What can you do with acorns? The unique properties of the acorn: both medicine and food. Harm and contraindications

Detailed composition of oak fruits. Beneficial properties and harm of acorns. Features of the use of the product in cooking.

An acorn (lat. glans) is the fruit of plants that belong to the Beech family - chestnut, beech, oak. However, according to a long-established tradition, the fruits of the latter are most often called this way. They have an unusual shape - a small smooth nucleolus, which is enclosed in a cap (plush), reaches from 10 to 40 mm in length. The fruits usually ripen in the fall. The collection begins in September and continues until the end of October. Acorns are a storehouse of useful substances, so they are used not only as animal feed, but also for cosmetic purposes, and also as a food product. In addition, their healing properties are also highly valued.

Composition and calorie content of acorns

The energy value of acorns is impressive, and the composition is quite diverse. The fruits contain protein substances containing glutamic acid, healthy fatty oil (up to 5%), sugars, glycoside quercetin, starch (up to 40%), various vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

The calorie content of raw acorns is 387 kcal per 100 g, of which:

• Proteins - 15 g;
• Fats - 86 g;
• Carbohydrates - 75 g;
• Water - 9 g;
• Ash - 35 g.

Vitamins per 100 g:

• Vitamin A, RE - 2 mcg;
• Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.112 mg;
• Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.118 mg;
• Vitamin B5, pantothenic acid - 0.715 mg;
• Vitamin B6, pyridoxine - 0.528 mg;
• Vitamin B9, folate - 87 mcg;
• Vitamin RR, NE - 1.827 mg.

Macroelements per 100 g:

• Potassium, K - 539 mg;
• Calcium, Ca - 41 mg;
• Magnesium, Mg - 62 mg;
• Phosphorus, P - 79 mg.

Microelements per 100 g:

• Iron, Fe - 0.79 mg;
• Manganese, Mn - 1.337 mg;
• Copper, Cu - 621 μg;
• Zinc, Zn - 0.51 mg.

Essential amino acids per 100 g:

• Arginine - 0.473 g;
• Valine - 0.345 g;
• Histidine - 0.17 g;
• Isoleucine - 0.285 g;
• Leucine - 0.489 g;
• Lysine - 0.384 g;
• Methionine - 0.103 g;
• Threonine - 0.236 g;
• Tryptophan - 0.074 g;
• Phenylalanine - 0.269 g.

Essential amino acids per 100 g:

• Alanine - 0.35 g;
• Aspartic acid - 0.635 g;
• Glycine - 0.285 g;
• Glutamic acid - 0.986 g;
• Proline - 0.246 g;
• Serine - 0.261 g;
• Tyrosine - 0.187 g;
• Cysteine ​​- 0.109 g.

Fatty acids per 100 g:

• Omega-6 - 4.596 g;
• Palmitic - 2.85 g;
• Stearic - 0.252 g;
• Oleic (omega-9) - 15.109 g;
• Linoleic - 4.596 g.

Dried acorns are characterized by a higher energy value and a greater number of constituent elements compared to raw ones.

The calorie content of dried acorns is 509 kcal per 100 g of edible part, of which:

• Proteins - 8.1 g;
• Fats - 31.41 g;
• Carbohydrates - 53.66 g;
• Water - 5.06 g;
• Ash - 1.78 g.

Vitamins per 100 g:

• Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.149 mg;
• Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.154 mg;
• Vitamin B5, pantothenic acid - 0.94 mg;
• Vitamin B6, pyridoxine - 0.695 mg;
• Vitamin B9, folate - 115 mcg;
• Vitamin RR, NE - 2.406 mg.

Macroelements per 100 g:

• Potassium, K - 709 mg;
• Calcium, Ca - 54 mg;
• Magnesium, Mg - 82 mg;
• Phosphorus, P - 103 mg.

Microelements per 100 g:

• Iron, Fe - 1.04 mg;
• Manganese, Mn - 1.363 mg;
• Copper, Cu - 818 μg;
• Zinc, Zn - 0.67 mg.

Acorns have a beneficial effect on the human body due to the presence of numerous vitamins:

1. Vitamin A. Promotes rapid healing of wounds, protection against colds, and slows down the aging process. Known for its antioxidant properties, which can be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
2. VitaminIN 1. Participates in various metabolic processes. Has antioxidant properties.
3. Vitamin B2. Very important for mucous membranes. It is also called the vitamin of beauty and longevity. Promotes hair and nail growth. Takes part in metabolic processes and is useful for enhancing visual acuity. Promotes rapid adaptation of the eyes in the dark, reduces eye fatigue and prevents the occurrence of cataracts.
4. Vitamin B6. Takes part in the synthesis of protein and hemoglobin, helps reduce cholesterol and lipids in the blood. In addition, it prevents the aging process. It has a diuretic effect and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.
5. Vitamin B9. It is necessary for each of us, since it takes part in hematopoiesis. In addition, it promotes the absorption of other vitamins, affects bone marrow function and helps maintain immunity.
6. Vitamin PP. Helps normalize redox processes in the body, regulates the activity of the nervous system, and has a positive effect on digestive processes. This element protects the heart and blood vessels, helps normalize cholesterol levels, and remove toxins from the body. Regulates hormonal levels (promotes the formation of a number of thyroid hormones), stimulates the formation of serotonin - the hormone of joy.

Acorns are also rich in starch, highly digestible carbons and tannins. Thanks to the latter, they have a slightly bitter and astringent taste. But this is not a problem, you can easily get rid of it by soaking or heating, after which you can start preparing baked goods, side dishes and even coffee.

Acorns contain quercetin, a flavonol that has beneficial effects on the human body, confirmed by clinical studies. It has the following properties: anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antiallergic. In addition, it has proven itself in the treatment and prevention of joint diseases.

Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that can resist free radicals that destroy healthy cells and lead to the death of malignant tumors in the liver and intestines (confirmed by clinical studies in the USA). The qualities of a cardiotonic are manifested in the restoration of damaged and inflamed areas of the arteries.

Quercetin lowers blood pressure and reduces the damage from so-called “bad” cholesterol. In addition, studies have confirmed that quercetin reduces blood glucose levels and protects against encephalomyocarditis and meningococcal infection.

Interesting! Scientists believe that bread was originally made not from cereals, but from oak fruits.

Useful properties of acorns

Once upon a time, the use of acorns for food was considered the lot of the poor in society in order to avoid starvation. And all because these fruits are food for wild and domestic animals. However, acorns have high nutritional and beneficial properties, thanks to which they are similar to natural coffee, cocoa beans and even olives.

Acorns have a number of medicinal properties. Among them are antihistamine, bactericidal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and even antitumor.

The components of oak fruits have a positive effect on the nervous system - it helps to increase stress resistance. They can be used in the treatment of respiratory diseases - bronchitis, tracheitis and even asthma. With their help, the heart and blood vessels are treated. The healing power and benefits of acorns for diseases of the genitourinary system and stomach disorders are known. Their juice is used to treat gums and relieve toothache.

Most often, an infusion of the fruit - acorn coffee - is used as a medicine. It will be useful for people suffering from digestive diseases, as well as during poisoning of various etiologies. Traditional healers recommend taking this drink for 10-14 days, before eating 2 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.

Note! If you add milk to acorn coffee and sweeten it a little, you will get an excellent cough remedy. And for people suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease, this drink can replace real coffee.

Acorns are also useful in the treatment of diabetes; they are used to normalize sugar levels. In this case, you need to grate the fruits on a fine grater and take them for 1 week, 2 times a day, 1 teaspoon, with water. This is followed by a week of rest, at the same time you need to donate blood. After 3 courses, blood sugar is normalized.

Unripe fruits are also very useful. The juice is squeezed from green, peeled acorns and is used in the treatment of nervous disorders, anemia, inflammatory processes of the reproductive system and bladder.

Important! Even acorn caps are used in alternative medicine. An infusion of them is recommended to be taken in the treatment of pancreatitis.

Contraindications and harm of acorns

Quercetin, which is part of acorns, is very toxic to the human body. Therefore, eating fruits raw is unsafe for health. To eliminate the harmful effects of this compound, the acorns must first be filled with water and allowed to stand for 12-24 hours, periodically changing the water. Only after this can the fruits be subjected to heat treatment.

To avoid harm from acorns, it is not recommended to use them for people with stomach problems, as they are digested slowly.

In addition, a strict contraindication to the consumption of oak fruits is individual intolerance to the product.

How are acorns eaten?

Most people do not perceive oak fruits as a food product and are in no hurry to introduce them into their diet. This is due to the strong aroma, widespread stereotypes that it is the food of squirrels and other rodents or the poor. However, many cuisines around the world have used acorns for centuries.

They are especially revered among some North American peoples and in Korea. Jelly and noodles made from starch made from acorns are popular in Korean cuisine. In Portugal, dishes made from oak fruits are served as colorful ecological food.

Only ripe acorns that have fallen from the tree are used for food, but it is important that they do not have wormholes, holes or other damage. Also suitable are fruits that can be removed from the branch by lightly pressing. The cap connecting the acorn to the stem must be present. Sprouted fruits should not be used.

In addition, it is worth remembering that raw acorns spoil very quickly, so it is not recommended to prepare too much raw material.

The most delicious fruits are swamp, Oregon white oak, blue oak and Emory, as they have the least quercetin. Red and black oak acorns are bitter in taste, so they take longer to cook.

The raw fruits have a bitter taste and are toxic due to the presence of quercetin. Therefore, before eating acorns, they are soaked in water. After removing tannins and heat treatment, they acquire a sweetish and mild taste.

Acorns are eaten either dried or fried, or coated in sugar. You can make candy from them by grinding them into fine crumbs, porridge and any baked goods - bread, cakes, pastries. In addition, this powder is considered an excellent thickener for liquid products and an ingredient for making coffee, both on its own and in combination with chicory, dandelion, and barley grains.

Acorn recipes

To prepare dishes from acorns, it is best to use oak fruits collected in late September - the first half of October, dark brown in color. And they should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated place.

Recipes for delicious dishes with acorns:

1. Acorn porridge. To prepare, you will need pre-dried oak fruits, which must be crushed into crumbs, as well as water, milk, melted butter and salt. Bring milk and water in a 2:1 ratio to a boil, add salt and add cereal (1 cup per 2.5 liters of liquid), stir well. When the cereal swells, add butter to taste and place in the oven for 40 minutes. The dish is served hot.
2. Acorn bread. We start cooking traditionally by preparing the dough. To do this, dilute 1 packet (10-11 g) of dry yeast in 500 g of boiled water or milk, add a pinch of salt and a little sugar, mix thoroughly and add a little wheat flour. Then the prepared dough should be covered with a linen towel and placed in a warm place. After 20-30 minutes, knead the dough. Add 100 g of wheat flour, 800 g of acorn flour, and 50 g of melted butter to the dough. Mix well. Next, divide the dough into small portions, form the bread, and let it rise a little. Bake in the oven at 180-200° C for 30-40 minutes. Acorn bread is very useful for cleansing the body of toxic substances.
3. Buttered acorn cakes. Ingredients: acorn flour (30 g), hard cheese (20 g), sour cream (30 g), a little sugar and sunflower oil. Warm up the sour cream. Add acorn flour. Stirring, bring the mixture to a boil. Next we cool. Grate the hard cheese and add to the already cooled mixture. Next, prepare the flatbreads in heated vegetable oil and sprinkle with sugar. Bon appetit!
4. . You will need acorn cereal (30 g), milk or water (250 g), butter, sugar, cinnamon. Bring milk or water to a boil. Add acorn cereal. Cook over low heat, stirring thoroughly, for 10-15 minutes. You can add a piece of butter, sugar and cinnamon to taste.
5. Acorn flour dumplings. Prepare the following ingredients: acorn flour (400 g), water or milk (100 g), a pinch of salt, 1 egg, sour cream or cream (100 g). From the above ingredients, knead a not very stiff dough, roll it out to 0.5 cm, cut into diamonds. Next, cook in salted water for 5-7 minutes. Dumplings are served hot with fried onions.
6. Acorn pudding. You will need the following ingredients: acorn grits (40 g), apples (30 g), milk (60 g), hard cheese (20 g), sugar or honey to taste, cinnamon, jam, butter. Add acorn grits to boiling water. Cook until half cooked. Let the excess liquid drain, add milk, grated cheese, chopped apples, melted butter, mix well and bake in the oven at 170°C for 20-30 minutes. Serve with jam. Bon appetit!

For cooking acorn coffee It is necessary to first bake the oak fruits in the oven until they form a slightly pinkish color. Next, cool, peel and grind. Pour boiling water over 1 teaspoon, let the drink brew for 5-7 minutes, then strain.

Acorn coffee can also be made jelly. For this we also need cornstarch and sugar. The prepared coffee from acorns (about 200 g) must be brought to a boil, add 3 tablespoons of starch and bring to a boil again. After removing from heat, pour into cups and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Do not forget that quercetin, a tannin found in acorns and responsible for their bitter taste and toxicity in their raw form, is destroyed when heated. Therefore, heat treatment of fruits is mandatory.

The California Indians were called “acorn people” because they ate cakes made from these fruits almost all year round. They prepared flour from pre-soaked, boiled and dried acorns, which were harvested in early autumn.

Wheat bread, one of the ingredients of which was mashed acorns, was prepared in Ancient Rome for the elderly; it was believed that it contributed to the continuation of life.

They were also used to make amulets. People who wore such amulets easily achieved their goals, attracted good luck, and lived happily ever after. Such amulets were hung on windows as protection against evil forces.

The most expensive Jamon Ibérico de Beyota is made from the ham of pigs fed on an acorn diet.

Hunters in North America used acorn oil to attract animals and also to mask their own odors.

From 1 kg of fruit you can get 300 g of oil, which has characteristics similar to olive oil.

Interesting! Only 1 acorn out of 10,000 grows into a full-fledged tree.

How to eat acorns - watch the video:

Hello, friends. For the benefit of your health, we have already published an article . The benefits of oak bark were also mentioned in the article .

Today I will tell you some useful tips for using acorns in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and in everyday nutrition.

Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Acorns contain a lot of tannins and other useful natural substances, which have a very beneficial effect on the elimination of ulcerative formations in the stomach and intestines, as well as on getting rid of the putrefactive intestinal microflora that occurs in carrion eaters (“lovers” of meat from innocently killed animals, birds and fish ).

The folk recipe for eliminating ulcerative formations in the stomach, intestines and getting rid of putrefactive intestinal microflora is as follows:

1. Collect high-quality (not wormy) acorns (wormy ones float in water) and germinate them in cotton fabric, abundantly moistened with water.
2. When the acorns sprout, peel them, cut them into pieces and lightly fry them in a frying pan with vegetable oil.
3. On an empty stomach, before roasting sprouted acorns, eat a little salad of raw herbs and vegetables that you are familiar with. After this, you eat your fill of roasted sprouted acorns until you feel full.

This should be done in the morning, and if you like, then 3 times a day for as many days as it takes to heal the ulcers and eliminate putrefactive intestinal microflora. If you have stopped eating corpses, then acorns will eliminate your ulcerative and putrefactive problems of the gastrointestinal tract quite quickly (minimum in 1-2 weeks, maximum in a month). Be healthy and no longer turn your gastrointestinal tract into a cattle burial ground.

Using acorns in everyday nutrition.

Acorn flour(an old recipe).

Golden autumn, our favorite time, we will prepare flour from acorns. You can collect acorns from the beginning of their fall from the oak trees until the beginning of October. True, in October it is already difficult to do this, because... the acorns begin to sprout, and the rains press them into the ground.

The first stage is to clean them:

Some break them with a rolling pin, others with a nut cracker. My method is exclusive. Take a cast iron frying pan, lay out some of the acorns so that they are all in contact with the bottom, put it on maximum heat and, shaking frequently, fry until they crack (no more than a minute). They will release juice and sizzle.
The shells may burn, but do not let the acorns burn.

After this, with a slight movement of the hand, we remove the acorns from the shell. Remember, they are easy to remove while they are warm; as soon as the acorn cools to room temperature, it becomes difficult to remove it.

The second stage is to sort and grind:

The second part of the process is best done during cleaning. Only slightly brown, almost milky-colored acorns suit us. Cut each acorn into 4 parts.

The third stage is bringing to readiness:

Pour the resulting acorns with cold water and soak for two days. Every day you need to change the water 3 times.
After two days, add new water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, drain the water and let drain.
From the experience of past years, it is known that at this stage it is better to immediately pass them through a meat grinder (since it will be easier to grind them in a coffee grinder later). Place on a baking sheet and dry in the oven at 40 degrees until completely dry. Dried acorns can be stored as is or ground into flour. It is better to grind before use. It is best to store this in paper bags, but you can also store it in clean glass jars.

Acorn milk soup.

Pour acorn cereal into boiling water in a thin stream, stirring all the time, cook until the cereal is ready, then add homemade milk, sugar, salt and bring the soup to a boil.
When serving, add a piece of homemade butter to the bowl of soup.
Ingredients: acorn cereal - 30 gr., milk - 250 gr., butter, sugar, salt, turmeric, cinnamon - to taste.

Sweet flatbreads made from acorn flour.

Heat homemade sour cream, add acorn flour, boil lightly, remove from heat and cool. Add grated cheese and sugar to the resulting mass, mix well, cut the flatbreads and brown in a frying pan.

Product consumption: acorn flour - 30 gr., cheese - 20 gr., sour cream - 30 gr., sugar - to taste, vegetable oil.

Acorn dumplings.

Homemade cream or sour cream, salt, water are added to the acorn flour and a loose dough is kneaded, which is rolled out 1/2 cm thick and cut into squares.

Dumplings are boiled in salted water. Onions are fried in vegetable oil and mixed with boiled, strained dumplings. Serve hot.

Product consumption: for 2 cups of acorn flour - 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 onions, vegetable oil, homemade cream or sour cream - depending on thickness.

Coffee made from acorns.

Ripe acorns are peeled, each cut into 3-4 pieces and dried in the oven. Then they are fried, making sure that they do not burn, but turn into a brittle mass that can easily be turned into a brown powder in a coffee grinder. Brew and drink like regular coffee, with milk or sugar, but it is better to use honey instead of sugar.

Acorn coffee is especially useful for children suffering from scrofula and rickets (coffee made from acorns strengthens the abdominal organs and eliminates hardening of the mesenteric glands). Children are given twice a day: morning and afternoon.

Acorn coffee jelly.

Stir acorn coffee with sugar, dissolve in a small amount of hot water, then add water (180 g) and strain. Pour potato starch diluted in cold water (20 g) into boiling coffee made from acorns, pour into a glass and sprinkle with powdered sugar or granulated sugar to prevent the formation of a film. It is better to use honey instead of sugar, and carob instead of powdered sugar.

Product consumption: acorn coffee - 7 grams, potato starch - 10 grams, sugar - 15 grams, water - 200 grams, carob and honey - to taste.

Acorn porridge.

Pour homemade milk and water into a deep saucepan, add salt, homemade butter or ghee, heat to a boil, add cereal and stir. After the cereal swells, cook the porridge over low heat, stirring until it becomes thick. Then cover the dish with a lid and cook at low simmer on the stove or in the oven.

Serve hot, topped with homemade butter or ghee.
Product consumption: acorn cereal - 150 g, homemade milk - 200 g, water - 100 g, homemade butter or ghee - 10 g, salt, spices - to taste

Acorn dumplings.

Cook porridge from acorn cereal as described above, cool to approximately 70 degrees, add thick homemade sour cream or cream to it in 3-4 additions, stirring thoroughly after each added portion.

Scoop the porridge prepared in this way for dumplings with a tablespoon, then run this spoon over the edge of the dish so as to cut off excess porridge. As a result, the spoon is filled with porridge even with the edges.

With the second spoon, having previously dipped it in water, take half of the porridge from the first spoon and lower it into a bowl with hot salted water (10 grams of salt per 1 liter of water). Then scoop up the spoon again, etc.

Immediately boil the resulting dumplings at a very low boil in the same water in which they were immersed when cutting. Serve grated cheese in a separate bowl with the boiled dumplings.

Product consumption is the same as indicated above, but thick homemade sour cream or cream is added to it.

Acorn pudding with apples.

Place acorn grits in boiling, lightly salted water and, stirring with a wooden paddle, cook until half cooked. Then, put the cereal on a sieve, transfer it to a saucepan, pour in homemade milk and cook until tender.

Add cheese, finely chopped apples, cinnamon, homemade butter to cooked acorn grits, mix well and bake in the oven.

When serving, pour the pudding with jam, which it is advisable to preheat.

Product consumption: acorn grits - 40 g., homemade butter - 5 g., apples - 30 g., cheese - according to the required pudding thickness and taste, sugar (preferably honey) and cinnamon - to taste, homemade milk - 60 g. ., jam - 30 gr.

Enjoy your meal and good health!

Surely you have jokingly, or maybe seriously, asked this question at least once in your life. Acorns are the fruits of the oak tree, and oak trees grow in almost any city park, not to mention the fact that there are entire oak groves outside the city. A lot of animals feed on acorns; apparently, they find something valuable in them. Can people eat acorns?

The issue of eating acorns is actually not as funny as it might seem. Emergency survival experts value acorns for their nutritional benefits, and some peoples (such as the Native Americans) have consumed acorns for centuries.

It is better not to eat acorns raw

There is no need to eat acorns raw, as squirrels do. In this form, acorns will be more harmful than useful, because they contain a large amount of tannins, hence the astringent and bitter taste. In order for an acorn to be eaten, it must first be cooked, and then its nutritional value will not be inferior to other nuts. Please note that even animals soak acorns in water before eating them.

Harvesting acorns

If you decide to cook acorns, choose the best ones first. They should be ripe, just fallen from the tree, and under no circumstances green. There should be no cracks or wormholes in the acorns.

Acorns must be cleaned and freed from tannic acid. To do this, you can soak them and drain the water several times. The Indians did something like this: they put peeled acorns in a bag, and lowered the bag into the river stream. To speed up the release of toxic substances, acorns can be boiled and washed several times. After this preparation, acorns can be fried in the same way as other nuts.

Raw acorns are stored very well and for a long time; they can be left directly in the shell for the winter in a cellar or pantry.

What can be cooked from acorns

Ready acorns can be eaten dried or fried. You can make sweets out of them by rolling them in sugar. Ground roasted acorns can be used to make a drink similar to coffee. Ground acorns can also be used to make bread and cookies. Acorns can be ground into butter, which resembles peanut butter.

Nutritional value of acorns

If we talk about the composition of acorns, they are not as rich in fats as other nuts, but they have more complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

It's no secret that oak belongs to the beech family, which includes evergreen as well as deciduous shrubs and trees. It is very interesting that to pollinate an oak tree, scales of two sexes are needed at once. Acorns appear and ripen from small green grains with red tips that hang from thin branches.

Each type of oak has different fruits and the shape of the roller (pluses). In some species, acorns are round and small, in others they are nut-shaped, and in others they are elongated. The smooth and unusual shape of an acorn very often causes debate as to whether it is a nut. However, there is no longer any doubt - this is a nut.

Can acorns be eaten?

Today, many people underestimate and sometimes reduce the beneficial properties of acorns. When the time comes to collect acorns, the era of culinary experts begins. In North America, flour, coffee, and porridge are made from the fruits of the tree, as well as sweets and the most delicious dishes. In Korea, acorns are consumed fried with the addition of spices, and they are also used to make jelly (tothorimuk).

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Composition of acorns

100 grams of oak fruit contains:

• Proteins: 8.1 g
• Fat: 31.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 53.7 g
• Vitamins: PP, A, β-carotene, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9
• Macro and microelements: Mg, Ca, K, P, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu
• Calories: 509 kcal

These forest gifts are rich in tannins, sugars, tannins and especially starch. In addition, acorns contain an active antioxidant - the flavonol quercetin. This substance perfectly relieves spasms, swelling and inflammation, has diuretic properties, and also prevents premature aging of cells.

The benefits and medicinal properties of acorns

1. Oak fruits have bactericidal, antitumor, and enveloping properties.
2. Acorns perfectly relieve cramps during menstrual periods and stop heavy bleeding.
3. Acorn infusion cleanses and strengthens the stomach. To prepare it, you will need one teaspoon of chopped acorns, which must be poured with a glass of boiling water. Leave to cool completely and drink half a glass 3 times a day. The infusion is taken for one month, after which a pause is made for a month.
4. Acorns help with acute poisoning.
5. Useful for thrombosis and varicose veins.
6. You can use acorn shells to dye your hair.
7. Coffee made from acorns is perfect for people suffering from asthma, heart disease, cough and bronchitis.
8. To treat pancreatitis, you can use an infusion of acorn pluses. To prepare it, you will need one tablespoon of caps, which must be poured with a glass of boiling water. We leave them for about three hours and then strain them. The infusion must be taken daily, gradually increasing the dose from 1 teaspoon to 70 ml.
9. Oak fruits are an excellent alternative to traditional medicine in the treatment of lung and chest ulcers, as well as hemoptysis.
10. Acorns have proven themselves in the treatment of toothache and gums.
11. The fruits are useful for various poisonings, as well as acute and chronic colitis.

Collecting acorns

As we have already found out, these forest gifts are very nutritious and healthy. But in order to eat them, you must adhere to several rules for collection and processing.

The period for collecting acorns is the end of September - beginning of October. By this time, the fruits acquire a dark brown color. Basically, acorns that fell earlier are damaged by pests (acorn weevil). Therefore, fruits collected at the specified time have the best qualities.

Acorns are collected mainly from the ground, but you can also pick them from branches, but in this case the fruits should be easily separated from the cap. It is very important that the nuts are firm, without black spots and not sprouted. After three or four days, you will be able to return to the same place and reap a nutritious harvest.

Processing and harvesting of acorns

If you taste a raw acorn, you will feel a bitter, astringent taste. Don't worry, the bitterness can be removed very easily by soaking and heating. It is not advisable to eat acorns without processing, since polyphenols (tannins, etc.) negatively affect digestion. To do this, you need to wash the acorns, peel them, chop them into 4-6 parts and add water. Soaking the fruits lasts from two to four days, and the water needs to be changed three times a day.

After the acorns have settled, it is necessary to drain and add fresh water (1:2). Then put the enamel pan on gas and bring to a boil. Then you need to grind the acorns; a meat grinder is ideal for this. After grinding, place the resulting minced meat on a baking sheet with parchment paper and put it in the oven. In the end, you should get a fragile crumb from which you can cook porridge, but if you grind it to flour, you can prepare a variety of baked goods.

If you want to make surrogate coffee from acorns, then there is absolutely no need to soak the fruits. They are simply placed on a baking sheet, baked, peeled, crushed and fried. This drink has an extraordinary forest aroma and nutty taste. You can drink coffee with cream and spices.

It is best to store coffee and flour in glass jars or multi-layer paper bags. Do not prepare too much, as the raw materials spoil quite quickly.

Oak has long been considered a sacred tree due to its longevity, large size and fruits - acorns. They are a useful natural product containing carbohydrates and proteins, vitamins, tannins, macro- and microelements, due to which they are used to prepare remedies for various diseases.

Oak acorns are used in folk medicine. They destroy pathogenic microflora, normalize blood sugar concentrations, and have a beneficial effect on the heart muscle and vascular system. They help restore the functioning of the digestive tract after acute pathologies and chronic diseases.

The acorn has an unusual, but pleasant and pronounced taste, due to which it is used in cooking. It is suitable for preparing various dishes, baked goods and drinks that are not only tasty, but also healthy. In addition, oak fruits are widely used for making various crafts from natural materials.

In cooking

Acorn flour is most often used for cooking. Method of its preparation:

1. Pour the collected fruits into a hot frying pan. Fry, stirring constantly, over high heat for 1 minute. The shell should not be allowed to burn.
2. While the nuts are warm, they need to be shelled. Cut the kernels into 4 parts. Use only those that have a soft milky or light brown color.
3. Pour water at room temperature and soak for 2 days. Change the fluid 3 times every day.
4. After 2 days, add clean water, bring to a boil, and drain.
5. Pass the kernels through a meat grinder, place on a baking sheet and bake at +40°C in the oven until completely dry.
6. Grind in a coffee grinder.

Self-harvested flour is used to prepare various recipes.

For the soup you will need:

• flour - 30 g;
• milk - 250 ml;
• sugar, salt, cinnamon - to taste.

You need to boil the water, slowly pour the flour into it, stir constantly, and cook until tender. Add milk, salt, sugar and spices. After boiling, turn off the heat. Add butter before serving.

To prepare the flatbreads, you need to take:

• 30 g flour;
• 30 g sour cream;
• 20 g cheese;
• sugar, salt.

Heat the sour cream, add flour to it, boil for 1 minute, leave to cool. Grind the cheese and add it to the prepared mixture along with sugar and salt. Mix thoroughly, roll out small, thin cakes. Fry in a frying pan until golden brown.

For acorn dumplings you will need:

• flour - 2 cups;
• water - 100 ml;
• salt - ½ 1 tsp;
• onion - 2 pcs.;
• maximum fat sour cream or homemade cream;
• vegetable oil.

Pour cream into flour, add salt and water. Knead the dough, roll out to 5 mm thick. Cut into small squares. Boil in water with a little salt. Finely chop the onion and fry in a frying pan until golden brown. Mix with dumplings.

You can make dough to make delicious and healthy bread. To do this, you need to mix 100 g of wheat and 400 g of acorn flour. Add water (the amount depends on the flour), salt. Bake bread in the oven or slow cooker.

In folk medicine

The fruits, due to their healing composition, are used as an aid in the treatment of various diseases. In folk medicine, acorns are used to eliminate pathologies of the digestive system, pancreatitis, and diabetes.

Oak fruits also help get rid of impotence.

The use of acorns in various medicinal products improves the health of people with heart disease and heart rhythm disorders. They are especially useful for hypertension, as they normalize blood pressure.

To get rid of gastrointestinal disorders, you can use the following remedy:

• mix 1 tsp. crushed acorns with 200 ml of hot water, but not boiling water;
• Infuse the product for 15 minutes, strain;
• drink ½ glass 3 times a day.

The course of treatment lasts until the condition is completely normalized.

The following recipe is suitable for the treatment of pancreatitis:

• dry the fruit caps, but do not place them in direct sunlight;
• 1 tbsp. l. ingredients, pour 1 cup of boiling water;
• leave for 3 hours;
• take the decoction 3 times a day before the main meal; the initial dosage is ½ tsp, gradually the amount should be increased, bringing it to 70 ml.

The fruits are used to relieve headache attacks, regardless of the cause of its occurrence. As a folk method, acorns are used in pediatrics to treat rickets and scrofula in children.

A coffee drink made from acorns helps strengthen the internal organs located in the abdominal cavity. It is drunk 2 times a day: in the morning and in the afternoon. This treatment method will help to quickly get rid of bronchitis and other diseases of the respiratory system, and reduce the frequency of bronchial asthma attacks.

Acorns are a natural, safe product, the use of which has no contraindications and does not provoke allergic reactions or other side effects.

For diabetes

It is impossible to completely cure diabetes mellitus with acorns. But due to such properties of oak fruits as normalization of blood glucose levels, it is possible to improve the general condition of a person and prevent the development of complications.

1. Dry the acorns in the oven at high temperature until they acquire a reddish color. Grind in a coffee grinder or through a blender. Take the resulting powder in an amount of 1 tsp. 2 times a day before eating.
2. Dry the fruits, peel them and chop them. Mix 1 cup of crushed kernels with 500 ml of water. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. After preparation, leave for 1 day. Boil again. Strain the broth, add 1 glass of high-quality vodka to the liquid. Take 3 medium sips 7 times a day. The course of treatment lasts 14 days.

Acorns for diabetes are not an independent treatment method. It must be combined with traditional drug therapy.

From impotence

The fruits have an antibacterial effect, improve blood circulation, helping to cure diseases of the genitourinary system. They help restore male sexual power if impotence occurs.

To restore the functioning of the reproductive system, juice is used, which is prepared from green fruits. They must be passed through a meat grinder, the pulp must be squeezed out several times, collecting the juice in a glass container. Mix 3 tbsp. l. liquid with the same amount of honey. Use this amount 4 times a day, only on an empty stomach.

The drug must be taken over a long period of time. When problems with potency are just beginning, it can be used as the main method of treatment. If the situation worsens, complex therapy with medication is required.

Coffee with acorns

The aromatic drink will not only replace coffee beans, but will also benefit the body. It is recommended to take it for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.

To make coffee, you need to collect the fruits between late September and October. They should be ripe, firm to the touch, and brown in color. If, when pressed with a finger, the pulp falls through, this indicates that it is wormy.

Pour water over the acorns and remove any that float to the surface (they are not suitable). Remove from the water, place on a baking sheet and place in a preheated oven for 10 minutes. Then peel (it’s easier to do this while the fruits are warm), grind through a meat grinder and dry again in the oven. Harvested raw materials can be stored for a long time in glass containers or paper, tightly closed bags.

To prepare the drink, the prepared mixture must be ground in a blender to the state of flour and fried in a frying pan. The taste depends on how deeply the flour is fried. The oak fruit drink should be brewed in the same way as ordinary coffee beans. Dosage - 1 tsp. flour and 1 glass of water. After cooking, you can add milk or honey to taste.

The taste of the drink can be improved by adding some spices to it:

• cloves - will be especially useful for people who have problems with liver function;
• cardamom - recommended for an overactive gallbladder, frequent physical or emotional fatigue;
• black pepper - for men, pink pepper - for women;
• ginger - helps with diseases of the digestive system;
• cinnamon - for impaired heat exchange, depressive states, depressed psycho-emotional state;
• nutmeg - to normalize the functioning of the central nervous system and gain mental balance.

The drink is recommended for all people to drink in order to prevent viral and infectious diseases in the autumn and winter. It strengthens the immune system, invigorates, saturates with vital energy and relieves fatigue.

Use for crafts

Children make little people and caterpillars from acorns, experienced craftsmen create beautiful bouquets and wreaths that fill the house with the atmosphere of a gentle and cozy autumn.

To make crafts, you need to stock up on the following tools:

• toothpicks or matches;
• plasticine;
• glue;
• colored paper or cardboard;
• threads and needles;
• awl;
• scissors.

Options for various products and trinkets made from acorns:

1. Hats with plasticine are perfect for making doll dishes.
2. Using matches or toothpicks that need to be stuck into the pulp, you can make a funny little man, assemble a car, and even build a castle.
3. To make beads, you should paint acorns with acrylic paints, apply glitter, use other tinsel, and then connect them with a thread and a needle.
4. If you attach wings made of colored paper to a beautiful acorn, you will get insects.

By planting the fruits on long, thin branches, you can make an original addition to flower bouquets of autumn flowers. To extend shelf life and add shine to the surface, it is recommended to cover the acorns with a thin layer of hairspray after composing the composition.