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At this point in time, there are a huge number of varieties of nuts. One of the most unusual and rare is the American black color, which received this name because of the shade of the roots. The fruits have medicinal properties. Before you start eating, it is recommended that you first study the beneficial properties of black walnut and contraindications in order to avoid possible harm to the body.
Description of black walnut
The appearance and taste of the fruit is similar to that of a walnut. A distinctive feature is the fact that the American walnut has a much higher level of concentration of active substances, as a result of which it is so beneficial.
If we consider the external features of the tree, then it is worth noting the following characteristics:
- the plant is capable of reaching a height of up to 50 m;
- the shade of the trunk is rich brown, with pronounced deep grooves on the bark;
- the trunk is quite strong and powerful, has an attractive appearance, as a result of which American walnut is used in the manufacture of furniture;
- the crown of the tree is spreading, powerful. The characteristic feature is the slope of the branches;
- the root system is powerful enough, goes deep into the ground. A distinctive feature is the deep black color of the roots.
The leaf plates are arranged alternately and grow up to 25 cm. On each plate there are several oval-shaped leaves, up to 10 cm long, at the edges they have a serrated border reaching 3 cm. As a rule, the buds begin to bloom at the end of April.
Flowering occurs after the tree reaches 7-10 years of age. The flowers are staminate, the appearance resembles earrings up to 15 cm long, pistillate flowers are collected in inflorescences of 5 pcs. Ripe fruits have a diameter of 3-5 cm, in shape they can be round, ovoid. The shell is very strong, covered with small furrows. For clarity, you can see a photo of a black walnut.
Where does black walnut grow in Russia?
The plant looks like an ordinary walnut tree. It grows in North America, as a result of which this variety is called American. As a rule, trees are found in deciduous forests, the growing area is quite large.
Today this species is common in European countries. In Russia, trees of this species are practically unknown to the local population; they are not found in nature as often as in the United States.
If necessary, black American walnut can be seen in botanical gardens or in the southern Russian regions, where plants are planted for production purposes, for further sale. Mature trees can be seen in Sochi, with regular fruiting every year.
Chemical composition
The fruits are distinguished by both useful properties and high nutritional value. That is why this product is not recommended for people suffering from excess weight, as well as during weight loss. For every 0.1 kg of product, there are about 618 kcal. For clarity, you can consider the percentage of the components included in the composition:
- proteins - 15%;
- fats - 83%;
- carbohydrates - 2%.
Before you start using a product, you should take into account its beneficial properties and components that are included in the composition. This is due to the fact that, due to the individual characteristics of the body, some components will not be absorbed, and in addition, they can cause significant harm to health.
The composition includes:
- flavonoids;
- sugar;
- tannins;
- enzymes;
- carotene;
- tannin;
- acids;
- phytoncides;
- essential oil;
- glycoside;
- vitamins;
- organic iodine;
- magnesium;
- silicon;
- iron;
- phosphorus;
- manganese;
- potassium.
It is important to take into account that the concentration of all available useful components is at a high level.
Healing properties of black walnut
To date, the fruits have found active use in folk medicine due to their beneficial properties. The effectiveness has been proven after a series of tests. Medicines made on its basis are used to treat systemic, chronic, and oncological diseases.
The American walnut contains many beneficial and medicinal properties. For example, such:
- improves microflora - due to its beneficial properties, the product is able to resist bacteria in the intestine;
- thanks to its antibacterial properties, it can destroy microbes;
- significantly slows down the aging process of the skin, helps cell regeneration;
- increases the immune system, increases the body's resistance to disease;
- has an excellent anti-inflammatory effect, as a result of which the edema subsides rather quickly;
- also has a slight analgesic effect;
- for a long time, black walnut has been used to fight viral diseases (for example, herpes);
- allows you to get rid of fungal diseases;
- According to research, American walnut can be used in the fight against cancer. In addition, the product is used for preventive purposes;
- helps to cleanse the body of toxins;
- it manifests itself especially effectively in the fight against worms, helps to remove them from the intestines as quickly as possible;
- if necessary, black walnut is able to relieve nausea, prevents the gag reflex;
- often used for injuries - this product is able to stop bleeding, forming a film on the surface of the body that acts as a barrier that does not allow infections to penetrate;
- helps to overcome insomnia, has a calming effect on the nervous system, relieves stress;
- thanks to its beneficial properties and vitamins, black walnut improves overall health.
That is why the American nut is so often used in folk medicine, which is facilitated by the useful and medicinal properties of the product.
How to take black walnut
If we consider the beneficial properties and use of black walnut, then it can be noted that not only kernels are used to fight diseases, but also leaves, peel, oil. This product is used in both folk and traditional medicine. The drugs can have a variety of dosage forms and dosages.
The most popular today are:
- black walnut extract, which is based on the peel (taken in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract);
- tablets, capsules - made from natural leaves and additional components (help with colds);
- butter - obtained from nuclei (used for skin diseases);
- ointments - help with skin diseases;
- syrup - obtained in the process of boiling raw materials with the addition of sugar;
- balms - prepared on the basis of black walnut and alcohol;
- candles - found active use in gynecology;
- decoctions - prepared from leaves, fruits and peels.
Application of black walnut leaves
Both kernels and leaves of black walnut have beneficial properties, as a result of which they can also be used for medicinal purposes. To prepare a decoction based on walnut leaves, you will need:
- Take 2 tsp. crushed American walnut leaves (about 5 g).
- Pour in 400 ml of water.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Insist for 1 hour (until the water acquires a dark brown tint).
- Strain the broth.
This broth can be used to rinse the mouth if there are some diseases and infections. If necessary, you can use a decoction for compresses, which are excellent for diathesis. In addition, the resulting product prevents hair loss, eliminates excess oiliness.
Before starting treatment using these folk remedies, it must be borne in mind that despite all the useful properties, the resulting product may have a number of contraindications.
For example, such decoctions are not recommended for people who have an acute stage of gastritis, with cirrhosis of the liver, during pregnancy, during lactation.
It is important to observe the permissible dosages and make sure that they are not exceeded during treatment, otherwise you can cause significant harm to your health. Dizziness, nausea, constipation, and stomach cramps are worth noting as such effects.
Applying black walnut oil
American walnut oil can be purchased from a pharmacy if needed. As you know, oil is obtained from the kernels of nuts, which in the future has the same beneficial properties as the original product. The oil can be used to achieve the following effects:
- as preventive measures to prevent colds;
- to restore the immune system after an illness or with a weakened body;
- the oil obtained from the kernels of the American walnut is excellent for those cases when there is a malfunction of the thyroid gland;
- due to its beneficial properties and rich composition, it allows you to fill the body with the necessary vitamins, helps with vitamin deficiency;
- often used in the presence of inflammatory processes of the genital organs in women;
- provides essential help for kidney and bladder problems;
- actively used for hemorrhoids;
- if you rub problem areas 2-3 times throughout the day with black walnut oil, you can get rid of lichen, abscesses, boils and other skin diseases;
- as a prophylaxis, you can use it to rinse the mouth;
- during colds, walnut oil is used to prepare steam inhalations.
The treatment period with black nut oil should not exceed 31 days. Adults are recommended to use 0.5 tsp, children (from 3 years old) - ¼ tsp. It is recommended to take the oil 1 hour before meals.
Application of the peel
Many people know that the peel of the American walnut has all the beneficial properties that the fruits themselves, as a result of which, for the preparation of broths, you can use not the kernels or the whole fruit, but only the peel.
The peel of the fruit can also be boiled, poured with vodka and infused for several weeks, boiled in honey. To prepare the broth you need:
- Take 1 liter of water.
- Peel from 10 nuts.
- Boil.
- Allow to cool.
Consume 1 tbsp. l. everyday.
Fruit application
Due to the benefits of black walnut, it is used in folk medicine. Often, unripe fruits are taken for the preparation of medicinal broths. Cooking algorithm:
- Unripe fruits of the American walnut are washed under running water.
- Placed in a clean glass container to the very top.If the fruits are too large, then they can be split into several parts, while the green part must also be used to prepare medicinal decoctions.
- The container with the fruits is poured with 50% alcohol so that there is no free space.
The container with the drug should be stored with a tightly closed lid, while the sun's rays should not fall on the future drug. If you follow these recommendations, then the product can be stored for a long time. In order to undergo a course of treatment of 20 days, 250 ml is enough.
Cooking use
Black nuts can be eaten raw, and kernels can also be used as an additive for desserts. Often, chopped kernels are added to vegetable salads and baked goods. Some housewives make jam using syrup and black walnut kernels for this purpose.
The step-by-step cooking algorithm is as follows:
- Take 20 unripe American nuts.
- Peel them off.
- The fruits are soaked for 31 days. It is important to consider that the water needs to be changed every day.
- After 1 month, each black nut is pierced.
- Take 1 kg of slaked lime, cover it with nuts, fill it with cold clean water and leave in this form for 48 hours.
- After 2 days have passed, the nuts are taken out, washed thoroughly under running water. They are folded into a container and poured to the very edges with clean cold water for another 4 days.
- It is important to take into account that water is replaced at least 3 times throughout the day.
- When the nuts are ready, you can fill them with hot water, adding 2 tbsp. l. alum. After that, the fruits are languishing for 40 minutes.
- After 40 minutes, change the water and continue to cook for another 15 minutes.
- Then the black nuts are poured into a colander and the syrup is prepared.
- For the syrup, 4 kg of granulated sugar is required, a small amount of water is added to it and brought to a boil.
- Pour American nuts into the resulting syrup and continue to cook until they acquire a black tint.
If necessary, you can add cinnamon or cloves to the finished jam. Pour into sterilized jars.
Contraindications to black walnut
In addition to the beneficial properties, the American black walnut has a number of contraindications that must be taken into account first of all, before starting to introduce this product into the diet. If you approach this case irresponsibly and do not pay enough attention, then there is a possibility that significant harm will be done to the body.
Among the contraindications, the following should be noted:
- the permissible daily intake of American nuts is a small handful of kernels, otherwise inflammation of the tonsils and vasospasm cannot be avoided;
- black walnut is an allergenic product, as a result of which its kernels should be eaten with the utmost care;
- it is not allowed to eat spoiled kernels, as there is a possibility of getting food poisoning;
- the mold on the nut can provoke the appearance of malignant cancer cells;
- if the product is subjected to a heat treatment process, then many beneficial properties will be lost, while strongly overexposed fruits can cause significant harm to health, in particular, this affects the liver;
- not recommended for people who are on a dietary diet.
In addition, you should not eat this product for people with the following diseases:
- intolerance to the body of certain substances;
- with peptic ulcer;
- if there is cirrhosis of the liver;
- with gastritis;
- during gestation;
- during the lactation period.
It is important to take into account that if it is wrong to eat American nuts, then their properties will negatively affect the body, as a result of which it is worth adhering to all recommendations and correctly introducing a new product into the diet.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties of black walnut and contraindications should be considered before starting to eat this product. Due to the large number of useful and medicinal properties, the cores have found application in folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases, in addition, they are used in cooking and cosmetic purposes. In the process of using kernels, one important rule should be adhered to - everything should be in moderation.
