![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bioptimizers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/bigstock-153513593.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve ever eaten chestnuts before, you may recognize this as a tasty edible nut, but for most people who haven\u2019t, it\u2019s simply a saying they\u2019ve heard about.<\/p>\n
But chestnuts are far more than that. They\u2019re one of the healthiest nuts that you should be enjoying \u2013 not just during the holidays but at other times during the year.<\/p>\n
They give off a slightly sweet taste and pack many crunches, satisfying many of your food cravings.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a closer look at the benefits chestnuts offer and then go over how to roast them and finish by providing you with a few delicious recipes you can use to prepare them.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you should know.<\/p>\n
What Are Chestnuts?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nBefore we address benefits, let\u2019s first consider what these are, to begin with. Chestnuts, which go by the scientific name Castanea, come from trees or shrubs below the oak and beech tree family.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s unique about this nut is that while it is a nut, it\u2019s also considered a fruit. This is because the definition of a fruit is the product of a flowering plant. This holds for the chestnut so that it can be classified as either.<\/p>\n
There are four different types of chestnuts that you can purchase. These include:<\/p>\n
American chestnut<\/strong>
Sweet chestnut<\/strong>
Chinese chestnut (not the same as a water chestnut, which is not a nut at all)<\/strong>
Japanese chestnut<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen looking at the nutritional profile of chestnuts, they are quite different from many other nuts. Most nuts are low in carbs and high in fat, but chestnuts are the opposite.<\/p>\n
This nut is starchy, so it ranks high on the carbohydrate side of things and low in the fat department. They don\u2019t contain much protein, so they are a primary carb-dense food. For those on the paleo diet plan, for instance, this is good news as chestnuts are a permissible food and are another good source of carbohydrates to eat. Many active people following the paleo diet plan struggle to find good carbohydrate sources for their menu, so this is another one they can add to their list.<\/p>\n
If you consume ten chestnuts, you\u2019ll take in about 206 calories, 44.5 grams of carbohydrates, 2.7 grams of protein, 1.8 grams of fat, and 4.3 grams of fiber. On top of that, they\u2019ll also supply you with a good dose of manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, folate, thiamine, potassium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamin K, magnesium, niacin, pantothenic acid, iron, and zinc.<\/p>\n
So now that you know a little more about the chestnut, let\u2019s look at its many benefits.<\/p>\n
Enhanced\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Digestion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bioptimizers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/bigstock-Human-Digestive-System-Realis-226091812.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nEveryone could use a little digestive support now and then. At least, that\u2019s what most of you will be thinking. Digestion problems are all too common, and there can be many reasons behind this. Things like too much psychological stress, too much salt in the diet, few probiotics, and insufficient sleep can all hurt our digestive systems.<\/p>\n
The good news is that water chestnuts may help reverse this trend. They help you improve your digestive processes in two different ways.<\/p>\n
First, they are high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber, often referred to as \u2018Mother Nature\u2019s broom,\u2019 is a way to help clean out your digestive system and ensure that everything works as it should.<\/p>\n
Adding more dietary fiber to your diet plan can help push food through your system, leaving you feeling far better than before. It also helps to relieve constipation and promote more regular bowel movements.<\/p>\n
Eating enough dietary fiber in your regular meal plan is a great way to prevent constipation from occurring in the first place.<\/p>\n
The second way you\u2019ll benefit from including water chestnuts in your day as far as digestion goes is that they can help protect the probiotics already in your digestive tract (1)<\/strong>. So while they may not provide the probiotics themselves, if you are eating probiotic-rich food or taking a probiotic product, then you will ensure that those probiotics you are consuming are well protected and able to do their job as they should.<\/p>\nEssentially, they provide you with extra assurance and support.<\/p>\n
Strong Source Of\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Antioxidants<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nThe next great benefit is that they are also a terrific source of antioxidants. We need to eat more antioxidants in our everyday diet because doing so can help prevent aging.<\/p>\n
When you encounter free radicals from the environment, the foods you eat, or other sources, such as stress, your body suffers oxidative damage. Slowly this damage begins to wear on you, like rust on a car. Unless it\u2019s taken care of, it will eventually cause larger problems.<\/p>\n
Antioxidants protect against this. They neutralize the free radicals, so they cannot harm; thus, the aging process does not occur as quickly.<\/p>\n
Many people think that fruits and vegetables are the primary sources of antioxidants in the diet, and while they are a terrific source, they aren\u2019t the only sources.<\/p>\n
Chestnuts can be an excellent source, too, and help provide the varied nutrition you need to achieve optimal health standing.<\/p>\n
Research published in the Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry journal (2)<\/strong> has noted that chestnuts appear to be especially powerful at helping combat skin cancer in particular, so if you are someone out in the natural daylight quite often, you\u2019ll want to make sure that you have chestnuts in your meal plan.<\/p>\nHeart Health\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Benefits<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bioptimizers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/bigstock-Red-Heart-With-Stethoscope-He-239038891.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nToday, poor heart health is one of the leading causes of death, with this issue striking someone in the US about every 43 seconds, according to the American Heart Association (3)<\/strong>. It only makes sense then that you would want to do everything you can to prevent heart disease from affecting you, and the great news is this is a very controllable condition.<\/p>\nWhile genetics will increase your risk factor to a degree, nutrition and lifestyle choices will have a larger impact.<\/p>\n
The antioxidants found in chestnuts also appear to help protect the heart as they can help reduce the overall levels of inflammation in the body. They also contain potassium, which helps to regulate heartbeat and rhythm, so getting enough of this into your diet will also be very important for optimal health.<\/p>\n
Potassium and sodium intake directly dictate how blood pressure responds in the body, and high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and strokes.<\/p>\n
It may Help Ward Off Osteoporosis And Bone Breaks.<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nAs you get older, you\u2019ll notice yourself becoming more concerned about joint health. While in your 20sn and 30s, you may not have thought much of it as you felt fine and went about your activities with ease, as your 40\u2019s come on and your 50s, you may notice achy joints making an appearance. This can put a serious dent in your ability to partake in the physical activities you enjoy and may even put you at risk of increased bone health issues.<\/p>\n
Many people in their older years grow concerned about bone breaks or stress fractures, so doing everything possible to keep your bones in top shape is a must.<\/p>\n
The focus tends to be on achieving optimal calcium intake daily to boost bone health, but two additional nutrients are also just as critical: vitamin D and magnesium. Both are required for the calcium to be used properly to form the bone matrix, so if you are deficient in either of these, you aren\u2019t doing yourself much good.<\/p>\n
Nearly half of all the magnesium in the human body is stored in the bones, so this should give you a pretty good idea of just how important magnesium is. When vitamin D and magnesium work together, they may help reduce the risk of bone loss, particularly in women going through menopausal years. During this time, they are at an increased risk of bone density decreases thanks to the shifting hormones that are taking place (4)<\/strong>.<\/p>\nChestnuts are one of the best sources of magnesium that you can consume. However, there are other good sources available. These include whole wheat flour, spinach, dark leafy greens, quinoa, almonds, cashews, black beans, and peanuts. Taking in a combination of these along with your chestnuts will help give you the best protection for your bones.<\/p>\n
Cognitive Support<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Sweet chestnut<\/strong>
Chinese chestnut (not the same as a water chestnut, which is not a nut at all)<\/strong>
Japanese chestnut<\/strong><\/p>\n
When looking at the nutritional profile of chestnuts, they are quite different from many other nuts. Most nuts are low in carbs and high in fat, but chestnuts are the opposite.<\/p>\n
This nut is starchy, so it ranks high on the carbohydrate side of things and low in the fat department. They don\u2019t contain much protein, so they are a primary carb-dense food. For those on the paleo diet plan, for instance, this is good news as chestnuts are a permissible food and are another good source of carbohydrates to eat. Many active people following the paleo diet plan struggle to find good carbohydrate sources for their menu, so this is another one they can add to their list.<\/p>\n
If you consume ten chestnuts, you\u2019ll take in about 206 calories, 44.5 grams of carbohydrates, 2.7 grams of protein, 1.8 grams of fat, and 4.3 grams of fiber. On top of that, they\u2019ll also supply you with a good dose of manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, folate, thiamine, potassium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamin K, magnesium, niacin, pantothenic acid, iron, and zinc.<\/p>\n
So now that you know a little more about the chestnut, let\u2019s look at its many benefits.<\/p>\n
Enhanced\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Digestion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\nEveryone could use a little digestive support now and then. At least, that\u2019s what most of you will be thinking. Digestion problems are all too common, and there can be many reasons behind this. Things like too much psychological stress, too much salt in the diet, few probiotics, and insufficient sleep can all hurt our digestive systems.<\/p>\n
The good news is that water chestnuts may help reverse this trend. They help you improve your digestive processes in two different ways.<\/p>\n
First, they are high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber, often referred to as \u2018Mother Nature\u2019s broom,\u2019 is a way to help clean out your digestive system and ensure that everything works as it should.<\/p>\n
Adding more dietary fiber to your diet plan can help push food through your system, leaving you feeling far better than before. It also helps to relieve constipation and promote more regular bowel movements.<\/p>\n
Eating enough dietary fiber in your regular meal plan is a great way to prevent constipation from occurring in the first place.<\/p>\n
The second way you\u2019ll benefit from including water chestnuts in your day as far as digestion goes is that they can help protect the probiotics already in your digestive tract (1)<\/strong>. So while they may not provide the probiotics themselves, if you are eating probiotic-rich food or taking a probiotic product, then you will ensure that those probiotics you are consuming are well protected and able to do their job as they should.<\/p>\nEssentially, they provide you with extra assurance and support.<\/p>\n
Strong Source Of\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Antioxidants<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nThe next great benefit is that they are also a terrific source of antioxidants. We need to eat more antioxidants in our everyday diet because doing so can help prevent aging.<\/p>\n
When you encounter free radicals from the environment, the foods you eat, or other sources, such as stress, your body suffers oxidative damage. Slowly this damage begins to wear on you, like rust on a car. Unless it\u2019s taken care of, it will eventually cause larger problems.<\/p>\n
Antioxidants protect against this. They neutralize the free radicals, so they cannot harm; thus, the aging process does not occur as quickly.<\/p>\n
Many people think that fruits and vegetables are the primary sources of antioxidants in the diet, and while they are a terrific source, they aren\u2019t the only sources.<\/p>\n
Chestnuts can be an excellent source, too, and help provide the varied nutrition you need to achieve optimal health standing.<\/p>\n
Research published in the Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry journal (2)<\/strong> has noted that chestnuts appear to be especially powerful at helping combat skin cancer in particular, so if you are someone out in the natural daylight quite often, you\u2019ll want to make sure that you have chestnuts in your meal plan.<\/p>\nHeart Health\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Benefits<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\nToday, poor heart health is one of the leading causes of death, with this issue striking someone in the US about every 43 seconds, according to the American Heart Association (3)<\/strong>. It only makes sense then that you would want to do everything you can to prevent heart disease from affecting you, and the great news is this is a very controllable condition.<\/p>\nWhile genetics will increase your risk factor to a degree, nutrition and lifestyle choices will have a larger impact.<\/p>\n
The antioxidants found in chestnuts also appear to help protect the heart as they can help reduce the overall levels of inflammation in the body. They also contain potassium, which helps to regulate heartbeat and rhythm, so getting enough of this into your diet will also be very important for optimal health.<\/p>\n
Potassium and sodium intake directly dictate how blood pressure responds in the body, and high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and strokes.<\/p>\n
It may Help Ward Off Osteoporosis And Bone Breaks.<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nAs you get older, you\u2019ll notice yourself becoming more concerned about joint health. While in your 20sn and 30s, you may not have thought much of it as you felt fine and went about your activities with ease, as your 40\u2019s come on and your 50s, you may notice achy joints making an appearance. This can put a serious dent in your ability to partake in the physical activities you enjoy and may even put you at risk of increased bone health issues.<\/p>\n
Many people in their older years grow concerned about bone breaks or stress fractures, so doing everything possible to keep your bones in top shape is a must.<\/p>\n
The focus tends to be on achieving optimal calcium intake daily to boost bone health, but two additional nutrients are also just as critical: vitamin D and magnesium. Both are required for the calcium to be used properly to form the bone matrix, so if you are deficient in either of these, you aren\u2019t doing yourself much good.<\/p>\n
Nearly half of all the magnesium in the human body is stored in the bones, so this should give you a pretty good idea of just how important magnesium is. When vitamin D and magnesium work together, they may help reduce the risk of bone loss, particularly in women going through menopausal years. During this time, they are at an increased risk of bone density decreases thanks to the shifting hormones that are taking place (4)<\/strong>.<\/p>\nChestnuts are one of the best sources of magnesium that you can consume. However, there are other good sources available. These include whole wheat flour, spinach, dark leafy greens, quinoa, almonds, cashews, black beans, and peanuts. Taking in a combination of these along with your chestnuts will help give you the best protection for your bones.<\/p>\n
Cognitive Support<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nEveryone could use a little digestive support now and then. At least, that\u2019s what most of you will be thinking. Digestion problems are all too common, and there can be many reasons behind this. Things like too much psychological stress, too much salt in the diet, few probiotics, and insufficient sleep can all hurt our digestive systems.<\/p>\n
The good news is that water chestnuts may help reverse this trend. They help you improve your digestive processes in two different ways.<\/p>\n
First, they are high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber, often referred to as \u2018Mother Nature\u2019s broom,\u2019 is a way to help clean out your digestive system and ensure that everything works as it should.<\/p>\n
Adding more dietary fiber to your diet plan can help push food through your system, leaving you feeling far better than before. It also helps to relieve constipation and promote more regular bowel movements.<\/p>\n
Eating enough dietary fiber in your regular meal plan is a great way to prevent constipation from occurring in the first place.<\/p>\n
The second way you\u2019ll benefit from including water chestnuts in your day as far as digestion goes is that they can help protect the probiotics already in your digestive tract (1)<\/strong>. So while they may not provide the probiotics themselves, if you are eating probiotic-rich food or taking a probiotic product, then you will ensure that those probiotics you are consuming are well protected and able to do their job as they should.<\/p>\n Essentially, they provide you with extra assurance and support.<\/p>\n The next great benefit is that they are also a terrific source of antioxidants. We need to eat more antioxidants in our everyday diet because doing so can help prevent aging.<\/p>\n When you encounter free radicals from the environment, the foods you eat, or other sources, such as stress, your body suffers oxidative damage. Slowly this damage begins to wear on you, like rust on a car. Unless it\u2019s taken care of, it will eventually cause larger problems.<\/p>\n Antioxidants protect against this. They neutralize the free radicals, so they cannot harm; thus, the aging process does not occur as quickly.<\/p>\n Many people think that fruits and vegetables are the primary sources of antioxidants in the diet, and while they are a terrific source, they aren\u2019t the only sources.<\/p>\n Chestnuts can be an excellent source, too, and help provide the varied nutrition you need to achieve optimal health standing.<\/p>\n Research published in the Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry journal (2)<\/strong> has noted that chestnuts appear to be especially powerful at helping combat skin cancer in particular, so if you are someone out in the natural daylight quite often, you\u2019ll want to make sure that you have chestnuts in your meal plan.<\/p>\n Today, poor heart health is one of the leading causes of death, with this issue striking someone in the US about every 43 seconds, according to the American Heart Association (3)<\/strong>. It only makes sense then that you would want to do everything you can to prevent heart disease from affecting you, and the great news is this is a very controllable condition.<\/p>\n While genetics will increase your risk factor to a degree, nutrition and lifestyle choices will have a larger impact.<\/p>\n The antioxidants found in chestnuts also appear to help protect the heart as they can help reduce the overall levels of inflammation in the body. They also contain potassium, which helps to regulate heartbeat and rhythm, so getting enough of this into your diet will also be very important for optimal health.<\/p>\n Potassium and sodium intake directly dictate how blood pressure responds in the body, and high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and strokes.<\/p>\n As you get older, you\u2019ll notice yourself becoming more concerned about joint health. While in your 20sn and 30s, you may not have thought much of it as you felt fine and went about your activities with ease, as your 40\u2019s come on and your 50s, you may notice achy joints making an appearance. This can put a serious dent in your ability to partake in the physical activities you enjoy and may even put you at risk of increased bone health issues.<\/p>\n Many people in their older years grow concerned about bone breaks or stress fractures, so doing everything possible to keep your bones in top shape is a must.<\/p>\n The focus tends to be on achieving optimal calcium intake daily to boost bone health, but two additional nutrients are also just as critical: vitamin D and magnesium. Both are required for the calcium to be used properly to form the bone matrix, so if you are deficient in either of these, you aren\u2019t doing yourself much good.<\/p>\n Nearly half of all the magnesium in the human body is stored in the bones, so this should give you a pretty good idea of just how important magnesium is. When vitamin D and magnesium work together, they may help reduce the risk of bone loss, particularly in women going through menopausal years. During this time, they are at an increased risk of bone density decreases thanks to the shifting hormones that are taking place (4)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Chestnuts are one of the best sources of magnesium that you can consume. However, there are other good sources available. These include whole wheat flour, spinach, dark leafy greens, quinoa, almonds, cashews, black beans, and peanuts. Taking in a combination of these along with your chestnuts will help give you the best protection for your bones.<\/p>\nStrong Source Of\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Antioxidants<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Heart Health\u00a0<\/b><\/span>Benefits<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nIt may Help Ward Off Osteoporosis And Bone Breaks.<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Cognitive Support<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n