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Health benefits of pine nuts (Chilgoza )
Health benefits of pine nuts:
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.


Their high caloric content chiefly comes from fats. Indeed, the nuts, especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid (18:1 undifferentiated fat) that helps to lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increases HDL or "good-cholesterol" in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which contain good amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.


Pine or cedar nuts contain essential fatty acid (ω-6 fat), pinolenic acid. Recent research has shown its potential use in weight loss by curbing the appetite. Pinolenic acid triggers the release of hunger-suppressant enzymes cholecystokinin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the gut. In addition, pinolenic acid has thought to have LDL-lowering properties by enhancing hepatic LDL uptake.


Likewise in almonds, pines too are an excellent source of vitamin E; contain about 9.33 mg per 100 g (about 62% of RDA). Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen-free radicals.


Furthermore, pines are one of gluten free tree nuts, and therefore, are a popular ingredient in the preparation of gluten-free food formulas. Such formula preparations can be a healthy alternative in people with wheat food allergy, and celiac disease.


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.


Furthermore, pine nuts contain healthy amounts of essential minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. At 8.802 mg per 100 g (about 383% of daily recommended intake), pines are one of the richest sources of manganese. Manganese is an all-important co-factor for antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It is therefore, consumption of pines helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.


  1. Pine nuts are the good source of high calorie contents and mono-unsaturated fatty acids such as oelic acids that helps to reduce the LDL (Bad) cholesterol level to increase the HDL (Good) cholesterol level in the blood. These mono-unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and nutrients are also present in Mediterranean diet, that helps to prevent the coronary artery diseases, strokes, heart attack and hardening of coronary arteries and helps to maintain healthy lipid blood profile.
  2. Pine nuts are the excellent source of vitamin E equivalent to almonds and the vitamin E is known as the powerful antioxidant which is lipid soluble and beneficiary for the repairing and maintenance of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin. It also provides protection against harmful oxygen free radicals.
  3. Pine nuts contains vitamin B complex like niacin, riboflavin and thiamin, that helps to speedup the testosterone levels in the men and increase the production of red blood cell and elevating mood by beating stress and anxiety.
  4. Pine nuts contains essential antioxidants, that helps to neutralize the free radicals causing cancer and good for promoting cardiovascular health benefits.
  5. Pine nuts contains pinoleic acid, that helps to produced the useful appetite suppressing hormones when consumed. These hormones helps to curb your hunger pangs and tell the brain that the stomach is full, which helps to promotes easily and healthy weight lose. So it is good for weight loss.
  6. Pine nuts are rich in magnesium, that is required for the proper nerve and muscle functioning and essential in the conversion of blood sugar in to energy. It also helps to boost your immune system.
  7. The presence of calcium is required for building strong bones and healthy teeth, for proper function of the muscles, heart and nervous system.
  8. Iron in it helps to prevent anemia and carry oxygen to the other body parts. It also used to build red-blood cells and for repairing worn out cells.
  9. Potassium in it helps to maintain the body fluid, heart beat rate and regulate the blood pressure.
  10. Folate helps to promote healthy pregnancy and also used in the production of milk and protect from neural tube defect.
  11. Regular consumption of pine nuts helps to boost your sex drive, restore your libido and prevent pre-ejaculation.
Chilgoza Pine is well known for its edible pine nuts, rich in carbohydrates and proteins. The seeds are locally called and marketed as "Chilgoza", "Neja" (singular) or "Neje" (plural). Nearly 20 percent of the Pakistani forests consist of Chilgoza trees. Chilgoza is one of the most important cash crops of tribal people residing in the Kinnaurdistrict of Himachal Pradesh, India.It can be rightly established that in Afghanistan, it is found only in Kunnar, besides few other places in the world including Kabul. The seed is very expensive and fetches good money to the local people in Kinnaur. Sold at approximately PKR 1500-2800 INR 1800-2400 ($20-$53) per kilogram.




Pine trees grow in the wild cold and taiga forest regions of the northern hemisphere, particularly of Siberia and Canada. They are huge, straight erect trees with large stem and may reach up to 75 feet in height with pyramidal or umbrella like dense foliage cover.

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 (ovulate or seed 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 split open to release the seeds.

The two prominent pine species known for their large edible kernels include Pinus sibirica and Pinus koraiensis. Stone (western) pines have long slender kernels in comparison to oriental pines, in which the seeds are broad, large and have higher fat content.

Pine nuts feature tough dark-brown outer coat or shell. Inside, its edible kernel has cream white, delicate buttery flavor and sweet taste.

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