All known plant chestnut has two varieties: edible (noble chestnut) and inedible (horse chestnut). The first is used in cooking, the second - in folk medicine. Despite the wide spread of the plant, many do not know what a chestnut nut is useful and what contra-indications it has.
What is useful and harmful is the chestnut nut?
Edible chestnuts, like other nuts, are very nutritious and contain a large number of vitamins and trace elements. But also they have a lot of carbohydrates and starch, which brings them closer to the potatoes. Caloric content of this plant is not so small - 180 kcal per 100 grams. Therefore, although there is a special chestnut diet, to lose weight a walnut chestnut should be used very carefully. But for the vegetarian menu, it is indispensable as a source of fat and protein.
Horse chestnut has many healing properties. Extract from it is used to treat diseases such as thrombosis, hemorrhoids, varicose veins. Infusions wash the nasopharynx with angina and sinus, compresses with broth of chestnut are used to treat burns and poorly healing wounds, rheumatism.
In addition to benefits and harm from chestnut nuts, too, can be. When eating inedible fruits, they can be poisoned. And sweet chestnuts in large quantities can cause bloating and constipation . These nuts are contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers, people suffering from kidney failure, diabetics.
How to eat chestnut nuts?
Edible fruits can be boiled, baked in the oven, grilled. It is not difficult to cook them. For example, to cook, chestnuts with an incised skin are lowered into boiling water for 20 minutes. For baking, it takes a little longer - about half an hour. Many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to eat chestnut nuts raw. They are edible and fresh, although not everyone likes the taste of such fruits.