What are chestnuts and the health benefits of chestnuts?

Chestnuts are a popular food that is very popular because of their fleshy, fatty, slightly sweet taste, and these nuts also have a lot of great values for your health. So today, let’s answer the question of what chestnuts are and the effects of chestnuts on health!

Origin, characteristics and types of chestnuts

Origin of chestnut

Chestnut is a nut of the chestnut tree, this is a woody, long-lived plant native to countries in Europe, peninsular Asia (now the territory of country Turkey). Today, chestnuts are widely used around the world, so people grow chestnuts in many places in Asia and especially in Europe.

Features of chestnuts

In science, chestnuts are known as Castanea Mollissima, in addition, chestnuts are also known as Son Hac Peach. This is a species of tree in the family Fagaceae.

Chestnuts are covered by a thorny outer shell. Around August – October each year, the fruit containing chestnuts will be in the ripening season, when the fruit will turn dark brown and fall to the ground by itself. Each chestnut usually contains 1-2 seeds, some fruits contain up to 4 chestnuts inside.

The cold and heat tolerance of chestnut trees is very good. The chestnut tree has a lot of economic value because not only does it bring a steady yield of chestnuts that last for 60 years, the tree is also planted for wood purposes thanks to the quality of the chestnut tree wood is very good, quite strong. sturdy and durable.

The chestnut tree belongs to the chestnut family

Common types of chestnuts in Vietnam

Here are some popular types of chestnuts in Vietnam market synthesized and provided by Tnhelearning.edu.vn.

Sapa chestnuts : This type of chestnut has a very fleshy, fatty and slightly sweet taste. Sapa chestnuts have an irregular shape but uniform angular edges. The seed coat is glossy, dark brown in color, the top of which may be covered with a whitish undercoat. The seed size is about 4 times larger than that of the forest chestnut. In addition, when you separate the seeds, you will see a thin, lime-yellow skin that covers the entire chestnut.

Sapa chestnuts

Thai chestnuts : This is a type of chestnut with a very delicious taste, affordable price, so it is very popular and available in many street stalls today. The seeds have a hard brown skin, only one large seed, the shape of the seed is round and proportionate from all angles, looks quite recognizable.

Thai chestnuts

Japanese chestnut : The taste of Japanese chestnut is delicious and very attractive. The types of Japanese chestnuts commonly found on the market are pre-processed and packaged in packages. Seeds have a slightly distorted and irregular spherical shape, the seed coat is thick, earthy brown, the inside of the seed is bright yellow. The taste is also delicious and attractive. Mostly, Japanese chestnuts are processed and packaged in packages.

Japanese chestnuts

Forest chestnut : The kernel of forest chestnut is lemon yellow, when eaten, you will immediately feel the sweet, fleshy, aromatic and greasy taste of the nut. The seed coat is thin, slightly glossy, dark brown in color and very easy to peel, and if you look closely, you will see a light white fluff. The chestnut fruit is surrounded by many very sharp spines. The appearance of forest chestnut is quite similar to that of rambutan.

Forest chestnuts

Trung chestnut : The aroma of Trung chestnut is not too different or more prominent than that of Sapa chestnuts. Chestnuts are quite large and round, the shell is a bit thin and glossy brown, at first glance, Trung chestnuts are quite similar to Cao Bang chestnuts and Sapa chestnuts.

Chinese chestnuts

Horse chestnut : This chestnut tree has a very high nutritional value and use value because almost all parts of the tree can be extracted from seeds, flowers and bark. All of them can be used as herbs to effectively treat hemorrhoids and vascular diseases. Horse chestnuts are not covered in spines like the above chestnuts, but are covered with small, sharp spines.

Horse chestnut

Health benefits of chestnuts

Chestnuts have many uses for human health because they contain many different nutrients such as fat, protein, vitamins B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and a number of other minerals. Here are some benefits of chestnuts that you should know.

Has strong anti-inflammatory properties

Extracted from aescin in horse chestnut has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the inflammation of diseases such as chronic venous insufficiency, wounds after trauma or surgery will be greatly improved.

According to the results of 17 studies, horse chestnut extract aescin not only reduces swelling and inflammation in the legs and feet, but when applied topically containing this compound, the swelling is reduced. , inflammation after trauma from surgery or sports activities are very effective.

Chestnuts contain effective anti-inflammatory agents

Gives energy to the body

The vitamin C content in chestnuts is far superior to that of other nuts. In addition, the rich amount of starch makes chestnuts a grain that provides abundant energy for the body. That’s why chestnuts appear in the daily menu of people who exercise a lot such as bodybuilders, athletes, …

Gives energy to the body

Anti-Oxidant Ability

The content of antioxidants in chestnuts is very high, so chestnuts can prevent damage to body cells by free radicals, thereby hindering the worsening of inflammation.

In fact, chestnuts are rich in flavonoid compounds including kaempferol and quercetin, especially in horse chestnut. These are substances with strong antioxidant properties.

Besides, the antioxidant capacity of aescin in chestnuts has been demonstrated in the laboratory.

Chestnuts have anti-oxidant properties

Cancer Prevention

Chestnuts have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, in addition to aescin, so regular use of chestnuts can prevent cancer.

In fact, in many studies, it has been found that aescin compound present in chestnuts can significantly reduce the growth in tumor cells, especially cancer cells in the liver. myeloma and leukocytes . Not only that, aescin also has the ability to kill cells of lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. At this point, you may have been surprised by the use of this delicious seed, right?

The anti-cancer effect of chestnuts

Reduce symptoms of varicose veins

The aescin compound in chestnuts, especially in horse chestnut, has a positive effect when it comes to reducing the signs of varicose veins significantly. Therefore, this is considered as a short-term and effective treatment for the symptoms of varicose veins.

From 5 clinical studies, aescin can increase blood flow in the veins. In addition, from 19 studies, including 9 studies, analyzed results: the use of 50mg of aescin in each 600mg of horse chestnut extract regularly helps to relieve symptoms of depression veins such as swollen, painful and itchy legs.

Reduce symptoms of varicose veins

Helps relieve symptoms of hemorrhoids

This is an unproven effect, but chestnut extract still has a clear and effective effect to reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Because in the past, there has been a lot of evidence that from patients suffering from hemorrhoids have used the anti-inflammatory properties of horse chestnut extract according to doctors and there have been many positive changes in healing results. They both noticed a reduction in the inflammation and swelling of the veins associated with hemorrhoids.

Helps relieve symptoms of hemorrhoids

Cure male infertility

Due to its effectiveness in reducing swelling of the veins, the compound aescin, an extract found in horse chestnut, can improve male infertility by reducing swelling of the veins around the testicle area. .

A nearly two-month study involving 100 men who suffered from infertility due to varicocele produced surprising results. That is, sperm density, motility and quality were much improved after taking 30mg of aescin with a frequency of 12 hours each time. Besides, the inflammation of the veins is also significantly reduced.

Cure male infertility

Notes when using chestnuts

Bad for the digestive system

Chestnuts contain almost no fiber and are high in sugar and starch. For that reason, if you consume too much of these foods, you can experience constipation, indigestion, bloating, and even heat in your body.

In addition, people with sensitive digestive systems such as children and the elderly who eat a lot of chestnuts may experience some symptoms such as abdominal pain, choking, indigestion and damage to the spleen.

People with stomach problems, when eating a lot of chestnuts, can make the stomach secrete more acid, which can easily cause stomach bleeding.

In addition, postpartum women, people with malaria, colds, dysentery may be constipated if they eat chestnuts incorrectly.

Eating chestnuts indiscriminately makes the digestive system at a disadvantage

High ability to gain weight

As mentioned above, chestnuts provide a relatively high energy source for the body. It is said that with the energy in 5 chestnuts will be equivalent to 1 cup of rice. Therefore, if you use too much chestnuts, it may cause the body to gain weight continuously if not carefully controlled.

Uncontrolled eating chestnuts can cause weight gain

Not good for liver

Aflatoxin is produced from moldy chestnuts. Therefore, you can be poisoned, even accumulate harmful substances leading to liver cancer if you eat such chestnuts by mistake. Therefore, you need to store them carefully to avoid being ‘counterproductive’ when using chestnuts. In addition, people with liver or kidney diseases should not avoid eating horse chestnut to avoid the risk of making the condition worse.

Aflatoxin toxins produced from chestnuts infected with mold can cause poisoning

Contains anticoagulants

Horse chestnut contains several substances that slow blood clotting and even increase the effect of blood thinners. Therefore, you should consider using chestnuts, especially horse chestnuts if you are having blood-related health problems such as blood thinning, hemophilia, etc.

Horse chestnut contains several substances that slow blood clotting

May work with some medications

You should consider and consult your doctor carefully if you want to eat chestnuts during treatment. Because some substances in chestnuts, if they interact with drugs, will cause undesirable results.

For example, if you eat horse chestnut while taking diabetes medication, it may affect the absorption of sugar in the body because horse chestnut can lower blood sugar.

Or chestnuts may reduce the effectiveness of nonsteroidal inflammatory diseases such as NSAIDs. In addition, chestnuts can also slow down the rate at which lithium is processed in the body, affecting the treatment of antipsychotics.

Some substances in chestnuts will work with drugs

Dishes from chestnuts

Thanks to the delicious, fatty and sweet taste, dishes containing chestnuts are very popular. So if you know how to use and process it, you won’t be able to resist the chestnut dishes suggested by Tnhelearning.edu.vn below!

Chestnut braised meat and chestnut chicken

If you are a fan of braised dishes, especially braised pork or chicken, try adding a few chestnuts to stock and add more flavor! The meat after being braised will be very tough, soft, combined with the fatty and aromatic taste of chestnuts, and also increase the nutritional value. This dish is sure to please your whole family.

Chicken with chestnuts

Chestnut milk tea

Chestnut milk tea is a great new suggestion for a snack for the whole family. The inherent sweet and fatty taste of milk tea mixed with the richness and nutty flavor of chestnuts will definitely make a cup of homemade milk tea more special than ever.

Chestnut milk tea

Roasted chestnuts

Instead of roasting chestnuts in the traditional way, try to innovate a bit by roasting chestnuts with butter or honey to enhance the sweet and fatty flavor. At this time, the fatty taste of butter and the sweetness of honey combine with the fatness of chestnuts. All will create a delicious feeling from the first moment of enjoyment.

Roasted chestnuts

So Tnhelearning.edu.vn has provided all information related to chestnuts. Hopefully, through the above article, you were able to grasp how to use this seed effectively! Learn about cashews, nutritional values, and uses of cashews!

Source: Vinmec

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