Pine nuts have long been considered a favorite treat, an effective tool to strengthen immunity, prevent and treat various ailments. Fresh cedar cones fill the house with a pleasant coniferous aroma, and the kernels themselves have a sweet, pleasant taste and delicate texture. If you decide to enjoy these delicious fruits, then it will not hurt you to know about their beneficial properties, contraindications, methods of use.

On which tree do pine cones with nuts grow

Before characterizing pine cones, it is worth explaining which tree they grow on. These fruits have nothing to do with cedar. They grow on a Siberian pine, and these are two different trees. On real cedar nuts in cones do not form, only small seeds. But the Siberian pine pleases once every 4-10 years with an abundant harvest of delicious fruits. Cedar pine grows in the Siberian taiga, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, in the Urals. Most of all in China, where a massive collection of cones is organized. It is also worth recalling the Crimean Atlas cedar.

Siberian pine is a monoecious plant in which male (microstrobils) and female (megastrobiles) embryos appear on the same tree. Pollination occurs with the help of wind in June. Microstrobils form at the bases of young branches. Megastrobils form at the ends of shoots. After pollination, conical green buds 6–10 mm long appear. Pointed lanceolate scales begin to form gradually. In their sinuses, kernel seeds will begin to sprout.

Did you know? One of the favorite dishes that include cedar fruits is pesto sauce. And the Spaniards make them flour for the famous paella.

What does a pine cone look like?

Unripe cones have a purple color and are smaller than the old ones. They have an elongated ovoid shape, larger at the base.

Ripe cones turn brown. They increase in size and are characterized by tightly pressed scales. It will take 15 months to mature. Falling is observed in September next year, but in a closed form. Each cone contains up to 150 nut seeds.

The bumps begin to unfold a little bit gradually. For easy removal of seeds, you can apply light firing on fire. From under the scales, dark brown fruits begin to separate up to 14 mm in length and 10 mm in width. Walnut also has an ovoid shape. The weight of 1000 seeds is about 250 g. About 12 kg of fruit grows on a tree per season. But the fruiting process itself begins at the age of sixty pine. In nature, seeds are carried by woodpeckers, chipmunks, pine nuts.

Useful properties of pine cones

It should be noted that the seeds of Siberian pine are larger (kondovye) and smaller (taiga). Peeled fruits are small yellow-white grains, not exceeding a weight of 0.25 g. For many years, experts have been studying their beneficial qualities for humans.

These substances are rich in this product:

• Absolutely all B vitamins, which are actively involved in hormonal synthesis, metabolic processes.
• Vitamins of groups A, D, C, E, PP, H.
• A variety of sugars, fiber, starch.
• Amino acids (glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, tyrosine).
• Proteins that serve as building material for body tissues.
• Easily digestible fats.
• Chemical elements: sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, cobalt, sodium, phosphorus, molybdenum, nickel, iodine.

The use of cedar seeds requires strict observance of the frequency of use, the quantity of the product, taking into account the usual diet, gender, age of the person.

• Here's how all of these substances can affect the body:
• increase vascular tone, improve heart function;
• make up for the lack of nutrients;
• start the regeneration processes in tissues, stop age-related changes;
• eliminate fatigue, stress, depressive effects;
• improve blood composition, normalize blood formation;
• stimulate mental activity, mental activity;
• improve vision, hearing, concentration;
• establish the condition of the musculoskeletal system.

What diseases does it help

Pine nuts are good for men, women and children.. A strong half of humanity uses them to increase potency. Experts prove that they prevent prostatitis, the development of prostate cancer. A large amount in the cedar kernels of zinc, tocopherol, arginine has a beneficial effect on the entire genitourinary system. Regular use of nuts improves sperm, after which male fertility increases significantly. Sexual intercourse becomes longer and better, and an erection - persistent and complete.

Important! Regular use of cedar grains is recommended, but not more than 100 g per week.

Especially helpful are women of reproductive age. Their substances are able to protect their body during pregnancy and breastfeeding. With their use, expectant mothers are not threatened with metabolic disturbances, hormonal disruptions, dental caries, or nervous disorders. Pine nuts after birth can increase milk production in the chest. They also provide protection against the destruction of nails, hair loss, age-related skin changes. Their regular use normalizes the psychoemotional state of a woman during menstruation.

Cedar kernels are an excellent product for losing weight, because they are 50% protein, so they are easily digestible. They can reduce food intake by 38% and look a lot slimmer in a few months.

This useful product is important for children during puberty and when teeth change.. Just do not exaggerate a dose of more than 20 g per day.

From cedar nuts you can make various decoctions, tinctures, balms. With a stomach ulcer, a mixture of crushed kernels with honey in equal quantities is taken. Such a remedy should not be used much, enough 3 times a day for a tablespoon before eating.

Did you know? Only 3 eaten cedar nuts per day make up the daily requirement for vitamin E.

Pregnant women are advised to grind half a glass of nuts to the state of gruel and pour it with a glass of boiling water. The swollen mass should be eaten three times a day, 3 tablespoons half an hour before meals.

Men are recommended to make alcohol tincture.. For its preparation you will need 100 g of nuts and 2 liters of vodka. Tincture can be used after two weeks of infusion. If you add 2 buds of cloves and 2 tablespoons of sugar to this product, you will get a healing balm. The Japanese are widely used in the diet, who believe that this protects them from disease.

Contraindications

• In order not to harm your health by eating cedar fruits, you must adhere to the following precautions:
• Overeating nuts can lead to malaise in the form of dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting. It is also fraught with exacerbation of diseases of the digestive system, gall bladder, liver, because the choleretic effect increases.
• Excessive consumption of nuclei changes the taste in the mouth. After a few days, a long lasting bitterness may appear.
• Some components of the product may be allergic. It will manifest much later.
• The high calorie content of the kernels contributes to weight gain, so you need to carefully eat a treat.
• Heart disease, thrombosis, varicose veins - the reasons why you should eat nuts in minimal quantities.
• Do not give fruit to children under 3 years.

If you do not adhere to the above recommendations, then a negative reaction may appear in the form of digestive disorders, poisoning.

What to do if cedar cones are moldy

It is best to buy nuts in cones, peeled grains can quickly mold.. But sometimes even in bumps they can become moldy. The use of such cores is strictly prohibited. If the mold is insignificant, then they can be washed with warm water and calcined in the oven with minimal heating for 5-7 minutes so that they do not have time to harden too much. If the kernels do not have an unpleasant odor, then they can be used. It would be better to put such a product for alcohol tincture.

Important! When buying nuts in an inshell market, you can easily check their quality - just throw one fruit on the floor. The appearance of a metallic sound indicates a good quality product.

How to protect cedar cones from woodpeckers

Under the trunks of pine trees you can find hundreds of cones that husk squirrels, crossbills, woodpeckers and other birds. One woodpecker can destroy 28 kg of cedar seeds per year. To scare away birds, physical barriers in the form of nets can be used on branches. You can also protect yourself by hanging stuffed predators: owls, hawks. Sometimes devices in the form of aluminum strips, long foil tapes, visor, plastic vortices help. Woodpeckers are afraid of loud noises: claps, knocks. You can purchase a special acoustic system for repelling birds, creating noise.

The use of husks from pine cones

No less useful than fruits, cedar shell. It contains useful carbohydrates, minerals, fiber. It can be heat treated, after which the husk does not lose its properties. It is rich in tannins, fats, essential oils, cellulose, amino acids, resins. Wood alcohol, skin scrubs, and fabric dyes are made from this raw material.

Did you know? Real cedars are completely different conifers than Siberian pines. They can be found in Asia, Lebanon.

Cedar husk is used in folk medicine. It is an excellent natural antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, wound healing. From it make decoctions and tinctures. They are suitable for the treatment of hemorrhoids, indigestion, intestines, eczema, rheumatism, colds, herpes. Tincture perfectly tones the body and fills with strength. The decoction can be used for skin diseases: acne, redness, irritation, psoriasis. In such cases, it is necessary to make compresses.

The husk of pine nuts is also called tunga. Often use it for landscape design. Her set up soft walkways in the garden. Such designs can last up to 5 years. Also tungu used as mulch around tree trunks and bushes. This method allows you to fight weeds, save moisture in the soil.

Raw cedar kernels can be added to salads, cold vegetables, pizza snacks, desserts and pastries. In order for them to benefit you, observe the storage rules and pay attention to the terms of use.