Strawberries: the benefits and harm, calorie and composition

Strawberries are a very healthy, fragrant and tasty berry, which is recommended for both adults and children.On average, there are about 600 species of this berry. It contains many healing elements. Strawberries surpasses even strawberries in their amazing aroma and unique taste. It is worth more to consider the properties and contraindications of strawberries, as well as its composition and use.

About the positive effects of strawberries on health was known in the XIII century. And at the end of the XV century, this berry was grown in Europe. Wild strawberries grow in Europe as well as in Asia, North Africa and America. This berry loves well-lit places where quite a lot of sun rays fall. Strawberry berries attract the attention of delicious taste and strong aroma. They can be used both fresh and after thermal processing. An interesting fact is that strawberries are used not only for human consumption, but also in traditional medicine. In many countries, strawberries belong to delicacies, because it has a short shelf life and deteriorates very quickly.

In the 19th century, exceptionally rich people could afford this amazing berry. In France, a hybrid of strawberries was bred, while the North American varieties were crossed with wild berries. This hybrid grows well in various conditions. Wild strawberry is a herbaceous plant that grows for many years. It has a long stem and green leaves. Although it is customary to call strawberries a berry, but it would be correct to call it overgrown receptacle.

Many people like strawberries, both children and adults, because it is rich in glucose and fructose, which are indispensable for the normal development of the body. The fruits of strawberries attract the attention of a sourish taste (due to the presence of various acids) and an exquisite aroma, which is provided by essential and aromatic oils.

Strawberries contain quite a few useful properties, which is due to its rich composition. It includes a large amount of various vitamins, for example, group B, vitamins C, E, A, PP, K. The presence of ascorbic acid provides an increase in immunity, activates the protective functions of the body. Often, strawberry leaves are used to prepare phytotea, since they have a large amount of vitamin C. If we consider macronutrients, this berry contains sulfur, potassium, chlorine, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, silicon, iron and magnesium.

In addition to vitamins and macronutrient, the berries of the plant include various trace elements, among which it is necessary to distinguish copper and manganese, fluorine and zinc, iodine and cobalt, chromium and boron. The composition of strawberries includes a fairly large range of organic acids. In addition, strawberries include tannins, sugars, carbohydrates, amino acids, dietary fiber and various biologically active elements.

It is worth noting that a large amount of fatty acids, for example, omega 3, is presented in strawberry fruits, which is very important for the productive work of the brain, so strawberries are a real find for children. Thanks to the starch and fiber, the activity of the gastrointestinal tract is activated. Forest and horticultural strawberries have almost the same composition of useful substances, but there are also differences.

So, the fruits growing in the forest, surprise with a strong aroma, which indicates the best chemical composition. A wild strawberry flower contains a very important substance - rutin, which provides for strengthening, elasticity and strength of the vessel walls.

The healing properties of strawberries were known in ancient times. The ancient eskulapas widely used strawberries for the treatment of various diseases, and in ancient India many diseases were treated with a special decoction made from roots, leaves and strawberries.Even in ancient times, this berry was indispensable for people with joint problems. Today, this berry is often recommended for people suffering from arthritis, gout or rheumatism, as it prevents the accumulation of uric acid, salts and toxic substances in the joints. Quite often, the use of this berry is an excellent prevention of beriberi. It also reliably protects against skin aging, so often the fruits are used to create masks. Its regular use will help women forget about facial wrinkles.

It is worth noting that The rich composition of strawberries helps in the fight even with rather terrible diseases. So, it is recommended to use it to patients who have malignant tumors. Of course, the usual berry will not be able to cure the human body, but it will allow to saturate it with very important and useful elements in order to give it strength to combat this terrible disease.

When bleeding hemorrhoids, you can make compresses from freshly squeezed berries juice. For kidney diseases, nervous disorders, colitis, gastritis or gallstone disease, it is recommended to take a decoction of strawberry leaves. Berry should be a mandatory product for type 2 diabetes, because it has diuretic and choleretic effects.

These properties will also become indispensable in the treatment of such ills as bronchial asthma, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and in case of disorders of appetite. Infusion, like broth, from this plant can strengthen the immune system, improve brain activity.

Forest strawberries are often assigned to women who have various gynecological problems, such as uterine bleeding, fibroids, mastopathy. Doctors advise her to eat whole courses for these ailments. The berries of this plant will be very useful for regular constipation or other intestinal disorders. It has been scientifically proven that eating strawberries prevents the development of inflammatory processes in the human intestine.

Fruits of strawberries are very useful for nervous disorders, exhaustion of the body, liver failure, tuberculosis, various blood and cold diseases. It is necessary between meals to eat 100 grams of fruit or more. Regular consumption of berries will once and for all forget about worms. The rich composition of the fruit can reduce cholesterol in the blood. If you regularly drink decoctions from the leaves and fruits of strawberries, the work of the cardiovascular system will improve, because vitamins of group B are so important for the heart.

People with high blood pressure, as well as those suffering from atherosclerosis, should constantly drink tea from the leaves of this plant. Only regular use of such a drink will allow you to normalize blood pressure. Since the berries have a rather low calorie content, they are recommended to include in the diet during diets, which will cope with extra pounds.

Regular consumption of strawberries has a positive effect on vision. She is strongly recommended to eat when there is a problem with the retina, because it stops the destruction of the optic nerves. The berries of this plant are very useful for problems with the thyroid gland, but the emphasis should be placed on fresh fruit. Fresh berries are worth with cystitis, diathesis, gout and various inflammatory processes. For the treatment of skin diseases, they use not only the pulp of berries, but also juice.With the help of strawberries you can get rid of age spots and acne. For the treatment of bleeding ulcers and purulent wounds helps gruel from the fruit of the plant. Forest strawberries will be an excellent option for the treatment of eczema. To do this, use a compress, with which you can get rid of scabs.

In the cosmetic industry, wild strawberries are also quite popular. On its basis, produce various creams and masks, gels and shampoos. Tincture of the berries on alcohol allows you to bring freckles. Components of the plant rejuvenate the skin, prevent wrinkles, improves complexion. A decoction of the leaves in the form of rinsing allows you to eliminate the unpleasant smell from the mouth. And, of course, you can improve the overall condition of the body with the help of a healing broth. To prepare it, you need to take the leaves and berries, chop them, pour boiling water and let it brew for several minutes. Enhance the effect of such tea by adding a spoonful of natural honey.

Unfortunately, each product, in addition to positive qualities, has negative aspects, contraindications. The main thing that you should always take into account - you need to use any product in moderation. Excess for the body of any substance can adversely affect it. Therefore, strawberries can be harmful to health if consumed in large quantities. Especially since wild strawberry is a strong allergen, so it can cause allergies. Usually symptoms of an allergic reaction of the body is the appearance of red spots and rashes. These irritations on the skin begin to itch badly, which leads to great discomfort.

It is especially important to adhere to the norm for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding. It is necessary to use in minimal quantities strawberries for colic, both hepatic and renal, for diseases of the biliary tract and appendicitis. Contraindications include diseases such as open ulcer, chronic gastroduodenitis, increased acidity, open duodenal ulcer, gastritis and pancreatitis.

Since strawberries contain a large amount of sugar, diabetes should be very careful. This rule applies to children. If you plan to give the child strawberries for the first time, it is better to first consult with a specialist.

Strawberries are a diet product. 100 grams of its berries contain only 41 kcal. Such a low amount of calories allows you to use berries, even with increased body weight, and especially with weight loss. It should be noted that per 100 grams of fresh fruits of the plant there are 7.5 g of carbohydrates, 0.4 g of fats and 0.8 g of proteins.

Usually the season for picking strawberries comes in mid-summer in July. About ripening fruit says red and the presence of juice. In order for the berry to retain its useful properties and appearance, it is better to pluck it together with the stem. In this form, it is excellent will transfer transportation even over long distances. But it is worth collecting fruit only during the dry period, because after the rain they become tasteless, watery, prone to rotting.

Experts recommend to use fresh strawberries. Although many housewives prepare tasty preservation for the winter from these fruits: jams, jams, compotes, marshmallow, jam. It should be remembered that the berry loses most of its beneficial properties after undergoing high temperature regimes. To preserve the berries and enjoy their amazing taste even in winter, they should be prepared according to a special recipe. Fruits should be washed, cooked gruel from them using a fork or blender, pour the mass of sugar in a pre-prepared plastic container, send in storage in the freezer.And in the winter, just before use, the mass should be thawed in the refrigerator.

Regular consumption of fresh berries, as well as decoction of the leaves of the plant will allow to cope with various diseases, improve immunity, prepare the body for a period of colds. Do not abuse this product, just eat a few berries a day.

If we talk about the use of strawberries pregnant woman, then you should pay attention to some points. The fruits of this plant are useful because they contain a large amount of vitamins, macro-and micronutrients, but you should know that the berries are strong allergens. Therefore, eating them in large quantities is not worth it, because later it may affect the health of the baby. With an excess of ascorbic acid, which is so rich in strawberries, it can be an overdose of this substance.

Strawberries are non-calorie products, but it is forbidden to use it separately for weight loss. Since it contains in its composition antioxidants and calcium, the metabolism increases, cholesterol is actively broken down. Therefore, the body will quickly remove unnecessary substances, and therefore, it is necessary to eat properly. The use of strawberries has a positive effect on the condition of hair, nails and skin.

About what useful properties of strawberries, see the following video.