Blueberry
Blueberry is a low forest shrub with a creeping rhizome and leathery leaves that fall for the winter. This plant is also called chernega, bilberry, blueberry or bilberry. Blueberries traditionally grow in light deciduous and coniferous forests and peat bogs in the northern and temperate regions of Asia, Europe and North America, but it is quite difficult to cultivate the plant.
The ratio of BJU in the product
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Useful properties of blueberries
Blueberries bloom in May with greenish-white flowers, and the bluish-black berries, which ripen in mid-summer, are not only edible, but also have many beneficial properties. They are often used in traditional and folk medicine, and it is also believed that blueberries are an excellent prevention of many diseases.
The beneficial properties of blueberries are determined by its composition:
- Vitamins - PP, B9, B4, beta-carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, tocopherol, phylloquinone, ascorbic acid;
- Macronutrients - potassium (up to 77 mg per 100 g of berries), phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sodium;
- Trace elements - zinc, manganese, copper, iron, selenium.
The calorie content of blueberries is low and amounts to 57 kcal per 100 g of berries.
In traditional medicine, not only berries are used, but also the leaves of the plant, which are useful in the initial forms of diabetes. This is due to the glycoside neomyrtyllin included in them, which has the property of lowering blood sugar.
Leaves for medicinal purposes should be harvested during the flowering period, and the fruits in July-August (at full maturity).
The benefits of blueberries have also been proven to treat:
- Eye diseases (eg, retinal detachment) and to improve twilight vision;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Thanks to the anthocyanin dye, which is contained in significant quantities in dark blue berries, blueberries have a beneficial effect on many body systems and reduce the risk of developing various diseases of the circulatory system and heart.
Locally, blueberries are used to treat stomatitis, burns, ulcers, and gingivitis.
In addition, the benefits of blueberries have been scientifically proven to slow the aging process of the body and eliminate toxins thanks to the anthocyanins, protoanthocyanids, flavonoids and tannins in the berries, which act as antioxidants. These properties, along with the low calorie content of blueberries, allow the berry to be used in various diets.
Blueberry application
Blueberries are eaten raw, and are often used to make jelly, liqueurs, pies and jams. Fresh berries are especially useful for vitamin deficiencies, as well as in the treatment of scurvy.
When treating ENT diseases, it is recommended to use an infusion of blueberries (1-2 teaspoons of berries per 200 ml of boiling water) or drink tea from the leaves of the plant.
The benefits of blueberries in the treatment of indigestion and diarrhea are traditionally used in traditional medicine. To prepare the infusion, two teaspoons of berries are poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for at least three hours in a warm place. The infusion should be taken up to four times a day before meals, half a glass. The same infusion is taken as an auxiliary therapy in the treatment of catarrhal sore throat, pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis.
For topical use in the treatment of weeping eczema, burns and many other skin diseases, blueberries are recommended to be boiled and then used as lotions and compresses. The therapeutic effect is due to the phytoncides that are part of the berries, which have a pronounced antimicrobial effect.
Also, an infusion of blueberry leaves is used to treat wounds, for which one teaspoon of blueberry leaves, previously chopped, is brewed with one glass of boiling water. After half an hour, the resulting infusion can be used to treat the wound or burn surface.
To treat conjunctivitis, blueberries should be used with eyebright, fennel, chamomile or sea buckthorn.
In addition, blueberry decoctions and infusions can be drunk with gout, rheumatism and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders, and in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary sphere, they can be used for enemas and douching.
Due to its rich vitamin reserve and low calorie content, blueberries are recommended for use in dietary nutrition.
Contraindications
Despite the many beneficial properties, blueberries should not be eaten with oxalaturia (a type of urolithiasis). In case of disorders in the biliary tract and against the background of diseases of the pancreas, it is recommended to eat dried blueberries in limited quantities.
Individual berry intolerance is extremely rare and manifests itself as allergic reactions.
It should also be borne in mind that large quantities of blueberries can lead to constipation.
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