Chestnuts: benefits and harms to the body

Legends can be made about the benefits of chestnuts. The magic nut has a beneficial effect on many organs in the human body. If you take into account the contraindications when using it and follow the dosage allowed by the doctors, this product is able to create a real miracle with the body. However, it is important to remember that everything is good in moderation, and excessive consumption of chestnuts can harm the body.

Today KP will reveal the secret component of chestnut and how it can help in the fight against COVID-19.

The history of the appearance of chestnuts in nutrition

The homeland of the sweet fruit is the southern part of the planet. Through pollen research, scientists have discovered that in Europe, the chestnut was already present during the last ice age in parts of present-day Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, as well as as far east as the Caucasus. As a food, the sweet chestnut began to be cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, from there it spread to different countries. (one)

Today, the nut is popular as a snack in autumn Paris and sunny Sukhumi. From there they are delivered to our country. Horse chestnut is common in Our Country: its fruits are much larger than those of sweet chestnut, and are not considered edible, but are widely used in medicine. That nut, which is not only healthy, but also tasty, is found in our Caucasus. It is widely distributed in southern countries, and in Europe in general plays an important role in the nutrition of many regions. By the way, there the chestnut is often called a fruit, not a nut. (one)

The composition and calorie content of chestnuts

The most important aspect of sweet chestnut nutritional value is its high content of vitamin C, minerals, complex carbohydrate molecules (such as starch), as well as the presence of protein and lipids. (2)

Vitamins per 100 g (mg)

Key minerals (mg)

Energy value in 100 g

The benefits of chestnuts

– Chestnut is a great source of energy. All due to the high content of carbohydrates, – says nutritionist Olesya Pronina, is a great snack to boost energy during the work day or before an intense workout. The fruit also contains vegetable protein, and this is a good addition to the diet of vegetarians.

In light of recent pandemic disasters, our lung tissue and blood vessels are vulnerable: these structures are the first to be damaged during a coronavirus infection. Therefore, in the protocols of treatment and prevention, we can often find such flavonoids (plant substances that activate the work of enzymes in the body) such as quercetin, dihydroquercetin, isoquercetin, which have a beneficial effect on the state of the capillary vascular wall, reduce blood viscosity, prevent thrombosis, restore lung tissue. It is these substances that are so rich not only in chestnut fruits, but also in leaves and bark.

Benefits for men

When prostatitis occurs in men, the outflow of urine is disturbed, as a result of which blood stasis is formed. Since the substances contained in the chestnut stimulate blood flow and vascular permeability, its use helps to activate blood circulation in the genital area.

Benefits for women

Olesya Pronina notes: “Chestnuts are a useful addition to maintaining women’s health – they reduce congestion in the pelvis, have a vasoconstrictive effect, remove excess fluid and help with physiological female bleeding. They are used for hemorrhoids, to reduce swelling of the vessels of the rectum, normalize blood pressure, reduce the progression of varicose veins. However, chestnut is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

Benefits for children

Nutritionist Olesya Pronina warns that chestnuts should not be given to children under 5 years old until the digestive system is sufficiently formed to digest them. For older children, the nut will help strengthen the immune system, but still you should not abuse it. 

Harm chestnuts

– If you are prone to allergic reactions, then be careful with this delicacy. Allergy to chestnut manifests itself as a cross-reaction to pollen and more often develops on raw fruits, warns nutritionist Olesya Pronina. – Nuts are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, problems with blood clotting, those who suffer from carbohydrate metabolism disorders, especially people with low blood pressure. Caution should be taken when using chestnuts for people who have gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, constipation), as well as liver and kidney diseases. The components that the fetus contains can provoke an exacerbation of the disease.

The use of chestnuts in medicine

In addition to chestnut acorns, leaves and rhizomes of the tree itself are actively used in medicine. The product is equally in demand both in the production of medicines and in non-traditional treatment. In folk medicine, products of both horse and edible chestnuts are considered equally effective. (3)

ethnoscience

• The crushed leaves of the tree are used externally to treat fresh wounds. And inside they use an infusion of leaves of both species as an expectorant.
• The flowers of the plant in the form of a decoction or infusion treat hemorrhoids and varicose veins of the lower leg. Infusions of horse chestnut flowers are used as a sedative, it also lowers blood pressure.
• A decoction of the bark of the plant is used for uterine bleeding. 
• Chestnut acorns, when taken with sugar, strengthen the stomach and cure bladder weakness. (3)

evidence-based medicine

All horse chestnut products contain esculin glycoside and escin saponin, which are valuable pharmaceutical raw materials. Esculin lowers blood viscosity and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. And escin has antitumor properties and stops the process of metastasis formation. Preparations from chestnut flowers have a sedative effect on the body and help the outflow of bile. 

Chestnut-based preparations manufactured by pharmaceutical companies are used internally and externally for prevention and treatment. 

increased blood clotting, varicose veins, trophic ulcers and much more. (3)

The use of chestnuts in cooking

Chestnut cream puree

Since chestnuts are considered a fruit in Italy, most of the dishes made from it are desserts. A popular recipe for mashed chestnuts served with crispy bread. The cream is applied on toast and consumed as a snack with tea.

Rinse the chestnuts well, place directly with the peel in a pot of water and cook for 15-20 minutes. Then they need to cool and remove the shell with a sharp knife. Then grind the nuts with a blender until the consistency of the powder. 

Remove the seeds from the vanilla pod, put both of them in a large saucepan, pour sugar into it, pour everything with water and put on fire. The next 10 minutes you need to stir the brew with a whisk until the sugar is melted. After that, the vanilla pod is removed from the syrup and the ground chestnuts are poured out. Everything must be mixed thoroughly. 

You need to cut the zest from the lemon and chop it. The resulting shavings are added to the cream, which should be boiled for another hour over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon. When the mixture turns into a puree, the dessert is ready. It is cooled and sorted into jars. The tighter the packaging is, the longer the cream will be stored (up to a month). 

Chestnut roast

The appetizer resembles a vegetable stew in preparation, but has a unique taste due to nuts. The dish is interesting because it can be supplemented with various vegetables and seasonings according to the mood of the chef.

Chestnuts should be washed and boiled for 15 minutes in water. After that, they should be peeled and cut into pieces. Next, the nuts are fried in olive oil, chopped cherry tomatoes, garlic and ginger are added to them. Seasonings are sprinkled into the mixture, after which everything is stewed over low heat for 10-15 minutes. The dish is served hot. If desired, you can supplement this stew with pepper, carrots and other vegetables. 

How to choose and store chestnuts

Olesya gives three simple tips on how to choose a product when buying: “Add chestnuts in the most season – from September to November. Choose firm fruits with a rounded shape without damage to the shell. When pressed, the fetus and its shell should not be deformed. 

It is recommended to store chestnuts, both raw and roasted, for no more than four days. If you need more time to consume the product, you can freeze it for four to five months.

Popular questions and answers

Nutritionist, endocrinologist and preventive medicine doctor Olesya Pronina answers the most frequently asked questions about chestnuts. 

Sources of

1. Rob Jarman, Andy K. Moirb, Julia Webb, Frank M. Chambers, Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Britain: its dendrochronological potential // Arboricultural Journal, 39 (2). pp. 100-124. URL: https://doi:10.1080/03071375.2017.1339478
2. Altino Choupina. Nutritional and health potential of European chestnut // Revista de Ciências Agrárias, 2019, 42(3) URL: https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.17701
3. Karomatov Inomjon Juraevich, Makhmudova Anora Fazliddinovna. Horse chestnut, edible chestnut // Biology and Integrative Medicine. 2016. No. 5 URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kashtan-konskiy-kashtan-sedobnyy/viewer