Apricot kernels: benefits and harms, reviews of use

Apricots are a highly valuable food, containing many essential micronutrients and vitamins. However, few people know that apricot kernels also provide significant health benefits, including being effective in fighting various tumors. However, the potential harm they can cause when used as a self-medication is also significant. Therefore, it's important to carefully review information on their safe use.

Chemical composition and beneficial properties of apricot kernels

Apricot kernels are almost half fat, so the calorie content per 100 grams of raw apricot is very high – approximately 520 kilocalories. They are rich in the following micro- and macronutrients (listed in descending order of content per kernel): potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and iron.

It also contains essential fatty acids: oleic acid (omega-9), which helps build cell membranes, and linoleic acid (omega-6), which regulates metabolic processes. The safe dose for humans ranges from 20 to 50 grams per day.

The kernels have the following beneficial properties:

• anthelmintic;
• support of the cardiovascular system due to the large amount of potassium;
• building muscle mass due to protein, which contains 25 g per 100 g of product;
• the oil is widely used in cosmetology;
• has antitumor properties due to the vitamin B17 it contains;
• antiviral effect;
• normalization of hormonal levels;
• expectorant properties – used in the complex treatment of bronchitis, whooping cough, pneumonia.

Contraindications and harm to the body

Apricot kernels confirm Paracelsus's idea: "Everything is poison, everything is medicine. The dose determines both." The cyanide in apricot kernels can both destroy cancer cells and cause harm to the body if the dose is exceeded.

Hydrocyanic acid affects the brain and central nervous system, disrupting oxygen metabolism in tissues, which leads to disruption of all systems in the human body. To reduce hydrocyanic acid intake, consume only sweet varieties of kernels. Avoiding this product, even in minimal doses, is necessary in the following cases:

• liver diseases, especially in the acute phase;
• disorders of the thyroid gland;
• diabetes;
• bearing a child.

Methods of consumption and application of apricot kernels

The seeds are widely consumed raw, but they can also be used to make delicious snacks and even medicinal preparations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnDuZzK3loM

Raw

Raw apricot kernels are used to make apricot milk, nut-fruit mixes, and as an addition to porridges and smoothies. Nut milk relieves coughs and helps strengthen the body. To prepare, soak a cup of nuts in water for 6 hours, or overnight. In the morning, rinse them, add two cups of clean water, and blend until smooth. Strain the milk through several layers of cheesecloth and refrigerate for no longer than 2-3 days. The pulp can be used as an addition to baked goods or porridge.

Water infusion

In alternative medicine, you can often find recommendations for taking an aqueous infusion of apricot kernels:

1. It is used internally to treat the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, heart and blood vessels.
2. Externally used as compresses for skin lesions, joint and bone diseases.

Recipe for internal use for acute respiratory viral infections:

• Grind 15 g of raw kernels in a coffee grinder or mortar;
• pour boiling water (150 ml) over the crumbs;
• leave to infuse under the lid for 4 hours;
• strain through several layers of cheesecloth;
• Divide the portion into 3 doses of 50 ml each and drink throughout the day.

Foot bath for rheumatic arthritis:

• For 3 liters of water, take 0.5 kg of spruce needles and 200 g of coarsely crushed pits;
• everything is poured with boiling water or brought to a boil in a saucepan and immediately removed from the heat;
• the decoction is infused for half an hour;
• The course of treatment is from a week, the frequency of use is up to 2 times a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzjx3G16nE

Oil

It belongs to base oils and can be used both in pure form and as a basis for oil compositions:

1. In cooking, it is used only for flavor and is most often found in Italian dishes.
2. It has found wide application in cosmetology due to its moisturizing properties.
3. In the East, healers use the oil for hemorrhoids, otitis, and sinus diseases.
4. The healing properties help with skin damage, especially cracked heels and shallow cuts.

   

5. A mixture of oils allows for a therapeutic or care effect in massage: for example, for joint pain or to improve skin tone.
6. For heartburn, rubbing the chest with a mixture of 15 mg of apricot oil with two drops of peppermint and two drops of lemon essential oils helps well.
7. If you replace mint and lemon with lavender and sandalwood in the same proportions, you can use it for joint pain.

Per 100 grams of pure product there are 884 kilocalories.

Dried and roasted kernels

Roasted apricot seeds have proven themselves in the culinary world as a dessert addition, a flavor enhancer, and an excellent substitute for almonds. Dried apricot kernels can be used to make the delicious Italian liqueur amaretto at home. This drink, dating back to 1525, tastes like marzipan. Classic amaretto is enjoyed neat, over ice, or with coffee. Its dessert-like flavor pairs well with chocolate, ice cream, or fruit.

The recipe is easy to repeat at home:

1. Peel 50 g of almonds. For easier peeling, soak them overnight in cold water or in boiling water for 3-5 minutes.
2. Roast the nuts in a dry frying pan until golden brown.
3. After 2 minutes, add two cloves and four allspice peas to the almonds.
4. Mix 50 g of apricot kernels with a pinch of cinnamon.
5. For the sugar syrup, place 350 g of sugar and 50 ml of water in a non-stick frying pan or heavy-bottomed saucepan. Melt over low heat, being careful not to stir, but gently moving the container with the syrup. When the syrup turns a golden caramel color, add 2 teaspoons of vanilla sugar and 100 ml of water. Stir vigorously as the syrup will bubble.

   

6. In a clean glass jar, mix nuts and kernels with spices, carefully pour in sugar syrup.
7. When the mixture in the jar reaches room temperature, add 500 ml of vodka and 3 g of natural instant coffee.
8. Close the bottle and mix the contents well.
9. Infuse in a cool, dark place.
10. Shake the bottle every other day throughout the entire period.
11. After a month, strain through cheesecloth and pour into prepared bottles.

Apricot jam with kernels

Ingredients:

• whole apricots - 1 kg;
• sugar - 600 g;
• peeled apricot pits - according to the number of fruit halves.

Preparation:

1. Cut the apricots into quarters. If they are very soft, then into 2 pieces.
2. In a deep container, cover the fruit slices with sugar and leave overnight without stirring. Cover with cheesecloth.
3. Place the pan over medium heat and try not to stir. Swirl the pan to prevent the sugar from burning.
4. After boiling, wait 5 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool for 5 hours.
5. Repeat the cooking procedure and leave to cool overnight.
6. Peel the seeds and add them to the jam.
7. Boil the jam for 10 minutes and pour it hot into prepared sterile jars.
8. If everything was done correctly, the slices will retain their shape, and the jam will be thick and transparent.

Urbech

This superfood, originally from Dagestan, is a paste made from raw seeds or nuts. Apricot urbech has antiviral and immune-boosting properties, but it should not be given to children, and adults should not consume more than 3 teaspoons per day.

Making this nutritious paste is easy with a blender. Place 300g of raw, unpeeled peanuts in a bowl and blend for 7-10 minutes. The mixture will initially be a dry crumb, which will then release oil and blend into a smooth paste. Blend in short bursts, periodically scraping down the sides and returning the paste to the bowl.

To soften the texture and intensify the flavor, melt 40 grams of butter in a double boiler and add 40 grams of liquid honey. Mix well and pour into the paste. Add a pinch of salt. Mix everything until smooth. Store the urbech in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator (the consistency will thicken).

Dona Shurak

This is an Uzbek dish found in Eastern markets. It looks like white, salt-coated pits with tiny cracks visible. It's cooked in ashes, but if you're at home, you can try baking it in the oven.

There are many recipes. Every home cook has their own unique approach. To bake the product in the oven, follow these steps:

• ingredients are calculated individually based on the number and size of the seeds;
• there should be enough liquid for them to float in it;
• clean the seeds and rinse to remove any remaining pulp;

  

• dissolve salt in water in a ratio of two to one;
• add kernels into the solution and leave for 4 hours;
• crack each shell slightly along the side wall to create a crack;
• return the bones to the salt solution and add water so that there are four parts water to one part salt;
• simmer for 2 hours;
• drain the water, let the seeds drain and place them in the oven to dry at low temperatures for half an hour;
• Ready cooled shur donak have a white salt coating and salt crystals inside.

Rules for taking apricot kernels and their benefits for illnesses

Raw kernels can be used for any condition, but the dosage and form of administration vary. It's important to remember that self-medication can complicate the condition, so it's important to conduct treatment under the supervision of a specialist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JxvqKjqXAY

Cancer prevention

The effects of apricot seeds on cancer treatment have been the subject of debate for years. The anti-cancer effect of vitamin B17 is already well-documented. It attracts cancer cells and fights them without harming healthy ones.

However, in 2010, an official ban on the sale of amygdalin was issued, and in 2004, an American scientist who attempted to create a medicine based on it was sentenced to five years in prison. Critics of this theory insist that the seeds are more harmful, as the breakdown of the amygdalin glycoside releases a powerful poison, hydrocyanic acid, which can be fatal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCGbChjd3E

However, in minimal doses, this acid is not harmful, and its concentration decreases with heat. Eating five seeds a day is enough to prevent cancer.

For cough and asthma

The seeds are excellent for removing mucus and helping with respiratory ailments. For a healing effect, just one tablespoon of seeds or one to two teaspoons of urbech is sufficient. A water infusion, 50 ml three times a day, is also effective.

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases

The high potassium and calcium content in raw seeds has a beneficial effect on heart function.

To boost immunity

The composition of the kernels can have an antiviral effect, helping to fight various infections. To boost immunity, it is recommended to drink an infusion of the kernels or brew them as a tea.

Anthelmintic action

Taking 10 raw seeds daily for a week has been proven effective in combating parasites. The effect is similar to that of pumpkin seeds.

In cosmetology

Apricot oil is highly valued and widely used in skincare products because it is hypoallergenic, absorbs well, and spreads easily across the skin. It can be used either pure or blended with other oils. It is often diluted with equal parts avocado, almond, or jojoba oil.

This product is ideal for dry, sensitive skin, nourishing and toning the signs of aging. It is considered a wrinkle preventative, as it helps with collagen and elastin synthesis. When used in shampoos, it combats dandruff and helps with dry hair and split ends.

As a scalp nourisher:

• warm oil is applied to the hair roots with massage movements;
• left under a shower cap for an hour;
• then washed off with a mild shampoo.

Features of use during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood

Due to the risk of poisoning and the impossibility of precisely monitoring the amount of toxic substances, consumption of the kernels should be discontinued while planning a pregnancy. Consumption should also be avoided until breastfeeding is complete.

Reviews of the use of apricot kernels

The product's widespread popularity in various fields of phytomedicine and cosmetology is confirmed by reviews from doctors and readers.

Doctors

Veselova M.V., specialist in Russian herbalism: "The debate over amygdalin's effect on cancer continues. Both sides exaggerate, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. No real evidence of a healing effect from apricot kernels has yet been documented."

Conventional medicine warns of poisoning even from small doses of 15-20 seeds. But poisons, even in small doses, protect the body. In herbal medicine, I use more toxic agents to treat cancer. However, apricot kernel therapy should only be used in conjunction with traditional treatment. The optimal dosage is calculated individually, based on one seed per 5 kg of body weight.

Khalisat Suleymanova, herbalist: "To achieve the maximum effect from apricot kernels, they must be harvested from wild fruits and from ecologically clean areas. During apricot therapy, the entire daily dose should be consumed at once, one hour after waking. For prevention, it is advisable to limit yourself to five kernels per day."

Readers

Tatiana: "Apricot oil is always in my makeup bag. I have color-treated hair, so after washing, I apply 2-3 drops to damp ends. In the summer, I use it instead of face cream: I rub 5-7 drops between my palms and pat it onto my face. For my hands, I mix 2-3 drops with water and rub until completely absorbed."

Valeria: "I grind apricot kernels and store them in the kitchen with spices. I use them in baking and for homemade ice cream. They make delicious cakes and cookies."

Apricot kernels hold a special place in alternative medicine. They are credited with remarkable medicinal properties, and their nutty flavor has also earned them a place in cooking. To ensure this tasty treat doesn't harm your health, consume it in moderation and only if the kernels are no more than a year old and not bitter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2oRLfyhyrI