In the diet of a healthy person, nuts are necessarily present in various variations. Among them, hazelnuts stand out favorably. High nutritional value and characteristic sweetish-delicate taste make it an ideal product.
Today, more than 15 varieties of hazelnut are known. Italians have especially succeeded in developing new varieties, inspired by the beneficial properties, taste and aroma of the fruit of the walnut tree.
General characteristics
Hazelnuts are the fruit of a Lombard nut or large hazelnut. The nut is surrounded by a plyus (cup), which protects it from external influences. The kernel makes up 60% of the fruit mass, the rest of the weight falls on the cupped shell. Fruits are grown in the Mediterranean countries due to the most comfortable climatic conditions.
The plant can grow up to 10 m in length. The walnut tree is tall with dense gray branches. It produces dense, glandular-pubescent annual shoots. The leaves of the walnut tree take on a round or oval shape. The average leaf size is 12×10 cm. The average size of the walnut fruit is 20×15 mm. The nut shell is several times the length of the fruit. It is tubular, drooping down, with wide pointed teeth at the end of the base.
Product history and geography
The history of the product is varied and shrouded in mystery .… There is a version that it was the hazelnut that saved humanity from hunger, when most of the plants died from glaciation during the ice age.
Archaeologists find traces of growing walnut trees in every corner of the world farmer-online.com… Hazelnuts began to gain popularity during the period of antiquity. The Romans called hazelnuts a “blessed tree”, considered it a symbol of prosperity, family happiness, health and inner strength. Virgil points out the importance of nut fruits, describing the hidden power and benefits of hazelnuts in one of the poems. Later, spreading to Northern Europe and Russia, the nut became a talisman against dark forces.
Spain played an important role in the cultivation of hazelnuts. Local authorities obliged each citizen to plant and raise a hazel. So there was a long-term selection of the best varieties of hazelnuts, which were maximally adapted to the external environment.
Modern territorial centers for growing hazelnuts:
- southeast of Europe;
- Mediterranean countries
- Caucasus;
- Asia Minor.
The beneficial properties of hazelnuts
Fact: in terms of calorie content, hazelnuts are 3 times higher than bread, and milk – 8 times.
The nut contains 60% oil. The oil consists of glycerides and several types of acids that prevent the growth of blood cholesterol levels, protect the walls of blood vessels from damage and disease, support the growth and development of the whole body ...
Vitamin E, which is part of the composition, helps to fight cancer and serves as a powerful prophylactic agent against cancer, pathologies of the heart and muscular system. ..… Calcium makes bones and teeth stronger, zinc stabilizes the production of sex hormones, potassium regulates the activity of the nervous and muscular systems ..
Hazelnuts are great for energizing the body due to their high calorie content. 1… Considering the percentage of protein content (about 19%), hazelnuts are a great option for daytime snacks, as an addition to your morning or lunch meal.
The nut contains vital elements that help “build” the human body. It is especially important that hazelnuts are present in the diet of children and adolescents who need such “building” materials for normal growth and development. Nuts will help develop and strengthen the skeletal system, normalize blood pressure, remove toxins and toxins from the body, and strengthen the protective functions of the immune system.
Therapeutic effect of the product
The nut fruit has a beneficial effect on the state of the cardiovascular system. Potassium and calcium, included in its composition, improve the condition of blood vessels, smooth muscles of the heart, make them more elastic and healthy ...
Hazelnuts are an excellent helper for anemia and other pathologies of the circulatory system. The nut is used for varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers of the leg and capillary diseases.
With the help of the product, you can cope with diseases of the prostate gland and increase the protective function of the immune system. Hazelnuts prevent the processes of decay in the human body, accelerates the natural cleansing of the liver.
Remember: hazelnuts contain a huge amount of calories, so you can not eat too many fruits. Consider the daily rate of the product and contraindications to avoid health problems.
Experts point out another important property of hazelnuts. The nut contains paclitaxel, which is an anti-cancer substance ...
Due to the content of vitamin E and protein, hazelnuts are an indispensable element of a sports diet. This combination promotes the rapid growth and development of muscle tissue.
There is a popular opinion that nuts contribute to the appearance of more milk in lactating women, prevent gas formation and dissolve stones in the internal ducts of the body.
Cosmetic effect of the product
Nut butter is obtained from hazelnuts ..… The product stays fresh for a long time, does not dry out and is highly valued not only in medicine and cooking, but also in the cosmetic industry. The oil is added to various body, face, hand and hair care products. It can be used alone or in combination with other plant extracts.
Nut oil has the greatest effect on hair. It is necessary to massage a few drops of oil into the scalp for strong, shiny and soft hair.
Use in cooking
Hazelnuts have great culinary potential. Its use can easily turn any dish into a delicacy, and the product itself is combined with almost all existing food.
Hazelnuts stand out favorably among other varieties of nuts. It has a delicate taste with a subtle sweet note. The texture of the kernel is rather soft, which allows culinary specialists to choose any method of heat treatment.
Please note: The soft texture of the nut can be easily damaged by improper storage conditions or careless transportation. Buy inshell hazelnuts carefully checking the integrity of each nut. The product can be stored for no more than 6 months in the shell and no more than 3 months in a cleaned form.
What can be done with hazelnuts:
- fry. The maximum permissible temperature for frying is 75 ° C. You need to fry the hazelnuts no more than 20 minutes in order to preserve the beneficial properties and high nutritional value;
- pickle;
- Sugar
- combine with sweet (cherry jam) or salty (mix of Provence herbs) filler / spice to make an original snack;
- grind into flour or nut paste;
- grind into peanut butter;
- make halva from nut cake. The cake remains after the product is ground into butter, flour or paste. Hazelnuts are a useful and waste-free product ...
Don’t limit yourself to baking and eating raw or fried kernels. Walnut is a great ingredient for vegetable salads, meat and fish dishes. It goes well with soft, salty and hard cheeses. Observe the general KBZHU and try to be sure to add more vegetables or fruits to the dish. With the help of the fiber contained in these foods, the body will digest “heavy” foods faster and easier.
Walnut Recipes
Culinary life hack: to clean the hazelnuts from the skin, you need to send it to the oven for 5 minutes, then roll for a few seconds in your hands. The peel will easily come off, the fruit will give a rich smell and acquire a sweet taste.
Italian Flourless Cookies
We need:
- hazelnuts – 350 g;
- brown sugar to taste;
- salt – ½ tsp;
- egg white – 4 pieces;
- vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon.
Preparation
Grind the nuts into flour using a food processor and place in a large bowl. Beat the whites, add salt and bring the mixture to a strong foam. Gradually introduce proteins into the nut mass. Protein should be introduced slowly so that the mass can “grab” correctly. Add vanilla extract and sugar to the mixture to taste. Shape the cookies yourself or use special shapes. Preheat oven to 160 ° C. Prepare a baking sheet, line it with baking parchment and place the formed biscuits a few centimeters apart. Bake for 30 minutes. After cooking, it is recommended to cool it for 5-10 minutes.
Hot salad of young potatoes, tuna and nuts
We need:
- boiled potatoes – 500 g;
- hazelnuts – 150-200 g;
- canned tuna in its own juice – 1 Bank;
- cherry – 6 pcs;
- spinach – 100 g;
- olive oil – 2 tablespoons;
- favorite spices to taste.
Preparation
The process of preparing each ingredient is as simple and straightforward as possible. Mix the finished products in random order, pour a little olive oil, add your favorite spices and enjoy the taste. It is recommended to serve the salad immediately before the potatoes have cooled. It is this combination of ingredients that gives a unique taste, aroma and benefits for the body.
Противопоказания
Nuts are called “heavy” food because of their composition and calorie content. The daily dose of hazelnuts should not exceed 50 grams. What are the risks of overeating? The substances that make up hazelnuts provoke a spasm of the brain. A person feels a sharp pain in the head and tingling in the temples. Not only the brain will be affected by the effects of excessive enzymes. Hazelnuts will strain your intestines and stomach. A person will experience both a feeling of hunger and a feeling of oversaturation at the same time. The abdomen will “pull”, hurt and cause significant discomfort, nausea and vomiting are possible.
Groups of patients for whom hazelnuts are contraindicated:
- diabetics;
- obese patients;
- children under 5 years old (due to an undeveloped digestive system and inability to fully digest and assimilate the product);
- patients with allergic diathesis;
- people suffering from chronic liver disease;
- patients with individual intolerance to the product or substances that make up it ...
Important: it is forbidden to eat peeled fruits or nuts with an expired shelf life. Purified hazelnuts lose their beneficial properties and nutritional value. Fruits that have been lying in the skin for 6 months and have not been eaten also lose their properties and benefits.
Product Storage Rules
Walnut fruits must be provided:
- low temperature indicators;
- low percentage of room humidity;
- maximum protection against direct exposure to ultraviolet rays;
- protection against pungent products (regardless of origin).
Important: the storage method of peeled and unpeeled hazelnuts is significantly different. Unpeeled fruits are much easier and longer stored, unlike unprotected kernels. A natural barrier protects the fetus from environmental influences. If it is not, you need to create the most approximate conditions from improvised materials.
Store peeled kernels in a tightly closed container, shutting off air and irritants. The best material for containers is clay or glass. Plastic containers can reduce shelf life and give the product its characteristic offensive taste and aroma. The optimum storage temperature is 5-10 ° C. The permissible humidity is 10-15%. The shelf life (under ideal storage conditions) does not exceed 3 months.
Unpeeled fruits are much easier to store. Make sure the shell is intact, place the nuts in any convenient container, refrigerate and store at about 0 ° C. At the same time, their shelf life increases to 3 years. If the walnut is stored in a protected container outside the refrigerator compartment (for example, on the balcony and pantry), then its shelf life is reduced to 6 months.
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