Health benefits of walnuts, their harm and contraindications for use

Walnut first appeared on the territory of Central Asia. There are also other names – voloshsky or royal walnut. Today walnuts grow almost all over the world. The product has been used for food for a long time. health benefits of Walnuts and Walnuts nutrition facts

The nuts are oblong and round in shape. They are covered with a fleshy pericarp, which turns black during maturation and separates on its own. Below it is a walnut, which is a two-leaf drupe, inside which is a four-lobed seed. Peeled nuts are covered with a thin pale brown skin, and the inside of the fruit is white (see photo).

How to choose and store correctly?

To get really high-quality and tasty walnuts, you must follow some recommendations when choosing them:

• It is not recommended to buy already peeled nuts, since you do not know how long they were stored and where they were before.
• If you need to buy a lot of nuts, then first take a few for a sample and only then buy the rest.
• The best are walnuts, which have an elongated shape and a thin shell. Please note that too thin peel can spoil the product.
• In the process of choosing, take the nut in your hand: it should not be too light, and when shaking you should hear a dull sound.
• Look at the peel: it should be intact without damage or cracks.
• Ask the seller to split the nut and look at the color of the shell of the kernel. It should be light brown. Black core, spots – signs of deterioration or long-term storage.
• When choosing, taste the walnut and appreciate its aroma: the presence of bitterness or a moldy smell is a sign of poor quality.

If you purchased inshell walnuts, then you need to store them in an airtight container that should be placed in the refrigerator. In this state, this product will retain its freshness for six months. If you freeze them, then the time increases to a year.

Peeled kernels should also be kept in a clean container that will keep out excess moisture in the refrigerator. In this case, the consumer qualities of the walnut will be maintained for six months.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of walnuts are due to the presence of various substances that are necessary for normal functioning.

B vitamins are part of walnuts, which restore muscle tissue, participate in the synthesis of proteins and fats, and they also improve the activity of the nervous system, which helps to cope with insomnia and stress. There is ascorbic acid in walnuts, which increases the protective functions of the body, has a positive effect on the brain and takes part in other important processes in the body. Walnuts are rich in vitamin E, which is responsible for the beauty of the skin.

As for minerals, that is, the product contains a large amount of potassium, which has a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system and normalizes blood pressure. There are also magnesium in the nut – an important mineral for the activity of the heart muscle. Due to the presence of calcium and phosphorus in this product, the condition of bone tissue, as well as teeth and nails, improves.

Given the iron content, walnuts will be beneficial for people with anemia. When consumed regularly, they contribute to the normalization of blood cholesterol. Oil is obtained from the kernels of walnuts, which helps to cope with skin problems, eczema, psoriasis, varicose veins, and it also protects against the negative effects of carcinogens.

Today you can find preparations in the pharmacy that contain walnut extract. They act as a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent, and they also stop bleeding. They also strengthen the immune system, and therefore are very useful for health!

Walnuts are used for cosmetic purposes. Perhaps this is due to the presence of vitamin F, which improves the skin.

Benefits of walnuts and treatment

In folk medicine, the benefits of walnuts are used in various recipes that help to cope with many ailments:

• Mixed kernels with honey, for example, are an excellent remedy for relieving sore throats, headaches, and insomnia. Also, such a mixture can be used as an adjuvant for hypertension, anemia and coronary heart disease.
• A mixture of walnuts, raisins, figs and dried apricots is recommended for use to strengthen the whole body and to normalize the functioning of the heart.
• If you combine nuts with buckwheat flour and kefir, you can normalize blood sugar levels.
• For people with ulcers, it is recommended to consume walnut oil as an adjunct to the main treatment.

This is just a small list of recipes using walnuts that help in the treatment of various diseases.

In addition, it is worth noting that, in addition to the nut itself, their partitions (amniotic fluid), as well as the shell and leaves of the tree, are also used for medicinal purposes. Many healing recipes of traditional medicine also include young green nuts.

Harm of walnuts and contraindications

Walnuts can be harmful if you have an allergy, which is manifested by hives, diathesis, stomatitis and similar symptoms. It is not recommended to use the product for colitis and enterocolitis. Walnuts are also contraindicated for eczema, psoriasis and other skin diseases. If the product is consumed in large quantities, headache, rash in the mouth and vasospasm may occur. It is also worth mentioning the high calorie content of the product. Its use in large quantities can negatively affect the figure.

The nutritional value

Vitamins

Minerals