be introduced into the diet. They have many useful properties, and not many contraindications. They can and should be consumed during pregnancy.