Italian Pine nuts

Pine nuts 

Pine nuts are the edible seeds produced from some types of pine, first of all the one commonly known by the scientific name Pinus pinea.

Pine nuts have excellent properties and are composed of 2.6% water, 66% fat, 3.6% sugar, 14% protein, 1.6% starch, 2.6% ash and 3.8% dietary fiber.

Minerals: iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, copper, manganese, selenium, zinc and sodium.

Vitamins: vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, J and K. They contain beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Sugars are divided into sucrose, dextrose and fructose.

Amino acids: aspartic and glutamic acid, alanine, arginine, lysine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine, serine, proline, leucine, glycine, phenylalanine and cystine.

In addition are:

Invigorating: to date they are little used but in reality they represent a real food supplement to be used especially when the energy level of our body goes down. Their consumption brings benefits to those who undergo nerve-wracking hours of study or great physical stress due to sports activities. Precisely because of the high caloric and fat content, pine nuts should be consumed in moderation, especially by those who are overweight.

They bring benefits to the eyes: they contain lutein, an antioxidant compound capable of filtering UVA rays, protecting the retina and preventing macular degeneration, the typical disease of old age that affects the eyes. Beta-carotene and vitamin A also have protective properties against the eyes and eyesight.

They increase fertility: They have always been considered a highly aphrodisiac food and at the same time able to increase fertility. It seems that consumed together with dried grapes or sugar, pine nuts increase their aphrodisiac properties.

They fight free radicals: the good content of vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin gives these seeds antioxidant properties with consequent beneficial effects on health. These compounds in fact work as scavengers against free radicals thus preventing certain types of cancer and degenerative diseases.

They reduce cholesterol: they are especially rich in monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid whose activity helps reduce the levels of bad LDL cholesterol in the blood and increase the amount of good HDL cholesterol.

They do not contain gluten: pine nuts, being gluten-free, are suitable for celiac nutrition.

Ideal against herpes simplex: it has been shown that a diet rich in lysine, an amino acid present in pine nuts, has useful properties against the onset of herpes. The presence of this amino acid is in fact able to inhibit the growth and proliferation of outbreaks of this virus. Arginine is instead an amino acid with opposite effects as it promotes the proliferation of herpes simplex. In case of herpes problems it is not recommended to consume foods rich in this amino acid such as peanuts.

They help in weight loss: they are a good source of a fatty acid called pinolenic acid. Scientific research has shown that this compound is an appetite suppressant so its presence becomes useful for individuals who wish to lose weight.