Pine nuts

Crunchy, sweet and delicious pine nuts are small edible seeds of pine tree. Pine kernels are indeed very good source of plant derived nutrients, essential minerals, vitamins and “heart friendly” mono-unsaturated fatty acids that help benefit in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.  The flowers of pine tree subsequently develop into a cone. The female cones take about two–three years to mature after pollination. At maturity, the female-cones may reach from as small as 3 cm, to a very large cone reaching about 35 cm. Scales at the base and tip of the cone tends to be small and sterile, and therefore, bear no seeds. Once mature and dry, the cones naturally open (split) up to release the seeds.

Pine nuts are one of the calorie-rich edible nuts. 100 g of dry-kernels provide 673 calories. Additionally, they comprise of numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.  Pine nuts are an excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates. These vitamins work as co-factors for enzymes in cellular substrate metabolism inside the human body.