Amazing uses and benefits of Pecans

Pecans Health Benefits:

Besides being a tasty and versatile nut, pecan also offers a plethora of benefits. Enlisted are the amazing pecans health benefits you should know!

1. Improves Heart Health:
Pecans are called “heart-healthy nuts”. It primarily contains unsaturated fats that are shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein in the blood. The high levels of pyridoxine content in pecan help to regenerate the cells in diseased hearts. Regular consumption prevents coronary artery diseases and strokes by encouraging a healthy lipid profile. The Vitamin E content in pecans protects the blood lipids from being oxidized.

2. Helps in Weight Loss:
Despite the high calorie count, pecan nuts are often prescribed in weight loss diets by nutritionists. Several researches have confirmed that pecan nuts can help with weight loss. These nuts increase the metabolic rate and satiety in the body, preventing weight gain.

3. Antioxidants:
Pecan nuts are loaded with natural antioxidant molecules. It includes antioxidants like Vitamin E, beta carotene, ellagic acid, lutein and zea-xanthin. These compounds help the body to scavenge the free radicals, protecting it from diseases and cancers.

4. Prevents Cancer:
The anti-proliferative properties of ellagic acid inhibit the DNA binding of carcinogens, protecting the body from cancer. The oleic acid in pecan nuts suppresses the activity of a substance that triggers breast cancer. The substance induces migration and proliferation in breast cancer cells, promoting an increase in cancer cell invasiveness.


5. Improves Prostate Health:
The enzymes found in pecan are very effective for treating the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. It also contains gala-tocopherol, a type of Vitamin E that kills the prostate cancer cells, without harming the healthy cells.

6. Promotes Bone Health:

In addition to all these benefits of pecans, calcium present in pecan nuts promotes the health of the bones and teeth. It is also required for the growth and repair of the cells and tissues. The high concentration of phosphorus also prevents muscle pain following a hard-core workout.

Little Known Uses for Pecans:

1. Landscape and Shade
If you've ever spent a hot summer afternoon basking in the shade of the pecan tree, you will know how well it protects against sun.


Which isn't surprising, considering that pecan trees can grow up to 80 feet tall (some grow as high as 150 feet) and spread to a width of 40 to 75 feet, which makes it a pretty good shade tree. They are also perfect for landscaping (edible landscaping at that!).

2. Grilling and Smoking Meats
Pecan wood is suitable for backyard BBQs, as well as smoking meats. According to eHow.com, pecan wood produces a smoother, fruitier taste compared to other varieties of wood smoke, so it would seem especially good for pork.

3. Furniture

(This one you probably thought of.) Pecan tree wood makes beautiful furniture, flooring, and paneling. Furniture manufacturers love it because it is a hard wood that stands up to wear and tear.

4. Cooking Oil
You know pecans in the form of nuts, but did you also know you can cook with pecan oil? Pecan oil is neutral in flavor and takes on the taste of whatever seasoning is being used with it.

Pecan oil is also considered healthy, as it is rich in monounsaturated fats, specifically oleic acid. It has lower unsaturated fat (9.5%) than olive oil (13.5%), peanut oil (16.90%) or corn oil (12.70%).

5. Pecan Shells
Considered the waste part of the nut, pecan shells have many uses.

Mulch and Compost
Pecan shells can be collected in piles and allowed to age. After a while, they become mulch. Some people recommend grinding the shells into small chunks, which might expedite the process. You might also want to mix them in with other organic matter.

Because pecan mulch could be somewhat acidic, they are especially good for use around azaleas and blueberry bushes. Though they lack nutrient value, they do provide moisture retention.

Grilling
We generally think of using pecan wood when grilling, but pecan shells can serve the purpose, as well.

Figurines
Add finely ground pecan shells to plastic resin to make figurines. It can be painted or stained to give it an authentic wood look.

Biofuel Source
The LSU Ag Center says pecan shells or processed pecan shell pellets serve as an inexpensive source for renewable biofuel.


Beauty Product Additive
Small amounts of precan shells can be grinded in a food processor to make soaps, body scrubs and bath salts. The rough granules help exfoliate dead skin cells.

Decoration
In addition to making pecan pies and other deserts this holiday season, use pecan shells to make an attractive centerpiece for your dining room table, or wreath for your door.

6. Beverages
Distillers and craft brewers use pecans to flavor their spirits and beers. Lafayette-based soda manufacturer Swamp Pop uses pecan flavoring to make a delicious pecan praline soft drink.

7. Plywood Filler
A paper from the Mississippi State Forrest and Wildlife Research Center said pecan flour could be used as plywood filler.

8. Olympic Torches
According to the Georgia Pecan Commission, in 1995, Georgia pecan wood was selected by the Atlanta Committee to make the handles of the torches for the 1996 Olympic Games. The torches were carried in the 15,000-mile U.S.A. relay and in lighting the Olympic flame in Atlanta on July 19, 1996.