Cedar is a noble tree whose life span is several hundred years. After two or three decades, the tree is able to give cones with nuts. The very name "cedar" entered the Russian language from Latin, as the ancient Romans called it. For many hundreds of years, our ancestors have been familiar with the unique properties of pine nuts. The evergreen coniferous giants are an object of respect and veneration among the inhabitants of Siberia. The beneficial properties of nuts have also been known for a long time. The kernel of pine nut, shell, oil was successfully used in folk medicine.
Features and composition
Like any product with a huge range of useful and unique substances, pine nuts are prepared for ripening thoroughly and leisurely. Almost a year and a half is required for full readiness.
From each cone you can peel up to 150 nuts. One tree can result in 15-20 kg. The kernel of pine nuts serves as a storehouse of all the necessary substances for humans.
Two-thirds of the mass is high-quality oil, more than 17% of the core composition are easily digestible proteins. Pine nuts are processed by the body faster than an egg, and serve as a rich source of protein for people who have switched completely to plant foods. Proteins contain two dozen amino acids, two thirds of which are indispensable for the body. Moreover, among them, such amino acids as methionine, tryptophan and lysine are considered the rarest.
Amber nucleoli are rich in microelements. Only 100 g of peeled nuts are able to provide a person with a complete set of such elements of the periodic table as copper, zinc, cobalt, potassium, manganese. Also contains sodium, titanium, silver.
Vitamins are represented by complex B and E, indispensable for the nervous system and breast milk.
Beneficial features
As mentioned above, the pine nut kernel contains unique amino acids, many of which are indispensable for humans and are not available in other products. Arginine occupies a special place. It is necessary for the full and proper development of the child, and therefore is mandatory for pregnant women and children.
People living away from the sea experience a constant iodine deficiency. This leads to serious diseases, the formation of goiter. A lack of iodine will help to replenish the set of iodine compounds contained in the nucleolus. Siberians, actively snapping cedar nuts, avoid this scourge.
B vitamins are necessary for the body for the nervous system, for blood. Even young predators in Siberian forests eat pine nuts during the change of teeth, instinctively feeling the need for them. Vitamin E is indispensable for nursing mothers. There are more tocopherols than in any of the other types of nuts. In their absence, milk formation is disturbed.
The usual fish oil, sold in pharmacies, is necessary for people, because it contains vitamin D. Fatty amino acids - lanolin and linoleic - are not produced by the body on their own, and everyone should receive them together with foods rich in these acids. The most amazing thing is that the concentration of these fatty acids in the nucleolus of the nut is three times higher than in the vitamin complex of fish oil.
This product should not be completely cleaned. The film of the pine nut kernel contains many sugars, fiber, tannins and amino acids.
Almost like an elixir of immortality
Cedar oil is one of the most expensive and elite. It is perfect for cooking (dressing for salads, cereals, soups). The oil is high-calorie; in energy efficiency it surpasses fats from dairy products and lard. Moreover, it is almost instantly absorbed by the body and surpasses chicken eggs in this regard.
Still, the nutritional properties of cedar oil are in the background. First of all, it is unique in its therapeutic properties. It is able to replace almond and sea buckthorn oils. Pine nut kernel oil:
- Reduces fatigue - both mental and physical.
- It softens various allergic reactions.
- It has a strengthening effect on the body.
Studies by doctors have proven that cedar oil is highly effective in the treatment of diseases of the stomach and duodenum, colds, psoriasis and other skin problems. This unique complex of biologically active substances and essential oils can become indispensable in the diet of people working under adverse conditions, in difficult climatic zones. Vitamins and minerals contained in cedar oil will help with problems with brittle hair and nails.
How to get amber liquid
There are different ways to get oil. The most barbaric way is extraction. Gasoline or a similar chemically active substance takes the oil from the feedstock and then the complete evaporation of its volatile vapors is expected. The resulting oil, of course, is not the most useful. Therefore, you should not buy such products from unfamiliar and casual suppliers. Instead of the expected therapeutic effect, you can seriously harm your health.
The most effective way is cold pressing. The resulting product retains all biologically active substances. It is also considered the most expensive method by which the pine nut kernel is processed. The price of the final product obtained by cold pressing can reach $ 500 per liter.
Get to the point
From time immemorial, cones peeled and snapped nuts with their teeth. Our ancestors loved pine nuts. Obtaining a kernel from cones with the development of technology today can become an additional source of income.
Entrepreneurial people can successfully exert their strength and capabilities in this matter.
Processing pine nuts into a kernel is a rather time-consuming process. To get to the finished product, you need to go through several stages. First, cones are processed in a special peeling machine. This is a very important stage, because when peeling, the integrity of the nut may be violated, and instead of beautiful nucleoli, an incomprehensible mess will be obtained. The resulting raw materials are passed through vibrating trays, where all the garbage is removed.
Then, the fractions are calibrated through the sieve system - the nucleoli are separated by size.
The price of the finished peeled product can range from 2500 to 3000 rubles per kilogram.
Chop a tough house nut
There are simple ways of processing at home. One of the most ingenious is the use of temperature differences. Having heated the nuts, they are lowered into ice-cold liquid, and the shell opens.
Preserve beauty without chemistry
Cedar nut oil is successfully used in cosmetology. Women will appreciate elastic skin, smooth and luxuriant hair with enthusiasm.
Problems with acne in adolescents can also be solved by this specific natural elixir. Oil is used for additives in shampoos, tonics.
Where to be careful
You always need to know the measure. The best medicine in large quantities can be poison. Pine nuts are no exception. First of all, you should avoid buying peeled nucleoli. Lying for a long time without shell, they can lose their healing properties from contact with air. The flesh acquires a rancid taste.
Due to the rich content of trace elements, it is necessary to observe the measure in use. An excess amount to the body is also useless. Enough 100 g per day, the rest will be a heavy load for the body.
Overweight people should not abuse a valuable product, since the kernel of pine nuts contains a lot of fat. This is still high-calorie food.
Nature has given our country enormous wealth in the form of arrays of taiga. The mighty and noble cedars and the fruits that they give are their main decoration.