The benefits and harm of hazelnut or hazel
 Hazelnut: description, place of growth and collection time, benefits and harm to health

Hazelnuts are a nutritious and tasty product. with high calorie. Nuts are very useful for the body, thanks to the rich composition of trace elements and vitamins.

One of the most famous types of nuts is wood.

Hazelnut Description

The shrub trunk is quite thin, but can grow up to ten meters in height. The leaves are large, heart-shaped at the edges of the notch.

Small round or oval shaped fruit. The shell is a pale green color, at the time of ripening becomes dark brown and hard. The hazelnut kernel is solid with a sweetish taste.

The properties of the hazelnut (hazel) are unique due to the composition. It contains a large amount of vegetable fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, microelements. From hazelnuts get butter.

Where does a shrub grow when the crop ripens?

Shrub is considered the birthplace of Asia Minor, the Caucasus, the Kuban, Turkey, the Crimea and other regions and countries with a subtropical or temperate climate. The main factor for plant growth is the sun and fertile soil.

There are countries where farmers grow plants, but this happens in small quantities. To collect a quality crop, you need to know the time of ripening and how to collect the nut.

Pollinated plant due to the wind. Each variety and species ripens differently, but in general it occurs from August to September.

 The homeland of the shrub is Asia Minor, the Caucasus, the Kuban, Turkey, the Crimea and other regions and countries with a subtropical or temperate climate.
The homeland of the shrub is Asia Minor, the Caucasus, the Kuban, Turkey, the Crimea and other regions and countries with a subtropical or temperate climate.

In July, the fruits are fully formed. and full of useful substances, but collect them is not recommended. The peel of an unripe fruit is green, therefore, it will not be possible to preserve a long harvest.

In late August, most fruits in the forest ripen, the peel becomes brown. This is the most important sign of hazelnut ripeness. Ripe fruit harvested this month will be well kept.

The beginning of September is a favorable month for harvesting, during this period the main part of the fruit ripens. Collected fruits can be consumed fresh, as they are fully ripe.

The end of September is the time when overripe fruits begin to crumble en masse.that adversely affects the fetus. They begin to rot and be affected by pests. The most important thing in the collection is not to miss the moment.

As soon as the walnut begins to change color from green to light brown, this is the first sign that it is time to start harvesting.

How can you collect hazelnuts in the forest

The process of assembling a ripe crop can be schematically divided into several stages:

  1. Shaking off and picking fruit.
  2. Cleaning and drying.
  3. Storage.

It's hard enough to pick nuts. As the bush grows high, the yield is high and it is very hard to pick every nut with it.

Therefore, lay the ground in front of the bush with a veil and shake the tree thoroughly. All ripe fruits will fall.

 Cover the ground in front of the bush with a veil and shake the tree well, all ripe fruits will fall
Cover the ground in front of the bush with a veil and shake the tree well, all ripe fruits will fall

To gather them together with a peel, to dry. After the sushi process, separate from the rind and dry the kernel for several weeks.

Store the crop preferably in cloth bagsthat lets air through.

If it is right and in time to harvest, the hazelnut will be pleased with high-quality and rich nutritional properties.

How to dry the nut crop after harvesting at home

After harvesting, the question immediately arises - how to dry? It is worth noting that properly dried crop will be stored for a long time.

At home, hazelnuts can be dried in such ways:

  • in the pan;
  • in the oven;
  • in the electric dryer;
  • in the sun.

Consider each method separately.

Drying nuts in a pan. Peel the crop from the shell in a frying pan. For drying, use a better frying pan with a large diameter. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly for no more than 5 minutes.

This method of drying will preserve all the useful substances and help to increase the shelf life.

 At home, hazelnuts can be dried in a frying pan, in an electric dryer and oven
At home, hazelnuts can be dried in a frying pan, in an electric dryer and oven

Only cleaned cores are suitable for electric dryers.. The drying process lasts no more than 5 hours at a temperature of 90 degrees. At the same time, do not forget to swap baking trays for even drying of fruits.

Oven drying - this is probably the most common way that many housewives use. In the oven, dry the nuts without peel.

Heat the oven to 130 degrees, put the nuts on a baking sheet and leave for a few hours.

Only kernels can be dried, but to save useful properties the temperature should be no higher than 90 degrees.

Dry hazelnuts in the sun. This method is suitable only for those regions in which even after harvesting the sun pleases with warmth.

Spread the harvest with a thin layer on paper in a ventilated and sunny place. As soon as the sun hid the harvest, bring it into the house so that the nuts would not get wet at night and the dew would not fall on them.

Drying can last several days.. Once the crop is dry, place it in a ventilated container.

The benefits and beneficial properties of hazel

Hazelnut is a source of large amounts of nutrients.. Mineral salts, vitamins of group B, potassium, cobalt, iron, fatty oils, amino acids can be found in the composition.

The properties of the walnut are equal to squirrels.Therefore, it is necessary to eat it separately, exceptions can be made only for fruits. Due to the content of mineral substances, it is recommended to use hazelnut kernels after physical exertion.

It is recommended to use to persons who suffer from vascular diseases, and lactating mothers will benefit in increasing lactation and in maintaining children's immunity.

It is simply necessary for people with cancer.as it contains paclitaxel.

 The hazelnut is a source of a large number of useful substances, is used in traditional medicine
The hazelnut is a source of a large number of useful substances, is used in traditional medicine

In folk medicine, use a nut in ground form. It is diluted with water and taken inside. Walnut water will help get rid of:

  • fever;
  • flatulence;
  • hemoptysis.

Due to low carbon content, hazelnut recommended for people with diabetes.

Hazelnut is useful not only to use in fresh and dried form, it provides invaluable assistance in the preparation of medicines. It is used not only in traditional and traditional medicine.

The unique properties of the nut contribute to the prevention and recovery with diseases of the upper respiratory tract, vascular diseases, skin diseases, degeneration and much more.

The program “Live healthy!” Will tell about the hazelnut:

Harm and contraindications

Despite the rich beneficial composition of hazelnut, it can also be harmful. It is contraindicated to eat raw Persons with urolithiasis and diseases of the kidneys and liver.

Walnut is quite a complex product, it is difficult to digest the body, so give up eating if you have problems with the gall bladder.

Broths and hazelnut infusions raise the pressure. To stop using these drugs is necessary for people with hypertension.

Before the use of folk preparations based on hazelnut consult a doctor.

Medical contraindications:

  1. Eat nuts a day not more than 50 grams, otherwise nausea, headache, vomiting may occur.
  2. Individual intolerance.
  3. Allergic reactions.
  4. Diathesis in children.
 Hazelnut is harmful in hypertension, urolithiasis, and individual intolerance
Hazelnut is harmful in hypertension, urolithiasis, and individual intolerance

Medicinal properties and application in traditional medicine

For therapeutic purposes, they use not only the walnut kernel, but also the bark and leaves. Bark harvested in the fall, cut, dried and crushed.

Leaves are harvested in spring. and dried. The leaves contain vitamin C and essential oil, which has a vasoconstrictive effect.

In folk medicine, hazelnut is used for urolithiasis, rheumatism, anemia, as a fortifying agent.

It has such properties as antipyretic, stimulating, astringent, tonic, vasodilator action.

A useful tool from the nut is oil. I use it for epilepsy and ascariasis, it helps with hair loss.

Oil is used in cosmetology. in pure form, and in the components of ointments, sprays, skin care and hair care products.

The oil has a beneficial effect on oily skin. It helps to narrow pores, improve the complexion, relieve acne and reduce the production of greasy fat.

Oil shake will help to relieve fatigue. It will take 4 tsp.forest oil, 2 tsp. sesame and 1 tsp. Calendula and Hypericum oils. apply with massage movements.

 In folk medicine, applied nut oil, bark and leaves, fruits
In folk medicine, applied nut oil, bark and leaves, fruits

Bark infusion used for varicose veins, trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis.

Leaves apply for the treatment of intestinal diseases, anemia, rickets, beriberi, with kidney disease.

The fruits of the hazelnut will help to heal the wounds after a burn. Grind the core, add protein. Apply to the problem area.

Green shell decoction hazelnut relieve diarrhea.

Infusion of bark with varicose veins. It will take equal proportions of the hazelnut bark and mountain arnica. Brew at the rate of 3 tbsp. l mixture per liter of water. Insist better in a thermos.

Use filtered infusion before each meal at 0.5 cup. At night, make compresses from infusion.

To improve lactation, nursing mothers should consume no more than 10 nuts per day, while squeezing them with infusion of green tea.

Fighting ascaris. For treatment, use inside of 1 tbsp. l 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Fighting cold and fever the hazelnut bark. Grind the bark. 3 tbsp. lpowder pour liter of boiling water, hold on a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Cool and take 100 ml 4 times a day.

Collect the gifts of nature on time. Dry the nuts correctly and then during the cold weather they replenish your body with useful substances.

Store fruits only in a dry place.. Do not eat rancid fruits, they can cause poisoning and lead to serious diseases.