Black currant: useful properties and contraindications, features of use

Strengthen the body, help in the fight against viruses, improve the digestive organs, heart, blood vessels - all this is within the power of black currant berries. Young leaves of the plant are also used in cooking and medicine.

Black currant has a diverse chemical composition, the components of which by their biological activity can compete with artificial vitamin preparations. The latter, as is known, make concentrated, complex.

Currant is called the record for the content of ascorbic acid among berries and fruits. There are so many of its ripe berries that only 20 pieces of eaten fruit will satisfy the body's daily need for vitamin C. The important point is that already after a couple of weeks after maturation, more than 70% of the ascorbinka in the composition is destroyed.

Taste shades of black currant due to its organic acids and tannins. It is well known as an anti-cold remedy due to the presence of phytoncides in it. The latter are bioactive substances that defeat viruses and microbes. Berries also include essential oils, pectins.

The fruits of blackcurrant shrubs and macro-, microelements are enriched. Among them are sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron.

The energy value of the berries is low and averages 38 calories per 100 grams of product. It may vary depending on the method of processing the crop.

Due to the large amount of vitamin C, as well as the presence of phytoncids and some other components, black currant affects the human body as an immunity-strengthening and anti-inflammatory agent. It also demonstrates the disinfecting effect, which makes the fruit applicable for flu, sore throat, and inflammations in the mouth.

Vitamin and mineral richness of the composition also provides a toning, immunostimulating effect. The body is better able to withstand attacks of viruses and bacteria, it turns out to be more resistant to negative environmental factors. That is why currants should be considered both as a curative (it helps to recover faster, prevent complications), and as a prophylactic agent.

If possible, the berries should be consumed not only during the season of influenza and ARVI, but also during the spring of beriberi, interseasonal blues. Fresh berries can be taken as prevention of scurvy.

The disinfecting and bactericidal action of the berries is also due to the content of anthocyanins in them. They are glycosides, which also provide a shade of berries. It is noteworthy that the body itself does not produce anthocyanins, so it is important that they come from food. In addition to combating viruses and bacteria, these glycosides improve the quality of connective tissue, make the vascular walls more durable and elastic.

The combination of vitamins E and C has an antioxidant effect. Black fruits remove slags and toxins from the body, bind radionuclides. For men, the berries and the juice of them are useful for a hangover and will help to quickly improve well-being. In addition, antioxidants slow down cell aging.

Under the influence of phytoncides and antioxidants, the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood decreases, the formation of cholesterol plaques on the inner wall of the blood vessels stops. Nicotinic acid "helps" the capillaries, small vessels penetrating every organ and tissue.Under her influence, capillaries become more durable, but at the same time, permeable. This, in turn, provides better nutrition for each organ.

Blood does not meet on its way of following the obstacles in the form of atherosclerotic plaques, does not form blood clots. In addition, thanks to the gland in the composition of black currant, it is possible to normalize and maintain hemoglobin indices at the right level. The hemoglobin level is an indicator of the saturation of the blood (and hence the tissues) with oxygen.

Finally, the positive effect of black currant on the heart and blood vessels is also due to the presence of magnesium and potassium in it. They strengthen the heart, maintain a normal rhythm and improve muscle conductivity. The described properties together improve the work of the heart and blood vessels, normalize blood pressure.

Due to its composition, blackcurrant is useful during postpartum recovery. It is believed that vitamins A and C allow you to mobilize the body's immune forces, vitamin B - energy resources, accelerates the metabolism. Vitamins of this group also reduce cholesterol levels, help to improve protein digestion and, which is important for the newly-made mother, keep the body in good shape.

During HB, women may experience anemia, which can be prevented by the iron and magnesium present in the berry. Potassium also shows a strengthening effect on the heart muscle. Thanks to the positive effects of the berries on the heart and blood vessels, it is possible to reduce pressure, to cope with hypertension.

For women with HB, currants are also useful in that weak, helping fight constipation. If we talk about the decoction of its leaves, then it strengthens.

The baby’s body is also protected. Ascorbic acid and a number of other useful elements of the berry help to strengthen the body. Calcium in currants, though contained in small amounts, still contributes to the development of the child’s skeletal system.

Due to the large amount of “ascorbinka” in the berries, as well as the presence of pigments in them, they can harm the health of the baby - cause diathesis and dermatitis of an allergic nature. However, this is not a reason to abandon the consumption of berries. In the absence of contraindications, they should be in the mother’s diet after 5–6 months from the moment of delivery.

It is best to consume fresh blackcurrant. You can prepare juices. But with compotes and jam, you should be careful - high sugar content can also provoke allergies. Yes, and benefits after heat exposure berries bring less.

Nursing mother needs to start to consume currants with a small amount of fruits. The daily dosage should be 5-6 berries. In the absence of negative reactions from the mother and child, this dosage can be increased gradually to half a glass.

Berries of black currant will help children to strengthen the body and become a natural anti-cold remedy. In addition, they will help with anemia, poor appetite.

However, we must not forget that The fruits of currants are a strong allergen, so the minimum age of introduction into the diet of currants is 8-10 months. First, it is better to introduce natural juice, spreading it in half with water. You need to start with a teaspoon of juice, gradually bringing the volume to 100 ml.

By the age of 1.5-2 years old, you can try giving your child fresh berries, which are better to grind through a sieve. Other ways of turning fruits into mashed potatoes usually do not allow to get rid of the bones and skin, at the same time for the children's intestines, they will not bring any benefit yet.

After 2 years, you can give crumbs berries, but only under the supervision of an adult. The baby may accidentally swallow small fruits, stick them in the nose, ear. If the child is prone to allergies, you can postpone familiarity with the berries at a later date.

Thanks to vitamin C and PP, black currant cleans blood vessels, relieving their tension, reducing cholesterol levels. In general, positively acting on the heart and blood vessels, currants lowers the pressure in hypertension.

However, due to the presence of vitamin K in fruits, they contribute to an increase in blood viscosity, therefore, with a tendency to thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and the presence of serious blood diseases, they should be consumed with caution.

Fruits are beneficial to people suffering from cold extremity syndrome. Because of vitamin PP in the composition improves the work of small vessels - capillaries. Fabrics are well supplied with blood.

In the treatment of currants, a positive effect occurs in about a month and a half.

A large amount of organic acids in the berries becomes the reason for their abandonment with increased acidity of the stomach. Do not consume fresh berries in chronic diseases of the digestive tract inflammatory nature. In the period of exacerbation of gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, black fruits should be abandoned altogether.

Naturally, the harm will cause currants with its individual intolerance. Due to the presence of vitamin K in it, it is not necessary to eat currants in large quantities with increased blood clotting, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, and also to combine its use with antihistamine treatment. Hepatitis, both acute and chronic, in the acute stage are also contraindications to the consumption of black fruits.

Useful berries are widely used not only in cooking. During the season it is useful to consume them fresh. It is also useful to prepare berries for future use. Due to a sufficiently large amount of pectin in the fruit, they are well suited for making jams, jelly. In addition, jam is made from berries, compotes, used for impregnating baking or filling.

The sweet and sour taste of the berries also allows them to be used in the preparation of various sauces, not only for sweet dishes, but also as an additive to meat, poultry and fish.

In medicine, usually used berries and leaves of currant, and in cosmetology - extracts (pomace) of leaves, berries. However, if we are talking about home care, then the pulp of berries, juice, decoctions of leaves will do.

The rich vitamin-mineral composition, high content of organic acids and biologically active components attracted the attention of not only traditional healers, but also such branches of medicine as pharmacognosy (the branch of pharmaceutics that studies the properties of medicines based on natural components) and herbal medicine.

In folk medicine, the fruits of black currant and its leaves are often used as an anti-cold remedy. It will help relieve inflammation in the throat, will have a antipyretic effect and will fill the body's need for vitamin C. You can use both fresh and frozen berries, fresh or dried leaves.

The easiest recipe is to crush 1-2 tablespoons of berries and pour 200 ml of hot water over them. Leave to infuse for half an hour, and then drink 100-150 ml during the day.

If leaves are used, then you will need 1 tablespoon of crushed raw materials, which is poured with 2 cups of water. The infusion time broth is also half an hour. Drink a composition of 200 ml 2-3 times a day. You can add honey to it.

For sore throat, you can use currant juice. It is diluted with water in the ratio 1: 4 and rinse their throats. At the same time, you can mix blackcurrant juice with honey (in a ratio of 3: 1) and give the composition to the patient a tablespoon 3 times a day.

The following decoction is especially useful in diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract (cystitis, pyelonephritis). It has an anti-inflammatory effect and removes toxins from the body. Due to its safety and natural composition of broth on the black currant can be taken during pregnancy and lactation.

To prepare it, boil 3 liters of water, then throw berries into the liquid, which are blanched for 3-5 minutes. Then the composition is infused for an hour and a half, filtered and drunk twice a day, 50-100 ml.

With increased pressure it is recommended to brew a couple of tablespoons of dry berries with 1 liter of boiling water. Maintain the composition in a water bath for 10 minutes and take during the day in small portions. The course of treatment is until the pressure normalizes. As a rule, 2-2.5 weeks is enough.

With hypertension, as you know, you have to give up coffee and caffeinated beverages. In this case, the same tonic effect can be obtained by drinking a cup of currant tea instead of coffee in the morning. To do this, dry or fresh leaves brewed in a kettle and insist 5-10 minutes, after which they drink. You can add to them sugar, lemon, honey.

In addition, such compositions strengthen the patient's immunity, help restore metabolism and help get rid of the edema that occurs in the first stage of the disease.

To prepare a tonic formulation safe for diabetes, you should brew a handful of dried or fresh berries in your teapot and drink the composition throughout the day.

The following decoction has a diuretic effect - 2 tablespoons are poured over 500 ml of water. Boil the mixture for 5 minutes, then insist 1 hour. Strain and drink a quarter cup 4 times a day. In addition to the diuretic action, the decoction helps to eliminate toxins from the body, but it does not cause insulin spikes.

In case of gout and other diseases of the joints, it is also recommended to take an extract of black currant, fresh consumption of berries is not prohibited. The easiest way is to grind fresh berries with sugar and take it three times a day in a tablespoon.

Broths based on leaves and young twigs are ingested, and also used as compresses, added to therapeutic baths. Such methods of treatment will not help to completely get rid of the disease, but relieve the unpleasant symptoms during the exacerbation.

In cosmetology, black currant is used as an anti-inflammatory and whitening agent, and it also demonstrates a tonic effect. Due to organic acids in the composition of the berries can be used as a chemical peel, helping to remove dead skin cells, start rejuvenating processes in the skin cells.

Currant juice will help in the treatment of acne, providing a drying and antibacterial effect. It will also help eliminate excessive greasiness of the skin.

The simplest face mask is currant puree, in which, depending on skin type, you can add honey, sour cream, cream.

You need to pick berries at the peak of their ripeness. If you leave them hanging on a bush for longer than a week, then the concentration of useful substances in them is significantly reduced (in two weeks - twice).

The most useful option is fresh berries. Frozen have the same properties as fresh. In dried, the concentration of nutrients also remains high, but their caloric content also increases.

Jams and jams should contain as little sugar as possible and undergo minimal heat treatment. You can cook "raw" jam, passing the berries through a meat grinder, wiping through a sieve or breaking through a blender. In a word, it should be a homogeneous gruel. She poured sugar, mix everything thoroughly and allow the sweetener to dissolve.

As a rule, it takes 2-3 days.Then the composition is poured into sterile jars, a 1 cm layer of granulated sugar is poured on top and the jars are sealed with screw or capron lids.

For weight loss, it is better to use fresh or frozen berries. As they say reviews losing weight, while reducing the daily calorie and the active consumption of currants for 3-4 days can lose weight by 3-5 kg. It is more correct to call such food fasting days.

In general, at this time a small portion (40 g) of slow carbohydrates (porridge) with berries is offered for breakfast. As a snack, you can use the juice. Lunch should contain carbohydrates, proteins and fiber (steamed fish with buckwheat porridge and salad, for example), lunch and sometimes dinner should be replaced with a portion of currant berries.

Drinking regimen is maintained by consuming water, herbal teas, unsweetened fruit drinks, and compotes. An important point - the diet is not suitable in the presence of diseases of the digestive tract, including in the chronic stage.

If currant juice is used for pleasure or for medicinal purposes, it should be remembered for its high acidity. Avoiding stomach problems and damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa will allow fresh juice to be diluted with water. Do not damage the enamel of the teeth when consuming such juice will help drinking juice through a straw.

On the beneficial properties of black currant, see below.