Behidana – Quince Seeds – Health Benefits

Quince Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Cydonia oblonga

Fruit

Quince plant offers fragrant, pear-shaped fruit, 7 to 12 centimeters (2.8 to 4.7 in) long and 6 to 9 centimeters (2.4 to 3.5 in) across, densely tomentose with tenacious reflexed sepals and stout, tomentose fruiting pedicel, 5 mm long. Pulp is firm, fleshy and aromatic. Fruit is normally light green while young turning yellow as soon as they ripe. The fruit is larger than average apple and bumpy; appear somewhat like large guava, avocado, or as short-necked pear fruit. Its fuzzy surface is smooth as in peaches. Quince fruit weighs about 250-750 g or more in some varieties. External skin is normally fuzzy and has light yellow, gritty flesh. Fruit has intense fruity aroma and has astringent, acidulous taste. They are too hard, too tart, too acidic, too sour, and too generally unpleasant in taste and texture to eat raw. Sufficient cooking, however, softens them and brings out the floral aroma they hold deep inside along with a lovely sweetness. Harvesting ranges from mid-February in warmer areas with the very early Missouri Mammoth, to late April in cooler districts with the Van Deman.

History

Quince is indigenous to Western Asia; its primary wild area is perhaps limited to the Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and the Russian Federation – Ciscaucasia, Dagestan. Partially connected with this core area are populations in Iran, Anatolia, Syria, Turkmenia and Afghanistan. Due to its unique taste and higher nutritional value it is grown throughout the world.

Nutritional Value

Apart from their astringent, acidulous taste, Quince is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Consuming 92 gram of quince offers 0.6 mg of Selenium, 13.8 mg of Vitamin C, 0.12 mg of Copper, 14.08 g of Carbohydrate, 0.64 mg of Iron,1.7 g of Total dietary Fiber, 181 mg of Potassium,0.037 mg of Vitamin B6 and 16 mg of Phosphorus.

Health benefits of Quince

Like most fruits, quince is rich in nutrients like Vitamins A, B and C, fiber, as well as minerals like potassium, copper, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and magnesium. It is low in fat. The rich nutritional value of quince makes it beneficial for your health in the following ways:

1. Circulation and Hair Health

Quince consists of good amount of mineral content like iron, copper, and zinc. These three minerals, together with other trace elements, are essential for the production of red blood cells. When red blood cell production is high, then circulation around the body increases, which means oxygen, is carried throughout the body. This causes increased blood flow to the skin and scalp, which can increase hair follicle health and stimulate growth. (1)

2. Weight Loss Aid

Improving your digestion is one of the best ways to keep your weight down and guarantee a speedy metabolism that will keep your system optimal. As other fruits quince is also high in dietary fiber, but the significant levels mean that your gastrointestinal system works more efficiently and regularly. You will have more energy and keep your excess waste weight down by improving your digestive health.(2)

3. Treats Ulcers

Phenolics present in Chinese quince are effective in relieving gastric ulcers. Quince juice is beneficial for people suffering from gastric ulcers. It also helps in the treatment of peptic ulcers as it calms the gastrointestinal tract.

4. Allergic Reactions

Quince has long been admired for its ability to control allergic reactions. When applied as a salve or gel on the skin, it can benefit atopic dermatitis as well as other similar skin conditions. High levels of vitamin C present in quince also help to control inflammation and improve the health and appearance of your skin.(3)

5. Gastrointestinal Diseases

Apart from general functioning of the digestive tract, fiber present in quince can help to prevent certain gastrointestinal conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), various cancers, or diverticulitis. Catechin and epicatechin contained in the fiber will bind with certain cancer-causing toxins that are found in the colon, thus protecting the mucus membrane of that important organ system.(4)

6. Cancer Prevention

Cancer is one of the most frequently discussed diseases in recent history. Therefore, anything that can reduce the chances of developing cancer commonly becomes quite popular. Quince consists of high level of antioxidants, like phenolic and phytonutrient compounds which is quite effective in neutralizing as well as eliminating free radicals in the body. Free radicals are actually the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism than may cause healthy cells to mutate or die. The antioxidant compounds present in quince have been directly associated to reduce chances of developing various types of cancer.(5)

7. Blood Pressure Monitor

Potassium is one of the most important minerals present in quince which is essential for maintaining blood pressure and facilitating effective fluid transfer in the body’s cells. Potassium causes the blood vessels and arteries to relax, thereby decreasing the strain on the cardiovascular system. This will help to decrease the chances of developing conditions like atherosclerosis, which can lower your risk for coronary heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.(6)

8. Anti-inflammatory Properties

Ripe quince fruit is actually a wonderful source of Vitamin C, contributing nearly 25% of the suggested daily allowance (RDA). Vitamin C helps to boost immunity and aids in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It also possesses anti-allergenic properties and can also be used in the preparation of food products for allergy sufferers.

9. Skin Health

Quince consists of higher amount of antioxidants and vitamins that are very beneficial for keeping your skin looking healthy and young. Antioxidants help to eliminate the damage that free radicals due to skin cells, thus decreasing the appearance of wrinkles, removing blemishes, and helping to defend your skin against the effects of UV radiation.(7)

10. Immune System Booster

As discussed before, quince consist of huge amount of antioxidants, but the other vitamins, like vitamin C and E, also help to boost the immune system in numerous ways. For example, vitamin C encourages the immune system to increase the supply of white blood cells, which are the first line of defense against pathogens, viruses, and bacteria in the body.(8)

How to Eat

• Quince is mostly grown for its edible fruit, although its flowers are also edible.
• Only cultivars with a soft skin, matured in a warm climate can be eaten raw.
• Quince are roasted, baked or stewed or processed into jams, marmalades, pastes, jelly and quince pudding.
• Quince paste is still extensively made in France and Spain, while in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay quince is cooked into a reddish jello-like block or firm reddish paste known as dulce de membrillo which is then eaten as a spread in sandwiches and with cheese.
• Boiled quince is also popular in desserts such as the murta con membrillo that combines Ugni molinae with quince.
• Fruit is cooked into a firm reddish paste and is eaten with manchego cheese in Spain.
• Quince is cooked in pomegranate paste (dibs rouman) with shank meat and kibbeh (a Middle Eastern meat pie with burghul and mincemeat) and is called “kibbeh safarjalieh” in Syria.
• Fruit it is used in mixed products including juices pure and mixed, liqueurs, wine, cider, fruits in liqueur, jam, marmalade, jelly, and dried jelly as a special “quince-bread” due to its strong and intensive fragrance and flavor.
• Quinces are used for flavoring apple pies, ices and confections.
• Quince juice mixes well with other fruit juices.
• Quince is made into brandy in Bosnia.
• Quince wine was popular in Britain in the nineteenth century, and was reputed to be beneficial to asthma sufferers.
• Quince scalding water, rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, organic acids and sugars could be used in low-fat yogurt production.

Other Traditional uses and benefits of Quince

• Quince has been used as an herbal medicine since ancient times.
• Fruit is antivinous, astringent, cardiac, carminative, restorative, digestive, diuretic, stimulant, emollient, peptic, expectorant, pectoral, refrigerant, and tonic.
• An infusion is used for sore throat, diarrhea and hemorrhage of the bowel.
• It is effective against inflammation of the mucous membranes, intestines and stomach.
• Fruit and its juice are used as a mouthwash or gargle to treat mouth ulcers, gum problems and sore throats.
• Quince is used in the cosmetic industry and for medicinal cosmetics.
• Unripe fruit is very astringent; syrup made from it is used in the treatment of diarrhea and is particularly safe for children.
• Pectin is said to protect the body against radiation and has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system and helps to reduce blood pressure.
• A teaspoon of quince jam dissolved in a cup of boiling water relieves intestinal discomfort in Malta.
• Leaves contain tannin and pectin. Tannin can be used as an astringent.
• Stem-bark is astringent and used for ulcers in Chinese herbal medicine.
• Seed is a mild but reliable laxative, astringent and anti-inflammatory.
• Seeds are used as a remedy for pneumonia and lung disease in Iran.
• Quince seeds are collected and boiled and then ingested to combat pneumonia in some parts of Afghanistan.
• Mucilage released by soaking seeds has a soothing and demulcent action when taken internally and is used in the treatment of sore throat and respiratory diseases, particularly in children.
• This mucilage is also applied externally to minor burns and use for eye lotions.
• Studies in Iran reported that quince seed mucilage proved to hasten wounds more rapidly than a commercial wound healing cream or eucerin cream without mucilage.
• Quince leaves are used as decoction or infusion, in folk medicine for their sedative, antipyretic, anti-diarrheic and antitussive properties and for the treatment of various skin diseases.
• Cydonia oblonga leaves are used as a folk remedy for the treatment of diabetes in Turkey.
• Gencydo, a combination of lemon (Citrus Limon) juice and aqueous quince (Cydonia oblonga) extract has been used traditionally in anthroposophical medicine for treating patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma in Germany.

Other Facts

• Quince is very widely used as rootstocks for pears and is also suitable for loquat.
• Quince has the property of dwarfing the growth of pears, of forcing them to produce more precociously, and to bear more fruits, instead of vegetative growth, and of accelerating the maturity of the fruit.
• Quince flower is also a rich nectar source for bees.
• Quince fruit because of their strong and rich fragrance was once popularly used as room deodorizers.
• Mucilage from the seed coat is used as a gum Arabic substitute to add gloss to a material.
• Quince leaves contain 11% tannin and can be used for tanning.

Selection and Storage

Quince fruit season starts by September. Fresh fruits usually arrive in the united states markets from the Georgia, Armenia, Turkey as well as Middle East. Within the markets, select well-developed, firm, vibrant golden-yellow color fruits. Prevent green, premature, since they are nasty and also inedible. In addition, prevent injured, shriveled ones since they are out from taste.

Once in your own home, Quinces remain well for approximately a week whenever kept open in cool, darkish spot faraway from heat, and also moisture. They store for many weeks positioned in the fridge.

Preparation and Serving tips

Raw quince is incredibly bitter and also astringent since it has seldom consumed uncooked. Its nasty flavor and also choking feeling in the mouth is because of particular chemical substances within the fruit referred to as tannins. Cooking ruins these types of substances whilst maintaining aromatic rich essential oils and also aliphatic compounds within the fruit. With the help of sugar or even honey, the fruit tends to make superb tasty fairly sweet and also delicious recipes, jams, jellies, and also preserves.

To prepare, simply wash the fruit within cold water. Trim the fruit in quarters since you do in apples and pears. Eliminate central core, as well as seeds utilizing paring knife. Cut In tiny pieces or even wedges and add in the cooking.

Here are a few serving suggestions:

• Quince fruit tends to make fantastic addition within the confectionary. A number of the conventional sweet special treats just like pies, marmalade, cakes, jams (membrilo) jellies, tarts etc., utilize this particular fruit to get unique taste.
• It can also be utilized in stews, sea food, poultry, and also lamb preparations like a flavoring base.

Safety profile

Quince fruit seeds usually are toxic and ought not be consumed. Raw fruit could cause discomfort within the throat and may even result in inhaling and exhaling problems.

Quince for Pale and Skin Wrinkles

Quince Seed Mask

Quince and quince seed are used in the care products for oily, dry and normal skins. You can also prepare masks or care products by using quince at home. For dry and normal skins, you can prepare masks by adding herbal mixtures or you can prepare both lotions and cures for oily skins.

Quince for Pale and Skin Wrinkles

You can avoid the pale look on your face by cleaning it with the slices of quince and this will also slow down the development of wrinkles.

Quince Juice for Oily Skins

Grate the quince and put aside the juice of quince. Cleanse your skin with the juice by using some cotton. It takes away the sebum on your face and it is a perfect cleanser. When you do the cleaning every day, it decreases the number of freckles on your face.

Cleaning Mask with the Quince

Grate the quince and put aside the juice of quince . Add the white of an egg to the juice and apply the mixture on your face for 20 minutes. Then, wash your face with warm water. It is a good cleanser for oily skins. It makes your skin look more lively and fresh.

Quince Mask for Oily Skins

Add one glass of water to 25 – 30 pounds of quince seeds and wait for an hour. Then wait until it gets boiled and filter it. Add the mixture on your hair and wait for half an hour. Then, rinse your hair with warm water. Apply this cure once a week. The shelf life of the mask is 3 months when you keep it in the fridge.

Quince Mask for Normal Hair

Take away the seeds of a quince and cube the seeds. Add 2 glasses of water and boil it. After boiling it, wait until the mixture gets warmer. Apply it on the roots of your hair by doing massage. After waiting for an hour, rinse your hair with warm water without using shampoo.

Quince Juice Mask for Burns

Take away the seeds of a quince. Add the seeds into the half glass of boiled water. Mix the water and the seeds good enough. This mixture decreases the pain of burn and avoids the burn blemishes. You can apply it on the burn 2 or 3 times a day.

Behidana – Quince Seeds

بہی دانہ – بی دانہ – تخم سفرجل – بہیدانہ – به دانه – تخم به

ماہیت ۔ یہ بہی کے لعاب دارتخم ہیں ۔ جولمبے گول چٹپے سرخی مائل بھورے ہوتے ہیں ۔
مزاج ۔ سردوتردرجہ دوم ۔
افعال واستعمال ۔ مسکن حرارت ، مزلق ، مغری ،مخرج بلغم ۔
بہی دانہ کا لعاب گرم نزلہ وزکام/کھانسی حار/حلق کی خشکی زبان کی سوزش ، سل ودق ،پیچش اوربخاروں میں بکثرت استعمال کیاجاتاہے مسکن حرارت ہونے کی وجہ سے دھوپ یا آگ سے چھالے پڑجائیں تواس کا لعاب لگانے سے ٹھنڈک پڑجاتی ہے۔اور اسکا لعاب پیشاب کی جلن دور کرتا ہے ۔ بہی دانہ سوزش آمعا میں مفیدہے ۔ سپستان کے ہمراہ جوش دے کر نمونیان میں پلاتے ہیں ۔ بہی دانہ میں نزلہ کو رقیق کرکے بہانے کر کے بہنے کی قوت ہے۔اور گاؤزبان میں روکنے کی۔ پر اکثر بچوں کو گرمی کے دست آنے لگتے ہیں۔ایسی صورت میں بہدانہ کا لعاب اسپغول کا سبوس عرق کیوڑہ اور شربت صندل ملاکر پلاتے ہیں۔
فوائد خاص ۔ نزلہ اور اسہال کیلئے ۔
مضر ۔ مجفف اور مرخی معدہ ۔
مقدار خوراک ۔ تین سے پانچ گرام تک ۔
بہدانہ کھانسی گلے کی خراش اورآواز بیٹھ جانے میں انتہائی مفید ہے۔خاص طورپرلیکچرار ، پروفیسراورگلوکاروں کیلئے جن کو زیادہ بولنا پڑتا ہے۔

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