Juicy sweet and sour berry came from America and spread to many countries of the world. In the process of expansion, she managed to adapt to various climatic conditions, and now it is used in various parts of the world. Use is not limited to just eating. Blackberry has a therapeutic effect on the human body.
Calorie and chemical composition of blackberry
It is difficult to list the whole composition of the nutrients of a berry in a single article, but berry is especially valued for a large amount vitamins P, C, A, B, bioflavonoids, tannins, iron, organic acids: malic, nicotinic, citric and others.
Due to its low calorie content (100 g of calories are contained in 100 g of the product), the blackberry is considered a diet berry. It contains 4.4 g carbohydrates, 0.5 g fat and 1.5 g proteins.
As for the other composition of the berries, then it found the following substances: ash, mono- and disaccharides, water, organic acids, dietary fiber, vitamins (PP, E, C, B2, B1, A, beta-carotene), macronutrients (phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium), trace elements (selenium , copper, zinc, iron, manganese, iron).
Did you know? Blackberry is a small spike-covered bush 1.5 m tall. Its fruits are very similar to the fruits of raspberry, but after ripening they change color from green to intermediate red, and when fully matured - black. They differ from raspberry and taste. Today, there are about 200 varieties of blackberry. All of them are less resistant to frost than raspberries, but more productive.
Blackberry berry health benefits
Firstly Blackberry's use is in its berrieswhich retain their medicinal properties both in dried and frozen. Eating them, you can normalize the metabolism, body functions, strengthen the immune system, slow down the aging process in the body.
Substances contained in the berries, even have a preventive effect in the field of cancer. The effect is achieved due to polyphenolic compounds, which are similar to antioxidants in their action - they protect the body from free radicals.
What else is useful blackberry? This is known since ancient times antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent. The main active ingredients in this case are flavones, which work in conjunction with salicylic acid - known natural aspirin.
Catechins, which are part of the flavonoids, provide cholesterol absorption, the utilization of heavy metals, the destruction of harmful bacteria, and a decrease in blood sugar levels.
Outwardly fresh leaves are used for the treatment of various skin diseases. To do this, they are crushed into a slurry and applied to the affected areas, eczema, trophic ulcers, bruises, wounds, boils.
Did you know? The plant is known for the fact that in addition to berries, blackberry leaves and root have medicinal properties. They are also harvested and used in raw form with various therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
Useful properties of blackberry leaves
Blackberry leaves are rich Miritillin - a substance often referred to as "natural insulin". Its greatest concentration is observed in the leaves before the berries ripen. Therefore, the leaves on the broth collected ahead of time with young plants. A decoction of them lowers blood sugar levels.
Blackberry leaf tea and tea also take for the treatment of gastritis, dysentery, poor digestion, duodenal ulcers and stomach. It has a good effect in all sorts of bleeding: uterine, heavy menstrual, pulmonary, gastrointestinal.
Such drinking helps in the occurrence of adhesions after surgery, has a diaphoretic and diuretic effect, reduces inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.
Important! Blackberry juice is prepared from young leaves and ripe berries of the plant, which they drink in conjunction with the treatment of all the above mentioned diseases.
When stomatitis and other diseases of the gums are prepared infusion of leaves for rinsing. For this 4 tbsp. l crushed blackberry leaf pour 2 cups boiling water and infuse for half an hour.
If you prepare the decoction not only from the leaves, but also from the branches of the plant, it helps a lot with heart neuroses, menopausal and other neuroses, and it generally strengthens the nervous system.
How in folk medicine use blackberry root
Since ancient times, known medicinal properties. blackberry rootwhich is also widely used in traditional medicine. Him decoction used in dropsy as a carminative agent, with ascites for removal of fluid.
A well-known decoction of blackberry root in the treatment of pharyngitis, tonsillitis and sore throats. For its preparation Take 20 g of crushed rhizome and boil in a glass of water for about 20 minutes. Broth must insist for 3 hours and drain.
Did you know? Blackberries, thanks to the catechins contained in it, helps to establish a metabolism and fight obesity, even obesity. It does not allow the body to accumulate excess fat, while increasing energy consumption, due to which previously accumulated are used. In addition, the berries help cleanse the body. Moreover, even blackberry frozen helps to remove slags and other deposits.
Preparation of medical raw materials from blackberry
Any part of the plant is useful, but they must be harvested each according to their own rules. So, berries harvested only in the period of full maturity. It is at this time that they are as rich in nutrients as possible.
They can be used fresh, harvested in the form of jam, juice, jams. The berry preserves most of its beneficial properties after freezing or drying. In the latter case, it is recommended to use artificial heat. No matter how you prepare berries, they retain their useful properties for no more than 2 years.
Blackberry root harvested in late autumn. They dig it up, wash it off the ground, cut out damaged or dried parts, dry it in the open air, but not under direct sunlight. Then the roots are wrapped in natural fabric or paper and stored for storage in a dry, cool, dark place.
Leaves removed from the bush throughout the season, but the most valuable are considered young, fully formed leaves, taken before the berries ripen on the bush. They are dried in ovens immediately after collection at temperatures up to 40 ° C.
When harvesting leaves for blackberry tea, they are subjected to fermentation. After harvesting, lightly press through with a wooden rolling pin on a wooden board until they put the juice in. Then tightly folded into the pan and close the lid under the press. The mass should turn black within 2-3 days. Once this has happened, it is immediately sent for drying.
The benefits of blackberry during pregnancy and breastfeeding
What is useful blackberry for women, so it has hemostatic and sedative properties. But not always a woman can use everything she needs or wants for food.
The same rule applies to blackberries. On the one hand, its rich composition should help a woman during pregnancy and lactation. On the other - it harbors many dangers, in particular, dangerous allergic reactions to the berry.
Therefore, the question of whether it is possible for pregnant blackberries is difficult to answer unequivocally. If a woman does not have allergic reactions to her, intestinal disorders, cystitis, pain or heaviness in the kidneys, then the berry can be safely consumed.
If at least one symptom appears from this list, you should immediately refuse it and consult a doctor. As for nursing mothers, in this case, there is another rule - there is a blackberry can only be after the child turns 3 months.
The rest of the plant has a beneficial effect on the body of a lactating and pregnant woman. The entire set of vitamins, micro-and macro-elements helps to normalize the metabolism, increase hemoglobin levels, heal wounds.
Blackberry leaf decoction during pregnancy helps to eliminate inflammation, congestion in the body and in general the recovery of the body after childbirth.
Important! On top of that, the blackberry works well on the skin of the face. The use of masks from the berries and leaves of the plant helps to get rid of the earthy skin tone, restore its freshness, remove the layer of dead cells.
Blackberry and beekeeping
Blackberry is considered an excellent honey plant. Up to 40 kg of honey can be removed from one hectare of plant. The first flowers on the shrub appear in June, and the last bloom in September. Each flower is very rich in nectar, so bees like blackberries.
From it it turns out transparent, light, honey sometimes with a barely yellowish tinge.
Unfortunately, the berry is rarely cultivated, mostly growing in the wild, but specially planted plantations produce yields for a dozen years.
Possible contraindications for blackberry
Speaking about the benefits of plants, it is necessary to mention the harm that can cause blackberry health. Once again I want to note high allergenicity berries. The reaction to it can be very violent, so it is advisable to take an allergic test before use.
Since the berry contains a huge amount of organic acids, it should be used with caution by people diagnosed with gastritis or gastric or duodenal ulcer - exacerbations may occur.
Nausea and diarrhea are noted as indicators of individual intolerance. But in any case, if you want to use the berry or other raw blackberry as a drug, it is better to consult your doctor if you have any contraindications to the use of blackberry.
As you can see, blackberries - just a storehouse of various vitamins, micro-and macronutrients. Moreover, not only the berry has healing properties, but also other parts of the plant, as well as honey obtained from its flowers. You can procure raw materials (except honey) by yourself, but it is always necessary to use it as a medicine with caution, because the blackberry has both beneficial properties and contraindications.
