The fruits of some trees or shrubs that have an edible kernel and hard shells are commonly called nuts. But not all hard-shell fruits are such - it depends on the point of view of the nut. What is a nut? Which of them are considered real and which are not? What properties do they have? Are their kernels really useful? Why do people like nuts? Let's try to understand this article.
What is a nut in terms of botany
The fruit of the nut plant (from Latin nux) is a type of dry unopened syncarp lower fruit with woody pericarp. The structure of a nut implies that one or two kernels may be inside the shell. Usually the fruit is surrounded by bracts forming a wrapper. An example is hazelnut. Some types of seeds of the sedge and buckwheat families can be attributed to the true nut species. But, for example, peanuts, according to nerds, are considered a fake nut, since this fruit belongs to the legume family. The same applies, for example, to pine nuts and walnuts, dry coconut drupe and pine nuts, cashews and pistachios, almonds and chestnuts.
Cooking and life
In ordinary life, we call nuts any edible fruit that has a hard or soft shell. We use nuts in all kinds: we regale their nucleoli in the usual form, add them to all kinds of confectionery sweets and gourmet dishes, and someone even cooks nut jam. At the same time, no one wonders if this is a real nut or is it the fruit of a subspecies of some plant. We eat them because they are very tasty, nutritious and, according to nutritionists, very healthy.
Nuts as a food
In modern supermarkets today it is not difficult to find a wide variety of nuts. Among them there are also from childhood familiar walnuts and pine nuts, hazelnuts, peanuts and almonds. Here you can find not quite familiar, but already much-loved pistachios, cashews, chestnuts, small pine nuts and other unusual fruits.
Many people believe that the presence of nuts in the diet is not necessary. Indeed, it is unlikely that anyone has suffered from the fact that I have never in my life tried exotic wood fruits for our latitudes. However, according to the results of numerous studies, it is proved that almost all nuts have a unique balance of nutrients and substances that are very beneficial for the human body. They help to improve the natural metabolic process, improve blood composition and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and brain. It is believed that during the day you should eat different types of woody fruits.
Nuts contain a lot of fat, but this does not mean that they are contraindicated for people who are trying to lose weight. In contrast, many nutritionists include these tree fruits in weight loss diets and treatment programs. The fats found in nuts are easily absorbed by the human body.
Due to the sheer amount of protein, nuts are often compared to meat. However, meat and milk protein is difficult to digest and contributes to the production of uric acid in the human body, which complicates the liver. Nuts growing on trees and shrubs, fully saturated with the energy of the sun, contain useful lysine, which contributes to the rapid absorption of proteins. It is believed that it’s much more beneficial for the human body to eat several nuts than 100 grams of meat.
Calorie content
It is proved that if the daily diet will consist only of nuts, a person will feel great. That is why doctors recommend consuming various types of them daily, but here it is necessary to remember that the energy value of nuts is on average 600 kcal per 100 grams of peeled kernels. Do not forget that the menu should be balanced and varied.
Lose Weight Tastefully
A person who has set himself the goal of reducing weight should consume no more than 1200 kilocalories per day. It turns out that 100 grams of nut kernels is half the required norm. This amount replaces some of the food consumed per day, based on the fact that 60 grams of walnut contains 400 kilocalories, and this, in principle, is equivalent to a full meal. For snacks, it is enough to divide the remainder into two meals, each of them will contain about 120 kcal.
If we go to a quantitative ratio, then different types of walnut kernels will be completely different make up the specified norm. It should be borne in mind that 100 grams of wholesome fruit is an average of 100 cedar kernels, 50 pieces of peanut kernels, 30 pieces of hazelnuts or 5 walnuts.
Doctors recommend replacing nuts and snacks with nuts and do not recommend eating them before bedtime. It is also undesirable to exceed the indicated norm, since the body simply does not absorb a larger amount of nuts.
The beneficial properties of nuts
It has long been known about the healing properties of nuts. Such an invaluable quality of walnuts as a rejuvenating effect on the body is known, probably, from prehistoric times. Ancient beauties already knew that the use of tasty kernels significantly affects the condition of the skin. Moreover, for cosmetic purposes, these fruits have long been fully used. Useful and nutritious flesh is eaten, hard shells are ground into flour and used to make all kinds of body scrubs, healing and anti-aging broths, and partitions, which are always present in nuts and contain a huge amount of iodine, are used to maintain women's health and to treat mastopathy. It is scientifically proven that nuts contribute to the normalization of the cardiovascular system and the brain, improve memory and strengthen immunity.
Differences of nuts
Each type of nut that we eat looks different, has a unique taste and its own set of substances necessary for the body. If you conduct a comparative analysis of the taste and composition of nutrients, you can choose for yourself the most suitable product.
Hazelnuts, hazelnuts or hazel
It's about the same nut. One hundred grams of this product contains 3 times more calories than 100 grams of white bread and almost eight times more than half a glass of milk. By the number of proteins, these fruits are not inferior to meat. Nevertheless, they can be used without any risk even with the strictest diets. Of course, in this case you will have to remove some of the products from your diet. With regular use of hazelnuts in combination with dried apricots and honey, the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases is significantly reduced, blood pressure is normalized, and the work of the kidneys, liver and brain improves. It contains a large number of polyunsaturated fatty acids that improve metabolism in the body.
Walnut
It is considered the most useful of all nuts, as it is a storehouse of the most important vitamins and minerals. Moreover, such fruits are very nutritious and useful. They are recommended not only for diet. It is believed that eating just 5 nuts a day is enough to compensate for the necessary substances. They stimulate brain activity, normalize blood pressure and increase hemoglobin levels in the blood. Recommended for relieving vasospasm and headache, have a mild sedative effect due to the huge amount of magnesium contained in the walnut kernel.
Pistachios
Significantly inferior to other nuts in energy value, but at the same time lead in fiber content. Due to this, they contribute to the normal functioning of the digestive system, lowering the level of sugar and cholesterol in the body. They contribute to the strengthening of general immunity. Often recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular and liver diseases. Must be present in the diet of people suffering from anemia, hypertension and angina pectoris, as well as patients with tuberculosis.
Cashew nuts
Despite its delicate and buttery taste, cashews contain much less fat than walnuts or peanuts. Nevertheless, this is a fairly high-calorie product. It is an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids, which play a very important role in the normal functioning of the heart and help lower cholesterol. They have an antibacterial and tonic effect. Helps reduce the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease.
Chestnut
This tree fruit contains a whole range of essential minerals, vitamins and ash substances. However, it contains starch, so it is not recommended for weight loss diets. Chestnut nuts are very respected among the people, not only for their amazing taste. They are an indispensable raw material in traditional medicine: in pharmacology they are used as raw materials for the production of medicines and cosmetics. Healing broths, infusions and ointments for the treatment of almost any disease are prepared on the basis of traditional methods of treatment.
Pine Nut Kernels
Very tender nuts containing a huge amount of digestible and light proteins. The milk cores contain copper and iodine, as well as amino acids, which are especially necessary for children. Therefore, these fruits must be present in me by pregnant and lactating women, however, it must be remembered that such nuts are allowed in the children's diet only after the baby is three years old. It is believed that they excellently strengthen the immune system, and are also necessary for people suffering from the manifestation of angina pectoris and gallstone disease.
Almond
It is believed that in almonds the amount of protein and carbohydrates is balanced perfectly, therefore it is recommended both in dietary nutrition and for the prevention of many diseases. It contains a huge amount of monounsaturated fats that contribute to lowering cholesterol in the blood. Rich in vitamins and trace elements. More nutrients are found in the skin or in layers closer to it; therefore, nuts are recommended for use with the shell. Their use stimulates the process of regeneration of body cells and helps to strengthen bone tissue. Indispensable for inflammatory diseases. Helps with migraines, insomnia and nervous disorders.
Brazil nut - what is it?
This is the most common hard-shell tropical fruit. High-calorie nut, which contains about 65% fat and 14% protein. It contains a high content of essential micro and macro elements. Normalizes blood glucose and cholesterol levels. With excessive use, selenium poisoning is highly likely, since the tree on which these nuts grow has the ability to absorb it from the soil and accumulate in the leaves and fruits. Therefore, most often this product is recommended for use in dietary nutrition as a source of this deficient substance.
It is useful for a growing child’s body, it contributes to the proper formation of the musculoskeletal system. It has a mild sedative effect, so it can be recommended for stress and nervous exhaustion.
Finally
In conclusion of this article, I would like to warn every lover of nuts: any tree fruits should be bought at the beginning and middle of the autumn-winter period. The fact is that already in the beginning of spring from the beneficial properties of nuts there is no trace left. Even with proper storage, the nuts dry out within six months and almost completely lose their quality. This primarily applies to peeled fruits, when immediately after peeling and breaking the shell begins the process of decay of vitamins and minerals.