The Differences Between Hickory (Wild Walnut) and Walnut, Their Benefits, and How to Choose Them

Hickory, also known as wild walnut. Hickory nut belongs to the walnut family, genus Carya, and is a deciduous tree with smooth bark, greenish-brown when young, white on old trees, with naked buds; the new shoots, the undersides of the leaves and the outer surface of the husk are all densely covered with rusty-yellow glandular scales. The protein and unsaturated fatty acids contained in hickory can nourish brain cells and enhance brain activity.What are the differences between hickory (wild walnut) and walnut? What benefits and effects do they have? How do you choose them?

I. What are the differences between hickory and walnut?

1. Walnut

Walnut, also called Persian walnut or Qiang peach, is a plant of the walnut family. Together with almond, cashew and hazelnut, it is known as one of the world-famous “four great dried fruits”. Walnut kernels are rich in nutrients, containing 15~20 grams of protein per 100 grams, a relatively high amount of fat, and 10 grams of carbohydrates; they also contain various trace elements and minerals essential to the human body such as calcium, phosphorus and iron, as well as various vitamins such as carotene and riboflavin. They are beneficial to the human body and can strengthen the brain. They are one of the nut foods most loved by ordinary people. They are praised as the “king of ten thousand years” and the “longevity fruit”.

2. Hickory

Hickory, also known as Manchurian walnut or Chinese walnut. It is a deciduous tree belonging to the walnut family, genus Carya, reaching 10-20 m in height and 30-60 cm in diameter at breast height; the bark is smooth, grayish-white and glossy; the twigs are slender, and the new branches are densely covered with shield-shaped orange-yellow glands, which later gradually become sparse; one-year-old branches are purplish-gray, often sparsely covered with short soft hairs at the upper end, with round, sparse lenticels.

3. Hickory contains linoleic acid, linolenic acid and various trace elements. If people regularly consume hickory foods, it can help lower blood cholesterol.

4. Hickory is also rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese, as well as various vitamins. Regular consumption not only benefits the brain but also helps prevent high blood pressure, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and other conditions.

5. The vitamin E that hickory is rich in can, when consumed regularly, improve the physiological activity of human skin and help with beauty care.

II. What benefits and effects does hickory have?

1. Walnut kernels contain relatively large amounts of protein and unsaturated fatty acids essential to human nutrition; these components are all important substances for the metabolism of brain tissue cells and can nourish brain cells and enhance brain function;

2. Walnut kernels have the effect of preventing arteriosclerosis and lowering cholesterol; in addition, walnut can also be used to treat non-insulin-dependent diabetes; walnut also has effects such as relieving pain in cancer patients, raising white blood cells and protecting the liver;

3. The large amount of vitamin E contained in walnut kernels, when eaten regularly, has the effect of moistening the skin and darkening the hair and beard, and can make the skin moist, smooth and elastic;

4. When feeling tired, chewing some walnut kernels helps relieve fatigue and stress;

5. Breaking blood and removing stasis. Used for conditions such as blood-stagnation amenorrhea, blood-stasis abdominal pain and blood accumulation mania;

6. Moistening dryness and lubricating the intestines. Used for difficult defecation due to intestinal dryness and constipation. This product is bitter, dispersing and stasis-removing, enters the liver meridian, and has a relatively strong effect of invigorating blood and regulating menstruation, removing stasis and generating new tissue, making it suitable for those with relatively severe blood-level stasis. In addition, it also has the effects of lubricating the intestines and relieving cough.

III. How do you choose hickory?

Walnuts are best when they are large and round, with thin, white and clean shells, a high kernel yield, dry, with large kernel pieces, white and clean in color and high in oil content. Kernels whose seed coat is dark yellow are inferior, brownish-yellow is even more inferior, and those with a rancid taste have seriously deteriorated and must not be eaten.