Almond (almond) is also called almond.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions include almond, bitter almond, light almond, almond, fried almond, pointed almond and almond paste.

The source is the seed of apricot in Rosaceae.

Deciduous trees in plant form, up to 6 meters tall. Leaves alternate, broadly ovoid or ovoid, 5 ~ 10 cm long and 3.5 ~ 6 cm wide, with short or tapering tips, rounded base, serrated edges or inconspicuous double serrations; Petiole is mostly reddish with 2 glands. Flowers solitary, first leaf open, few pedicels; Sepals 5, inflexed; Petals 5, white or pink; Stamens are numerous; Carpels 1, pubescent. Drupe is nearly round, about 3cm in diameter and orange-yellow; The nucleus is hard, flat and heart-shaped with grooves along the abdomen. The flowering period is from March to April, and the fruiting period is from May to June. Mostly cultivated in low mountains or hilly mountains. Location: Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and other places.

Harvest the ripe fruits in summer, remove the pulp and stone, and take out the seeds to dry.

Shape The seeds are oblate and heart-shaped, with a length of 1 ~ 1.9 cm, a width of 0.8 ~ 1.5 cm and a thickness of 0.5 ~ 0.8 cm. The surface is yellowish brown to dark brown, one end is sharp, and the other end is blunt and round, thick and asymmetrical. There is a short hilum on the top side, and several dark brown veins are upward at the joint of the round end. Thin seed coat, cotyledons 2, rich in oil. It tastes bitter.

The chemical constituents include amygdalin, fatty oil, lactoferrin, emulsin, prunase, estrone, α-estradiol, chain sterol, etc.

Mild in nature, bitter in taste and slightly toxic.

Its main functions are reducing qi, relieving cough and asthma, moistening intestines and relaxing bowels. It can be used for cough and asthma, chest fullness and excessive phlegm, blood deficiency and body fluid deficiency, intestinal dryness and constipation.

Please note the seeds of Prunus armeniaca, Prunus armeniaca and Prunus armeniaca. Koehne is also used as a medicine.

Almond is rich in protein, fat, sugar, carotene, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin P, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other nutrients. Among them, the content of carotene is second only to mango in fruits, and people call almonds anti-cancer fruits. Almonds are rich in fatty oil, which can lower cholesterol. So almonds have a good effect on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, almond has the effects of promoting fluid production to quench thirst, moistening lung and relieving asthma, and is often used for health care and treatment of patients with lung dryness, asthma and cough. A recent study by American researchers shows that people with normal or slightly higher cholesterol levels can replace foods with low nutritional density in their diets with almonds, thus lowering blood cholesterol and maintaining heart health. Researchers believe that almonds are rich in various nutrients, such as vitamin E, monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber, which can effectively reduce the risk of heart disease. The total cholesterol level of 85 middle-aged and elderly volunteers (average age 56 years old) decreased by 7.6%, and the low density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased by 9%. It also won't lead to weight gain.

Processing of bitter almond

Bitter almond is a commonly used medicine for relieving cough and asthma in clinic. Traditionally, it is considered that the toxicity is very small and it can only be processed and used as medicine. Bitter almonds are often processed by frying and boiling in ancient and modern times.

1, cold water bubble is not good.

Modern research has confirmed that the antitussive effect of bitter almond is produced by hydrocyanic acid, the decomposition product of bitter almond glycoside. Soaking in cold rice sauce, amygdalin is lost in large quantities, and some of them are as high as 90%. The content of amygdalin decreased from 2.23 1% in raw products to 0.22 1%, which reduced the pharmacological action of the drug.

2. It should be treated by evaporation.

Bitter almond contains amygdalin and an enzyme that decomposes amygdalin. If this enzyme is not destroyed in time, amygdalin will decompose after being stored for a long time, reducing its pharmacological effect. In order to prevent amygdalin from being destroyed, bitter almond is processed by boiling, frying and steaming. Bitter almond is in direct contact with water when boiling, and the loss of amygdalin is large, and the loss increases with the extension of boiling time. Cooking is dry heating, the heating is uneven, the heat is not well controlled, and the enzyme is basically not destroyed. Some people have done three experimental studies on bitter almonds: steaming, frying and baking. The results showed that the enzyme was completely destroyed after steaming for one hour. The fried enzymes are basically not destroyed; Drying at 80℃ can not destroy its enzyme. From this point of view, steaming is the best processing method of bitter almond.

3. Don't peel bitter almonds.

Processing bitter almond needs to be peeled and sharpened at all times, which is not only labor-consuming and time-consuming, but also reduces the content of effective components. Therefore, it is recommended not to peel the bitter almond when processing it.

To sum up, the methods of steaming, boiling, frying and baking are all used to destroy catabolic enzymes, preserve amygdalin and improve the curative effect of almond. However, frying and baking can not destroy the use of enzymes, and boiling will lead to a large loss of effective components, which is time-consuming and laborious to remove skin tips. Therefore, the processing method of bitter almond after steaming and drying is the best.

Almond planting

There are few environments suitable for sweet almond growth in the world. The most suitable climate for apricot growth is the Mediterranean climate-dry and hot in summer, abundant in rain, cold in winter, without freezing or frost. On the vast map of the United States, only the "Central Valley" in central California has an ideal climate for almond growth. Only a few apricot trees planted in a few areas of the world will blossom and bear fruit.

Although the harvest season of California almonds is in early autumn, planting almonds is a year-round job. The growth of California almonds began in autumn. In autumn, apricot trees germinate and buds come out from the edge of the buds. By the middle of1February, the pollinated particles are mature. At this time, the bud is still in bud, and it will begin to blossom rapidly next year 1 month.

Traceability of almonds

Historians generally believe that almonds and dates are one of the earliest cultivated foods. Whether in private or in public, the ancient Romans gave honey almonds as gifts to dignitaries. When King Tutankhamun of the 18th dynasty in ancient Egypt died in BC 1352, some almonds were brought to his grave to "accompany him on his journey to heaven". /kloc-In the mid-8th century, Franciscan Catholic priests planted apricot trees as auspicious tree to protect their missionary activities on the coast of Minore, Elca. Former US President Bill Clinton chose cinnamon-flavored almonds as guest snacks at two presidential inauguration ceremonies: 1993 and 1997.

Almond custom

At the wedding, the Romans threw almonds at the couple to express their wish to have more children and more happiness.

Americans are used to handing out honey almonds wrapped in satin at weddings. This tradition can be traced back to early Europe. These almond candies symbolize future generations, happiness, romance, health and wealth.

Ancient Persians and Arabs made "apricot milk" from almond meat and water, which was used as a refreshing drink or as a seasoning for other foods.

In Christian tradition, three, five or seven odd-numbered almonds are mascots, symbolizing the luck and happiness of Christians when they are baptized, married and consecrated.

In Jewish culture, a handful of peeled almonds and raisins is a symbol of good luck.

There is a saying that eating almonds before drinking is not easy to get drunk, nor will it get drunk.

Swedes who are reunited with their families on Christmas Eve are used to eating Gui Xiang pudding. The almond hidden in the pudding symbolizes health, auspiciousness and happiness in the coming year.

Colette, a French woman writer, wrote in her works: "Don't eat too many almonds, they have the function of breast enhancement."

Almond legend

There is a story in Greek mythology that the beautiful Princess Phyllis was abandoned by her sweetheart Dai Moufang on her wedding day. Phyllis waited at the altar for Dai Mofang to change his mind year after year, but finally died of a broken heart. The merciful God turned Phyllis into an apricot tree, which became a symbol of hope. Lost and repented, Phyllis is just a tree without flowers and leaves, but still hugging the apricot tree affectionately. Strange to say, the apricot tree suddenly bloomed, which seemed to symbolize the love that even death could not stop. Similar legends are circulating in Portugal.

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