Pine nut candy is made from pine nuts and maltose, not only sweet and delicious in taste, but also with the aroma of pine nuts, making it delicious. Moreover, pine nuts are rich in various nutrients. Regular consumption of pine nuts can achieve the effect of beauty and facial rejuvenation, and is also very beneficial for maintaining a good figure. It can also improve rough skin and other issues.

Ingredients: 85g maltose, 82g water, 100g fine sugar, 0.5g salt, 25g pine nuts, 8g butter, 1.5g vanilla powder

Place the pine nuts in the oven at 100 degrees for heat preservation. In turn, put the maltose, water, fine sugar, and salt in the pot, heat on low heat, and stir well. Add butter and vanilla powder, stir well. Heat to 130 degrees, remove from heat, add the pine nuts, and mix well.

Pour the syrup onto the oil cloth, wrap it with oil cloth if it’s too hot. As the temperature drops, it can be gradually shaped into strips by hand, then pulled into thin strips while hot. Cut with scissors, rotate 90 degrees and cut again, repeat this process to cut out small dumplings, wrap them with sugar paper, and seal them for storage.

Benefits

Moisturizing and beautifying the skin:

Pine nuts are not only nutritious and fragrant, but also a fruit that is excellent for beautifying the skin and maintaining health. This is because pine nuts contain a wealth of ‘beauty acid’ – linoleic acid and pinolenic acid. Fats are essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, can protect human organs, and maintain body temperature. A woman’s appearance can be tired and her skin can be rough and lackluster if it is not caused by disease, it may be due to a lack of fat. The appropriate storage of fat under the skin can moisturize the skin and increase skin elasticity, delay the aging of the skin.

The total fat content of the human skin accounts for about 3%-6% of the total body mass. If insufficient fat intake leads to a lack of unsaturated fatty acids, the skin will become rough and lose elasticity. Among unsaturated fatty acids, pinolenic acid is the best, not only having the effect of strengthening the body, but also having a good effect on skin beauty. It is an indispensable substance for the moisturizing and plumpness of the skin.

In addition, pinolenic acid and the rich vitamin E in the kernels have the effects of nourishing the skin and anti-aging. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that can ‘reduce’ the changes and damage of free radicals to many important components of cells, delay cell aging, and can also reduce and prevent the production and deposition of lipofuscin, and has the effect of promoting hormone secretion, thus being beneficial to a person’s facial beauty and physical beauty. Pine nuts contain a wealth of zinc, which is the highest in the skin. Supplementing zinc can prevent and treat acne, reduce sebaceous and pigmented deposition, and make the skin tender. Zinc also plays an important role in the development of secondary sexual characteristics, therefore, it has an important impact on the body shape, especially the curves of women’s beauty.

The benefits of eating pine nuts:

1. Anti-aging and Longevity

Pine nuts are rich in vitamin E, which has an anti-aging effect. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that can inhibit the lipid peroxidation on the inside and outside of the cell membrane, protect cells from damage by free radicals, thereby maintaining the integrity of the cells and ensuring the normal function of many important enzymes inside the cells. Therefore, vitamin E is known as the ‘anti-aging vitamin.’ Many animal experiments also show that by moderately restricting the intake of calories in experimental animals and increasing the supply of vitamin E, the accumulation of lipofuscin inside the cells is significantly reduced, and the lifespan is also significantly extended. Miao Xiyong of the Ming Dynasty said that pine nuts can ‘extend youth and prevent aging by eating them often.’

2. Brain Health and Intelligence

The calcium, phosphorus, and iron in pine nut kernels are also abundant, as well as carotene, vitamin B1, B2, and niacin, etc. For adolescents and the elderly, consuming 10-15 grams per day (if diarrhea occurs, reduce the amount) can have a good effect on brain health and intelligence. In addition, children, adolescents, and athletes who regularly consume a moderate amount of pine nuts can also help supplement energy, increase endurance, and combat fatigue.

3. Promote Intestinal Peristalsis and Defecation

The kernel of pine nuts is rich in fats, palmite, volatile oil, etc., thus it can lubricate the large intestine and promote defecation, act as a mild laxative without harming the body’s vitality, especially suitable for the elderly and weak, and for postpartum patients to moisten the intestines and promote defecation.