Pecan, whose beneficial properties will be described in this article, is exotic, because it does not grow not only in Russia, but even throughout our continent. Well, in North America, it is an integral part of the diet of any family. On both ordinary and public holidays, Americans are sure to cook dishes with the addition of this nut. When did he appear?
History
Even before Columbus discovered America, pecans, whose photos are in the article, was considered almost the main type of food. He helped the Indians survive in the absence of food. After all, not always the hunt ended successfully. And it was quite difficult to store the same meat. Pecan can be stored for future use. Its strong shell is a sealed package that protects the contents from negative influences and pests.
When the Indians developed new territories of the continent, creating villages, camps and camps, they always planted walnut trees nearby . After 7-8 years, they began to bear fruit. The best nuts had a large kernel and the thinnest shell. It was them who were first of all collected by the Indians.
For the first time, detailed information about pecans was provided by the Spaniard Cabej de Vacom in the 16th century, who noticed this culture among the Indians of North America. The information aroused interest among European researchers in this nut. They personally came to America to see the process of autumn harvesting of pecans for the winter. The oldest plantations of this plant (200 years) are registered in Mexico.
Agricultural production
The first place in the development of Pecan culture belongs to settlers from New York. Now the range of this nut has greatly expanded. It is grown in Oregon, California, New Mexico, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. Despite its excellent qualities, for some reason, pecans did not really take root on other continents. But still outside of Mexico and America, it is grown in South Africa, Peru, Israel, China, Brazil and Australia. In the USA, pecans are superior to walnuts in value . Production is set up in 14 states. This is a whole area of the national economy that has gone through a lot of development stages. According to statistics, in the 1920s, about 1 thousand tons of pecan was produced, and in the last decade this figure has increased to 120 thousand tons.
Nuts are harvested primarily from Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Georgia. Fluctuations in annual production are affected by changes in weather conditions. So, due to weather troubles in 2008, 86 thousand tons of walnut were harvested, although a year earlier this figure was 175 thousand tons. Almost 90% of all pecans are harvested in the USA. Mostly Americans export it to Hong Kong, Canada and Mexico. For example, in 2008 they sold 52 thousand tons of nuts for a quarter of a million dollars. At the same time, 40 thousand tons of imports were made, most of which came to Mexico. She and the United States own 100% of the global market.
Appearance and taste
In appearance , pecans, the beneficial properties of which you will learn below, resembles olives. Take a look at the picture and see the similarities. And when peeled, it is very similar to a walnut. Pecan without shell also resembles the human brain. Its taste is almost the same as that of walnuts, only softer and softer, and the fruits are completely bitter. Pecan has one more feature - there are no partitions inside the shell, which makes it easy to remove the core. Now consider its composition.
Structure
Pecan, whose price in Russia is about 900 rubles per pound, has a rich nutritional composition. It includes many micro and macro elements (copper, iron, selenium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, etc.), as well as ash, fiber and vitamins (K, E, C, A, B). Among the B vitamins, the presence of folic acid is especially valuable.
Beneficial features
Due to the presence of vitamin E, the nut has anti-cancer properties. Pecan is also useful for vitamin deficiency, with anemia. If you regularly use this nut, then the body will increase the content of such a component as gamma-tocopherol. This substance that protects DNA, proteins, fats and cholesterol from oxidation, which has a beneficial effect on the heart, prevents the appearance of atherosclerosis, coronary disease and varicose veins.
Pecan, the beneficial properties of which are known to all nutritionists, stimulates appetite, helps relieve fatigue, and optimizes the activity of the hormonal and reproductive systems.
With the reasonable use and replacement of high-calorie foods, you can reduce your own weight. But if you eat pecan in large quantities, and even with the addition of other fatty foods, then the result will be the opposite. At the end of the article, the optimal single serving is indicated.
Butter
Useful not only the pecans themselves, the taste of which was described above, but also the oil obtained from its fruits. To obtain a true high-quality oil that preserves all the beneficial properties, it is necessary to apply the cold pressing method. The final product should have a nutty smell and a golden yellow color. To taste, pecan oil is very similar to olive. As for the composition, it contains a lot of fatty acids, phytosterols, vitamins and minerals.
This oil is suitable for both external and internal use. In case of external use, it is used as a cosmetic product. Pecan oil helps get rid of insect bites, sunburn, fungal infections, skin irritants, and also reduces hematomas. It is recommended to be taken orally with a decrease in appetite, fatigue and headaches. In addition, many people know this oil as an excellent preventive drug for colds.
How to choose
Pecan, the price of which was indicated above, is best purchased at a supermarket or specialty store. In this case, you can find out the expiration date of the product indicated on the package. A quality product has a clean, undamaged shell. If during the shaking of a nut a knock of the kernel on the shell is heard, then it dried up and lost useful properties. When buying peeled fruits, make sure they are whole, fleshy and shiny.
Cooking Application
Pecan, whose benefits are undoubted, has a significant advantage - universal application. It can be consumed fried and dried. It goes well with dried fruits, other nuts and is used for the preparation of confectionery and vegetable salads. From this nut bake pies, cookies, bread. Well, and, of course, they make the oil that we wrote about above.
Storage methods
Pecan, whose photo is in many plant encyclopedias, is not stored for too long. The high fat content at room temperature will make it rancid, and the wonderful nutty aroma will be replaced by an unpleasant odor. To increase shelf life, it is best to store pecans in the refrigerator. In this case, he will not lose his beneficial properties for 4 months. In the freezer, this period is increased to six months. The peeled fruits should be folded in airtight packaging and stored for no more than 2 months.
Contraindications
Pecan, the useful properties of which you learned from this article, can be harmful in certain cases. For example, with excessive use. This can cause indigestion. The optimal harmless single serving is 100 grams. Also, this nut should be used very carefully for those who have liver problems, there is an allergy or individual intolerance to this product.