Are Chestnuts really good for you?
When you walk down the busy streets of New York City or Chicago in the winter, you will often see or smell the street vendors selling roasted Chestnuts from carts or stands. Most of the time you see this around the holidays and roasted chestnuts have become known as a Christmas tradition in many places. Those warm, aromatic Chestnuts roasting away are sure to get your attention. But have you ever wondered if they where good for you or not?
Well fear not, they are good for you. To start with, Chestnuts are low in fat and high in starch. This make them a little different from most other nuts. They are also full of many vitamins including Vitamin B, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium, Iron, and Phosphorus. Chestnuts contain only 4.1 gm. of fat, 2.9 gm. of protein, and just 377 calories per 100 grams.
This alone makes them a healthy snack but when you consider that chestnuts are heart healthy do to the low fat and cholesterol as well as having been used for many medical uses, you look at them a little different. Whooping cough was once treated with the leaves from the chestnut tree, connective tissue and blood vessels both see benefits from them such as aiding in repair and of the connective tissues and restoring elasticity to veins. Chestnuts have even been found to help keep your teeth healthy.
Store your unpeeled chestnut in a cool, dry spot for use later. They can sit for a week out of the refrigerator and up to a month in the fridge. They can also be frozen and will last up to six months in that state. Chestnut are typically eaten boiled or roasted and are most often sold in the winter months. Cut the skin with a sharp knife, boil it, peel it and enjoy.
So next time you see someone selling roasted Chestnuts on the street, allow yourself a healthy, sweet snack. They really are good for you. |
