Apricot kernels: benefits and harms to the body

After eating an apricot, the pit is usually discarded. Only a real housewife or gourmet knows that the nucleolus contained under a hard shell is rich in vitamins, tasty and can be used for cooking. Apricot seeds are used in folk medicine and cosmetology.

Composition and properties of apricot kernels

The nut hidden under the shell contains butyric and organic acids, a complex of minerals, amino acids. Oiliness determines the calorie content of the nucleolus. Acids and minerals in humans stimulate the work of internal organs, accelerate the metabolism of nutrients.

Oleic acid is considered a source of energy. The composition of the apricot nucleolus contains up to 29%. Linoleic acid, the content of which reaches 11%, brings great benefits to the human body. The substance maintains normal cholesterol levels, stimulates the heart, and is an excellent antioxidant. The full content of useful substances in 100 g of apricot kernels is displayed in the table.

Apricot kernels: benefits and harms

The rich composition of the apricot kernel is a real storehouse of vitamins for the human body. Trace elements help maintain immunity, suppress inflammation of the respiratory system.

Apricot kernels are considered an effective remedy for cramps. Doctors of traditional medicine use nucleoli against hiccups, to treat colds, to remove worms from the body.

As for harm, the tasty nucleolus contains dangerous hydrocyanic acid, which is present in all the bones of any fruit. A substance is released from vitamin B17 after it enters the human body. However, the share of hydrocyanic acid is scanty. A person needs to eat at least 40 g of apricot kernels to feel worse. Determining the saturation of a nut with hydrocyanic acid is easy to taste. A bitter nucleolus indicates a large amount of a harmful substance.

The nucleoli are dangerous for allergy sufferers. Apricot itself is a strong allergen. People suffering from this disease should limit their intake of delicious nuts. It is advisable to stop taking apricot kernels for a pregnant woman, a person with a gastrointestinal disease, liver, and thyroid gland. Apricot kernels are contraindicated for people with a complex form of diabetes mellitus.

Is it possible to get poisoned and how to deal with poisoning

With unreasonable use, you can get poisoned by any product, even the most useful. However, trouble can happen if a person has eaten poorly processed or old kernels from the stones.

The first symptoms of hydrocyanic acid poisoning a person feels inside the body:

• there is a sharp weakness, rapid muscle fatigue;
• breathing worsens, stuffy throat;
• the head is spinning, it hurts, it aches, but spasms do not appear;
• bloating, heaviness, pain, as from severe overeating;
• manifested pronounced flatulence;
• nausea, periodically accompanied by vomiting;
• the patient develops fear, turning into panic.

It is easy to determine the poisoning of a person with apricot seeds by external signs:

• mucous membranes quickly turn red;
• pulse sharply quickens and instantly decreases;
• difficulty breathing becomes intermittent over time;
• convulsions appear throughout the body or in separate areas.

Severe apricot kernel poisoning is easily confused with symptoms of heart failure. If help is not provided in time, breathing will stop.

Hydrocyanic acid poisoning requires only medical intervention. However, before the arrival of a doctor, a person needs to be helped. Actions are taken similar to those for any poisoning:

• gastric lavage with boiled water with manganese;
• taking activated charcoal tablets.

An excellent antidote for hydrocyanic acid is apricot bark. If the bones can be poisoned, then the tree itself will heal. Dry apricot bark in the amount of 100 g is poured into 1 liter of water. The broth is boiled for 30 minutes. After cooling, take as tea about three times for five hours.

The use of apricot kernels

Kernels from apricot kernels resemble nuts and look like almonds. There is even a similar aroma. In addition to traditional medicine and cooking, the bones are used in cosmetology.

Is it possible to eat

Many rural children know the taste of apricot kernels because they eat them instead of nuts. However, many nucleoli cannot be eaten. A harmless volume is considered to be in the range of 20-40 g, but you need to take into account the age category and body weight. A healthy adult with an average weight of 80 kg can consume 35 g of apricot kernels daily for a week, after which a break is needed. People with health problems are limited to taking up to 30 g once a week. Children over 20 g of apricot pits should not be given, and even then not daily.

Medicinal properties of apricot kernels

The main healing property of apricot kernels is the fight against colds, accompanied by complications of the respiratory tract. Nucleoli will help cure a simple cough and advanced bronchitis. Recipes call for pure use of apricot pits and complete with herbs. The nucleoli are added to the decoction of thyme, chamomile, coltsfoot, horsetail.

Gargle with a decoction of sage, chamomile and apricot pits. Coltsfoot, brewed with nucleoli, serves as an excellent expectorant for dry coughs.

In its pure form, apricot kernels are used in the treatment of conjunctivitis or getting rid of convulsions. The solution is prepared from 10 g of chopped nuts and 100 ml of boiling water. After infusion of the solution for 4 hours with convulsions, take 50 ml three times a day. For the treatment of conjunctivitis, cotton swabs are moistened in a solution and applied to the eyes.

Application in folk medicine

There are many recipes in folk medicine using apricot kernels. Consider some of the most popular and harmless for a person who loves to self-medicate:

• From coughing and to speed up the excretion of sputum, eat 1 tbsp. l. crushed apricot kernels per day.
• Daily intake of 10 nuts will help get rid of worms.
• Rubbing for the feet is prepared from 1 bottle of vodka with a volume of 500 ml and 1 tbsp. crushed apricot kernels. The mixture is infused in a warm dark place for three weeks. After rubbing, the legs are wrapped in a blanket.
• Folk healers have even found the use of the shell of the nucleolus. After enhanced frying in a pan, ash is obtained. Before meals, take 1 tbsp. l. to strengthen blood vessels.
• A cocktail helps to improve immunity, restore strength. They take 200 g of nucleoli, pour 0,6 liters of water and beat it all with a blender until milk is obtained.

Folk healers are trying to treat complex diseases of the liver, kidneys, and digestive system with apricot seeds. However, such actions are best coordinated with the doctor.

What are the benefits of apricot kernels for women

Apricot kernels are rich in healthy natural oils that help a woman maintain her beauty. Acids slow down skin aging, maintain the balance of hormones. In general terms, the bones have a beneficial effect on health. Improves the nervous and cardiovascular system, blood composition.

Women most of all demand oil from apricot kernels. It is used in its pure form for body and hair care. The oil is widely used in cosmetology in the manufacture of creams, face masks.

How to take apricot kernels for cancer

Folk healers of many countries agree that apricot kernels have a unique effect of suppressing a malignant tumor. Sick people are offered to eat up to 40 g of nucleoli per day, dividing the dose into three equal parts. Reception is carried out for a month, after which they withstand a 1,5 week break and continue the course again.

Due to the presence of vitamin B17 in the apricot kernels, scientists support the opinion of traditional healers, but there is no official confirmation yet. Amygdalin is used in chemotherapy. Vitamin B17 is produced in the form of a drug called Laetrile. The active substance destroys cancer cells without causing poisoning of the body. It is only necessary not to exceed the recommended dose during administration.

Apricot kernels in cosmetology

In past centuries, only wealthy ladies could use oil from apricot kernels. Now the product is available to every woman. In cosmetology, oil is not always used in pure form. It is added to nourishing shampoos, hand and face creams. Scrubs, cleansing lotions, masks are produced on the basis of oil. A cosmetic product containing an extract from apricot kernels, promotes rapid healing of wounds, smoothes wrinkles, gives the body elasticity, and prevents inflammation of the skin.

Apricot Kernel Oil

The oil is extracted not from the seeds themselves, but from the kernels of the apricot. The technology is called the cold pressing method. There are many recipes for face masks based on apricot oil:

• Cleansing. One part of powdered oatmeal is mixed with two parts of milk. After a five-minute infusion, add half of one part of the oil and fresh honey.
• Moisturizing. Egg yolk is ground with 1 tsp. apricot oil. The mixture is applied to the face and kept for 30 minutes.

When washing your hair, apricot kernel oil is added to the shampoo. Hair acquires shine, silkiness, strength. You can make a mask by adding to 1 tbsp. l. apricot oil a couple of drops of lavender oil. The mixture is rubbed into the head 30 minutes before washing.

Cooking application

Whole apricot kernels are used in baking homemade cakes. If you throw a few kernels into homemade cognac, the drink will acquire an almond flavor. Housewives cook unusual jam. To do this, a stone is taken out of the apricot, peeled, the nucleolus is taken out and pushed back into the fruit.

In production, apricot kernels are usually used as a spice in the form of a ground powder. It is added in the production of ice cream, confectionery, sauces. Cooks use the spice in the preparation of meat and fish dishes, salads, compotes, and sweet desserts.

Shelf life and storage conditions

Kernels can be stored in shelled form and shell. The apricot kernels are dried thoroughly beforehand. A raw walnut will quickly become moldy. The kernels are stored in a tightly closed jar. It is advisable to keep the container away from light. Apricot seeds cannot be stored longer than 1 year, as the nucleoli accumulate harmful substances.

Противопоказания

Doctors talk about the safety of eating apricot kernels, but in reasonable measures. Only individual intolerance to the product can negatively affect. It is necessary to completely refuse to take: pregnant women, diabetics, people with acute diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system.

The video talks about the dangers and benefits of apricot seeds:

Conclusion

Any product of natural origin has benefits and harms. If there is no confidence in the usefulness of apricot seeds, do not try to convince yourself.

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