What is the difference between pine nuts and pine nuts? Composition and calorie content, useful properties and harm. What kind of dishes can you cook?
Useful properties of pine nuts
Given this combination of nutrients, it becomes clear that the product has many beneficial qualities.
Regular consumption of pine fruits helps to achieve the following therapeutic effects:
- Healing gastric ulcers … Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are dangerous because they make themselves felt when the situation is already quite neglected. The most unpleasant is a stomach ulcer, although ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane are no less dangerous condition. Multiple wounds cause terrible discomfort, dramatically affecting the quality of life. Constant pain and cramps in the navel, a feeling of overeating after a small amount of food, but at the same time erosion of the walls with unclaimed gastric juice, heaviness in the epigastric region - these are unpleasant symptoms that the product helps to cope with. The oils contained in its composition help to heal wounds, strengthen the mucous membrane and resist the destructive effects of malnutrition - the use of junk food and its irregular intake.
- Lower cholesterol levels … Despite the fact that the calorie content of pine nuts is quite high, the oils that make up the product help to reduce cholesterol levels, increase the lumen of blood vessels and strengthen their walls. This helps to normalize blood pressure and prevent diseases such as stroke, heart attack, atherosclerosis.
- Normalization of the digestive tract … For the most part, this is about preventing reflux. As you know, bile coming out of a special collection - the gallbladder, participates in the final process of food processing, entering the intestines immediately. However, if the digestive tract does not work properly, it is thrown into the stomach. This process is called reflux and is very harmful as bile eats away at the walls of the stomach. The ingredients in the product help to normalize this process by directing the enzyme in the right direction and preventing the occurrence of a life-threatening condition. Also, this effect is the prevention of the formation of stones in the gallbladder.
- Acceleration of tissue regeneration … This is especially important on the eve of operations, starting with tooth extraction and ending with labor or any surgical interventions. However, even the most basic bruise from hitting the doorknob will come off much faster and less painful if you have good tissue regeneration. This will also indicate a good condition of the systems and organs in general, which contributes to a quick recovery during viral and bacterial infections, seasonal colds.
- Improving kidney function … This is facilitated by the diuretic properties of the product. Preventing fluid retention in the body, nuts help prevent the accumulation of sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder, promote the elimination of toxins from the body, prevent the development of edema and increased blood pressure.
- Prevention of oral diseases … Thanks to their strong antibacterial effect, nuts help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria in the mouth. They have a beneficial effect on the condition of the gums, preventing the development of diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease, and many others. Also have a positive effect in the treatment of tonsillitis and tonsillitis.
- Treatment of colds … Since nut oils have a fairly strong expectorant effect, it is useful to eat them during the treatment of colds, in particular bronchitis with dry cough. They thin the phlegm, making it easier to pass.
- Fight against parasites … For many parasites that poison our body with the products of their vital activity, the use of pineapple is incompatible with life. Some die, some "run away." This is especially true of ticks living in the body's hair. These include the demodex mite, which is also called the eyelash mite in the place of its favorite habitat. Often having skin defects, people do not associate this with the so-called demodicosis. And in vain, because this parasite is quite common and difficult to remove. And the pines will be of invaluable help in this.
Contraindications and harm of pine nuts
Despite a fairly large number of useful properties, there are contraindications to the use of the product. For example, a nut can have a negative effect on the senses. When a large amount of a product is consumed, some people experience a violation of taste. There is a kind of suppression of the receptors and irritation of the mucous membrane. This reaction does not require treatment and goes away on its own after a few days. But it definitely requires correction of the amount of product consumption.
Pine nuts can also harm the following categories of people:
- For children … This is due primarily to the fact that small parts of the product can enter the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat nuts for up to three years at all, and after three - with great care, since, due to their high fat content, they are a rather heavy product. Babies may not have enough enzymes to break them down.
- Allergy sufferers … Nuts are traditionally considered a fairly allergenic product. Therefore, those who are prone to food allergies need to be careful when entering them into the menu.
- Obesity and liver problems … Despite the fact that nuts help speed up metabolism and reduce cholesterol levels in the body, they are not recommended for people who are overweight. The fact is that this category of people most often has liver damage, and for this organ, fatty foods are taboo.
Recipes with pine nuts
Depending on how pine nuts are eaten in a variety of variations, consider the main groups of dishes in which pine pine seeds are found:
- Sauces … The pesto sauce brought world fame to the fruits of the Mediterranean pine. It is the most popular addition to a variety of dishes in Italy, which literally translates as "grind". This is exactly what needs to be done with ingredients, including pine nuts. To make the sauce, you will need 70 g of green basil. It is important to take plants with medium-sized leaves, because small ones may not be aromatic enough, and large ones may be too tough. Cook 30 g of pine nuts fried in a pan for a couple of minutes, 60 g of powdered Parmesan cheese and 40 g of Pecorino or Fiore Sardo cheese. You will also need 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic and 80 ml of olive oil. Combine garlic, nuts, basil in a mortar and, remembering the name of the dish, grind everything well. Only by hand! No blenders, meat grinders and other products of civilization. Then add a pinch of salt and cheese, grind again and at the very end combine with olive oil. For sandwiches, make the dish thicker, for side dishes and meat - much thinner. Adjust the thickness with the amount of oil.
- Salads … After sauces, salad is the second most popular group where these nuts are found. Most often, a green mix is taken as a basis, vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, and cheeses are added to it. Vegetable oils and mayonnaises, mustard, sour cream, yoghurts are used for dressing. We suggest trying the next option. Peel 2 large oranges from the skin and membranes and cut each wedge in half. Send 70 g of arugula to the citrus, 4 large figs and one ripe avocado, cut into large wedges. Add 200 g cubed feta cheese to the fresh ingredients. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and olive oil dressing, toss the salad gently, sprinkle with 30 grams of pine nuts on top.
- Soups … Nuts are most commonly used in cream soups. For example, pepper dip. This soup has an amazing light texture and a very rich taste. Place 1 kg of red or orange bell peppers on a baking sheet with parchment. Bake in the oven at 200 ° C for about 25 minutes, then turn over and bake for the same amount. Bake 2 chili peppers separately. Label sweet peppers in a sieve, remove seeds, membranes, peel off. Do not pour out the leaked juice, it will come in handy. Do the same with the chili, but drain the rest of its juice. Combine peppers, 100 g chopped walnuts, 50 g pine nuts, 50 g salted crackers, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil and bell pepper juice in a bowl. Beat everything well with a blender, add broth, serve hot or chilled with garlic croutons.
- Meat … Poultry is especially tasty with nuts. Take 1.5 kg of duck fillet. Chop finely, add a pinch of rosemary, salt, ground pepper, 1 tablespoon of brandy and leave to marinate at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Cut into cubes 100 g of lard, onion and a large apple, send the ingredients to a skillet with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, fry until golden brown. Combine duck meat with refried bacon, onions and apples, mix well, form a steak. Dip it in chopped pine nuts, fry over high heat in vegetable oil for 1 minute on each side, then transfer to a baking sheet with parchment and bake in an oven preheated to 200 ° C for 20 minutes.
- Side dishes … Often, nuts are a great addition to side dishes. For example, pasta. Grind a bunch of parsley, juice of one lemon and 2 cloves of garlic in a blender. Cook your favorite pasta in salted water until al dente - spaghetti, bows, shells, spirals, feathers - whatever you like. Top it with the green sauce, a few quartered cherry tomatoes, a couple of basil sprigs, 50g grated Parmesan and a handful of pine nuts.
- Bakery … This product is very actively used in baking. We offer you to try wonderful muffins with apples. Take 300 g of premium wheat flour, 100 g of sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, a pinch of salt, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Add to them 225 ml of kefir, 60 ml of vegetable oil, 1 chicken egg. Mix everything well. Peel and core 2 large apples, cut them into cubes, send to the dough. Pour the mixture into greased tins and sprinkle with cane sugar and pine nuts on top. Bake at 200 ° C for 25 minutes.
- Beverages … And even drinks are prepared with these lovely nuts. For example, such a mix will perfectly refresh. Remove the pulp of one avocado, add 100 ml of coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of condensed milk, a couple of ice cubes and a handful of nuts. Grind thoroughly in a blender, serve with a sprig of mint.
Interesting facts about pine nuts
This pine tree began to be cultivated as early as a thousand years BC, the Etruscans - representatives of an ancient civilization located in the northwest of the Apennine Peninsula.
The famous Pinocchio and his domestic twin, Pinocchio, were made from pine logs. And with the cones of this tree, the hero of Alexei Tolstoy threw himself at Karabas-Barabas. Nuts and tree bark were used for medicinal purposes by the great healer Avicenna.
The famous "Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio was illustrated with paintings by Sandro Botticelli. There were pine trees on them.
In Mesopotamia, furniture was often decorated with elements resembling pine cones. Most often they were used to decorate the legs of interior items.
Even in music, this beautiful tree distinguished itself: at the beginning of the twentieth century, the world-famous composer Ottorino Respighi wrote the symphonic poem "The Pines of Rome". Watch a video about pine nuts:
As the Italians themselves note, pine trees managed to achieve such popularity only due to the unique unsurpassed taste of their nuts. Therefore, if you have not tried them yet, we definitely advise you to try and evaluate the fruit sung by great writers, artists and composers, especially since there are many recipes with pine nuts, as you could see thanks to our material.
