5 health benefits of pine

We’ve all heard of the amazing health benefits that come with adding goji berries and chia seeds to your diet. Now there’s a new superfood in town, say hello to the top 5 health benefits of pine.

Yep, you heard right, the humble pine tree is currently all the rage in the healthy living world. This is because of the amazing benefits it boasts from the tips of its needles right down to the roots in the ground. Normally associated with Christmas, not only does the pine tree look pretty, but it’s also really good for our health. This is news to us, too! We thought the only thing you could do with a pine tree was to wrap it in fairy lights and cover it in baubles. Apparently the tree has been used for its health benefits for hundreds of years. Dating all the way back to 1536, pine tree bark was used as a remedy for scurvy by native Canadians. They did this by boiling the leaves and the bark to make a tea so miraculous it was known as the ‘tree of life’. Along with the tree’s bark and pine needles, medicinal qualities can also be found in its cones, seeds and resin. If the thought of chewing on the bark of your Christmas tree leaves you feeling a bit (ever)green, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are many other ways to consume its magical properties – from using pine needle oil to taking capsules. Have a look below to see why we’re now going to be adding pine into our daily diet.

Immune system
The pine tree actually holds an unusually high amount of vitamin C considering it’s a plant. It’s possible to consume this in different ways, either by brewing a tea from dried pine needles or consuming its dried bark peels. Vitamin C is highly essential to our health as it helps to maintain and support our immune system. It’s also necessary for the maintenance of healthy tissue, which gives structure for other tissue and organs and helps wounds to heal faster.

Happy heart
Including pine in your diet could be a wonderful way to look after your cardiovascular system. There are a range of supposed benefits: from increasing circulation to strengthening blood vessels and even supporting healthy blood pressure. It’s said to be especially good if you suffer from anaemia, as the vitamins E and K help to increase the production of red blood cells. Get your daily dose by sprinkling a handful of pine nuts onto a salad.

Energy
As previously mentioned, the vitamins contained within pine help to combat anaemia, which is characterised by fatigue. Therefore, if you up your intake of pine you’ll start noticing increased levels of energy. This is down to the high iron and magnesium levels found in the tree, which are known to help with energy production and the transportation of oxygen around the body. We feel more awake already!

Healthy eyes, skin and hair
Pine is not only good for your insides, but it also works wonders on your outsides too. This is down to the vitamin A and antioxidants that the pine tree has in abundance. This helps to prevent the development of cataracts in the eyes and help vision. It also neutralises free radicals, which helps to keep skin looking young and healthy! Plus, we love how it helps to make our hair look thick and shiny while also keeping it dandruff free. The best way to take this is through capsules; we particularly like Pycnogenol, which is a unique extraction of pine bark specifically from a pine tree native to the south of France.

General wellbeing
From sleep problems to stress, the scent of the pine tree is an all-round excellent mood elevator. It can also help to balance out hormones due to the manganese and zinc content, which is perfect if you suffer from PMT. The use of pine needle oil is the best way to soothe your soul and has been used in aromatherapy for centuries. We highly recommend you accompany this with a full body massage for extra relaxation.