Immersed in these dates, one of the most characteristic smells when temperatures begin to drop is that of the roasted chestnuts. In the streets you can not miss the typical stalls that sell this freshly made food, put in a cone, and that helps us to warm up. It is the king of autumn, along with .
The chestnut is a tree that belongs to the genus of plants of the family of fagaceaelike oaks and beeches.
It is native to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and there are many varieties, although the best known are:
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european chestnuts
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Chinese
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Japanese
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American people.
The chestnut is the fruit of the chestnut tree. It’s about a food that can be eaten both boiled and roasted or sweet. In fact, in France it is a very common snack, sweet or glazed chestnuts (a coating made with sugar and milk or butter), also called “marrón glacé”.
Chestnuts should not be eaten raw.
The chestnut is a fruit that should not be eaten without cooking. The explanation is very simple: there are certain varieties that contain large amounts of tannins, a compound that accumulates in the bark of plants and trees and has a bitter and dry taste in the mouth.
Of course, they do not pose a risk to our health, but it can be harmful for people with kidney or liver problems. Therefore, the best solution to destroy the tannins of the chestnuts is to cook them. In addition, they will be juicier and with a better texture.
However, if we choose to consume natural chestnuts, we are faced with the dried fruit with the lowest caloric content and, therefore, the least fattening.
It is also a high fiber food (which helps intestinal transit) and in carbohydrates, as well as in phosphorus and potassium.
Chestnut properties
The nutritional composition of the chestnut is basically carbohydrates (44%), water (53%) and 3% fat and protein.
It also stands out for its high vitamin C contentso it is a food that we should include in our diet and more now, to strengthen the immune system against the cold.
For every 100 grams, chestnuts provide us with:
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185 calories
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3 grams of protein
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36 grams of carbohydrates
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2.6 grams of fat (only 0.3 are saturated)
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6.8 grams of fiber
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34 milligrams of calcium
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500 milligrams of potassium
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250 milligrams of phosphorus
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36 milligrams of magnesium
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11 milligrams of sodium
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6 milligrams of vitamin C
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0.9 milligrams of iron
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0.6 milligrams of vitamin B3
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0.5 milligrams of vitamin E
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0.33 milligrams of vitamin B6
Chestnuts, allies against osteoporosis
It is a generalized disorder of the skeleton that causes an alteration in the resistance of the bones. This weakening of the bone predisposes older people to a higher risk of fractures, especially of the hip, spine, and wrists. It is estimated that in Spain, some three million people suffer from this disease.
The most common consequence among patients suffering from osteoporosis are vertebral fractures. But in hip fracture the complication is more serious because it always requires surgery and its mortality in the acute phase is 8%.
Well, given your high calcium contentchestnuts can prevent this ailment associated with age, lack of estrogen or some medications.
Chestnuts, like they also contain magnesiumincrease bone density, which helps prevent the onset of osteoporosis and improve overall bone structure.
But it is not the only recipe against osteoporosis. It is also important to sunbathe to obtain a sufficient amount of vitamin D, which is responsible for facilitating absorption of calcium and phosphorus. And neither should we neglect physical exercise and practice sports on a regular basis to improve bone health.
Keep diabetes at bay
The prevalence of in Spain is 14.8%. This means that it affects 1 in 7 Spanish adults, which makes it the second highest rate in Europe.
But almost a third (30.3%) of people living with diabetes in Spain are not diagnosed. And this poses a great risk to your health, as it can cause life-threatening problems:
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Myocardial infarction.
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Stroke.
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Renal insufficiency.
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Blindness.
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Lower extremity amputation.
One points out that the fiber and fatty acid content of chestnuts help to lower glucose levels in blood.
In addition, its carbohydrates are of a complex nature, which means that the absorption of sugars is slow. Thus, possible hypoglycemia (sugar rises) are avoided while providing energy for hours.
Beneficial for the heart
It is well known that nuts are foods rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, so reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels and blood lipids.
So, the consumption of chestnuts also improves cardiovascular health, as explained by .
Thanks to their nutritional virtues “they help to produce a decrease in body mass index, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure. They also contribute to lower weight and, above all, to a lower prevalence of the four risk factor’s for metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, hypertension, low HDL cholesterol levels, and high fasting glucose.
Hypertension, cholesterol or high blood pressure are risk factors that can be avoided and are associated with a greater probability of suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, myocardial infarction or heart failure.
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