Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
Book Appointment
Treatment
Ask a Question
Plan my Surgery
Health Feed
tab_logos
About
tab_logos
Health Feed

Acorn Health Benefits, Uses And Its Side Effects

Last Updated: Sep 11, 2020

Topic Image

Acorns have a high beneficial value due to its rich constituents essential for the body. It helps to improve digestion and promotes bine and heart health, lowers asthma and diabetes mellitus. It also checks the invasion of bacteria and viruses with its anti bacterial and anti-viral properties.

Acorns

A nut of an oak tree is called acorn. It is in the family named Quercus or Lithocarpus genera. Acorns are mostly consumed by squirrels and they help in the dispersion of acorn seeds as these are not dispersed by air.

Nutritional Value of Acorns

Acorns contain high nutritions that help in maintaining a healthy body. Tannins and flavonoids, along with the essential vitamins, protins, fibres and mineral contents help to boost an overall health. The antioxidants and unsaturated fats present in acorn helps to control the metabolism and thus promote better health.

Nutritional facts Per 100 Grams

387
Calories
24 g
Total Fat
539 mg
Potassium
41 g
Total Carbohydrate
6 g
Protein

Vitamins and Minerals

0.04
Calcium
4 %
Iron
25 %
Vitamin B-6
15 %
Magnesium

Health Benefits of Acorns

Topic Image

Mentioned below are the best health benefits of using acorns. You can use acorn in different ways, you can make acorn flour, acorn brittle, acorn squash, and acorn jelly. Also, check out the side of acorns on different health conditions.

Acorn Squash Good for Digestion

Acorns have a significant amount of fiber, which helps in improving digestive health. Fiber helps to regulate the bowel movements by adding bulk to the stools and eliminate both constipation and diarrhoea. Acorns are ideal for people suffering from irregular bowel movements, cramping, bloating, and other gastrointestinal distress.

Anti-Asthmatic Effects Of Acorns

Acorns contain three strong antioxidants namely, gallic acid, ellagic acid and tannic acid. These antioxidants possess anti-asthmatic effect and help reduce asthma symptoms. Gallic acid, ellagic acid and tannic acid reduce the secretion of compounds in the body that otherwise increase inflammation of airways which further makes breathing difficult.

Reactive oxygen species,narrowing the airways of the respiratory tract are neutralized by the antioxidants present in acorns and thus helps in the management of asthma.

Acorn Squash Good for Diabetics

Compounds present in acorns inhibit the action of an enzyme called 'alpha-glucosidase', delaying the digestion of carbohydrates and slowing down the conversion of carbohydrates into simple sugar or glucose during digestion. This further prevents spike in the blood glucose levels.

Acorns can contribute to the management of diabetes mellitus. The fiber content and relatively complex carbohydrates found in these nuts help in the regulation of proper health.

Acorn Oil for Heart Health

Acorns oils are considerably higher in unsaturated fat compared to saturated fat and this helps improve cholesterol levels and even protect against heart diseases like atherosclerosis.It also helps to protect obesity and other heart diseases caused due to saturated fats.

Boost Bone Health

The abundant minerals found in acorns, like phosphorous, potassium and calcium, help to boost bone health and prevent the onset of osteoporosis. Calcium is one of the most important minerals for bone mineral density, and is found in high concentrations within acorns. Thus, consumption of acorns can boost the bone health.

Anti-Bacterial Property Of Acorns

Acorns, with a high abundance of tannins, have a tremendous potential as an anti-bacterial agent against different bacteria Tannins also help in wound healing due to its astringent property.

Acorn also inhibit the development and spread of bacteria and microbes, and thus prevent further spread of bacterial infection.In other words, consumption of acorns can help in eliminating the bacteria from the body.

Anti-viral Properties of Acorn Oil

Herpes viruses are the most frequent cause of viral infections in individuals with poor immune system. Acorns are a promising anti-herpetic herbal medicine and possess anti-viral activity due to the flavonoids and tannins.

Healthy compounds present in acorns protect the cells of the body by preventing the contact between the virus and the cells. They further inhibit the multiplication and replication of virus and thus, they prevent the spread of virus to different parts of the body.

Acorn Promotes Healing and Crowth

Proteins are key components to a healthy body, and acorns contain a high proportion of protein in it. This assists the creation of new tissues and cells, as well as the repair of damaged areas and rapid healing following injury or illness. With increased proportion of protein in the body, the cell growth and development process in enhanced.

Improve Metabolic Activity By Adding Acorn In Your Diet

Acorns are packed with B vitamins, which include niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B12. Acorns can help regulate the metabolic activities and also a number of enzymatic processes in the body that are crucial for overall health.

Prevents Alzheimer's Disease

Antioxidants present in acorns inhibit cholinesterase (an enzyme present in the brain) which further lowers the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease such as confusion, memory loss, inability to think, and concentration.

Antioxidants present in acorn further cause a declination in the level of oxidative stress and prevent the death of brain cells. Gallic acid present in acorns possess brain-protective property, thus preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Uses of Acorns

The tannin rich water extracted from the acorn seeds can be applied topically to skin to reduce the inflammations and rashes. It also helps in treating aches and cuts.The complex carbohydrates present in acorns help in boosting up the nergy level of individuals.

pms_banner

Side-Effects & Allergies of Acorns

Acorn poisoning, or oak toxicity, occurs when too many acorns or buds are ingested, and the gallotannin in oak foliage creates gastrointestinal and kidney problems.Excessive consumption of acorn nuts can cause nausea and stomach upset due to the tannin content.

Cultivation of Acorns

Oak trees were commonly seen in the Northern part of the globe such as in Europe and the United States of America.Today, acorns are widely used in China, Japan and Korea.Acorn comes from the oak tree and is also known as oak nut.Acorn nuts are single seeded and is protected by shell.

References

Popular Questions & Answers

View All

My blood sugar is 122 ,i don t take sugar, no w...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Chetan Raj

Homeopathy Doctor

Please use the following medicine for a period of two weeks and let me know about your condition ...

I am 37 years women I am diabetic type 2, with ...

related_content_doctor

Monga Medi Clinic

Ayurvedic Doctor

"dear Lybrate user thanks for sending across your query. Your ivf doctor is best doctor to advice...

Today I checked random blood sugar after 20 min...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Chetan Raj

Homeopathy Doctor

Please use the following medicine for two weeks and get it checked again please use the following...

I am not a diabetic sir, but hba1c is 6.8 fasti...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Chetan Raj

Homeopathy Doctor

An hba1c of 6.8 indicates a risk for diabetes. Homeopathic remedies like gymnema sylvestre can he...

My wife (age 42) diagnosed with pppd recently. ...

related_content_doctor

Dr. B Nanda

General Physician

If blood sugar is in normal range, exercise should be gradual. Can start under guidance initially.

    Delhi
    Mumbai
    Chennai
    Bangalore
    Index

    Table of content

    Content Details
    Profile Image
    Written ByDrx Hina FirdousPhD (Pharmacology) Pursuing, M.Pharma (Pharmacology), B.Pharma - Certificate in Nutrition and Child CarePharmacology
    Reviewed By
    Profile Image
    Reviewed ByDt. Ms. Shilpa MarwahB.Sc (Home Science), Post Graduation Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health NutritionDietitian/Nutritionist
    chat_icon

    Ask a free question

    Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

    posted anonymously