
The small red blueberries, which practically do not weigh, are a treasure of beneficial properties, allowing them to use for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. Red blueberries are not only used in popular medicine, but also in cosmetology to take care of delicate skin. They are also used in the kitchen, giving the dishes an unusual and spicy flavor.
Description
The red blueberry is a small bush up to 23 cm high. It is a perennial bush with a creeping rhizome and branched stems looking for the sun. The leaves are dense green with a bright surface.
They bloom from April to May. The inflorescences are tender, small, white such as snow with a pinkish dye, exhale a pleasant fragrance. The fruits are bright red with a bright surface and have a ball shape. They have an cloying flavor with a bitter touch.
Chemical composition
Red fruits absorb vitamins, framework and the most useful and necessary trace elements for the human body. The bitter pulp contains vitamins B, C and carotene. Mineral elements:
- Calcium salts – They have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, activate bone tissue growth.
- Phosphorus – Strengthens joints and cartilaginous tissue, avoiding premature wear and injuries.
- Potassium – It has a positive effect on muscles and the functioning of the heart. In the human body, potassium intervenes in the use and excretion of sodium, thus reducing swelling.
- Magnesium salts – antiseptic, stops and subsequently prevents inflammation.
- Vitamin C – It launches the organism repair processes, helps treat viral and infectious diseases.
- Vitamin B2– Regulates the central nervous system, the digestive system, has a positive effect on the skin.
- Carotene or provitamin A – intervenes in the production of vitamin A or retinol, responsible for the strength and beauty of hair and nails.
Not only the berries, but also red blueberry leaves have medicinal properties. They contain ingredients such as tannin, quinic acid, organic acids and tannins.
Caloric value
The fruit of the plant is dietary. In 100 g of pulp it contains 100 kcal. The berries are in perfect balance for the body in proteins, fats and carbohydrates. A handful of fruits – the best snack for those who are on diet to get rid of excess weight.
The properties of
The healing properties of the red berry and the leaves of the plant have been known for a long time. Cranberries have been used for centuries in folk medicine for their therapeutic and preventive effects, and for women these berries replace many cosmetic skin care products for the face and décolleté area.
An Interesting Fact The ancient Greek goddess of health, Hygiea, wore a crown of lingonberry leaves and berries on her head.
Red cranberry benefits
What beneficial effects on the body does cranberry have:
- Prevents the appearance and development of bacterial infections.
- It slows down inflammatory processes, prevents them and redevelops them.
- Prevents the appearance of cancerous neoplasms.
- Treats infectious diseases of the urogenital system in women, especially effective berry in the treatment of cystitis.
- Eliminates pathogens that accumulate in the mouth.
- It positively affects the functioning of the brain.
- Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Prevents diabetes, significantly reducing the probability of its occurrence, even in the presence of triggering factors and hereditary predisposition.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Vitamin A, which is part of the berry, has a positive effect on the organs of vision.
- Strengthens bone and cartilage tissue.
- Eliminates yeast fungus.
Cranberry fights skin fungus, in particular its effectiveness is high on candida.
Interesting fact According to Bulgarian beliefs, lingonberry is considered a berry that quickly heals wounds and gives longevity.
Harm and possible contraindications
The negative reaction of the body to lingonberries and the occurrence of side effects are due solely to individual intolerance to berries and their consumption in excessive quantities.
The lingonberry is a safe berry. Its low sugar content allows diabetics to consume them. Cranberry does not cause allergic reactions. However, there are a number of contraindications, in the presence of which the consumption of berries is prohibited:
- The presence of kidney stones;
- gastric or duodenal ulcers;
- Chronic diseases of the urinary system;
- hypotension.
It is possible to use in these cases, but with extreme caution and in a minimum amount, so as not to cause complications and aggravation of these diseases.
Features of use
Red blueberries are used in its purest state, as well as in decoctions and tinctures. Both red fruits and leaves are used in the preparation of medicinal recipes.
In popular medicine
The red blueberry is the best remedy for the first colds and other diseases. Decoctions and tinctures of leaves, berries, rhizomes and twigs are prepared.
Leaf decoction
For the treatment of urolitiasis, a decoction of red blueberry leaves is used. Fresh red blueberry leaves are crushed, 2 tablespoons of the ingredient will be needed for the recipe and are poured into 250 ml of boiling water. The container must be glass or enamel.
Under a lid, the decoction must be cooked in the water bath for 10 minutes. When the liquid has cooled, it sneaks. Add 200 ml of cold water. Take 80 ml every day, 3 times a day. Keep the decoction only for 2 days, in the refrigerator.
Twig infusion.
Recipe used in the treatment of colds. Finely chop the twigs, 1 tablespoon of ingredient pour 200 ml of boiling water. Insist for half an hour, then strain. Take 4 times a day in a dose of 2 tablespoons.
Beatey with red blueberries and honey
For preparation we will need
- Red blueberries – ½ cup;
- milk – 1. 5 cup
- honey to taste
Pour the red blueberries and honey into a blender and crush them until they are soft and puree facts. Pour the milk into the blender and mix well again.
Infusion, used for constipation
Pour 200 g of fruit in a strainer with boiling water. After this scalded soak the berries in cold water for 6 hours. The resulting infusion takes ½ cup 4 times a day.
Alcoholic tincture
Tincture of blueberries in alcohol helps with sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder, to treat polyartitis. Pour 2. 5 righteous water boiling over 100 g of crushed leaves. Leave infusion for 2 hours, filter through gauze. Add 250 ml of vodka to the broth. Boil for 15 minutes, without boiling.
Take ½ cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before a meal. Duration of the taking – until an improvement of the general state occurs.
Red blueberry snacks for colds
Red cranberry snacks eliminate inflammation, destroy viruses and infections, lower body temperature during colds. Fill 1 kg of fruit with sugar and pour 2 liters of water. Bring to boiling, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and a similar amount of clove. Let stand covered for 24 hours and then strain.
In cosmetology
Products for facial care based on red blueberries clean the pores and destroy pathogenic bacteria, smoothing and illuminating the skin. The regular use of red blueberries for facial care will make the skin look younger and more fresh, fine lines and wrinkles will soften.
Facial decoction
The decoction of red blueberries with fennel moisturizes and nourishes the skin, smoothes the wrinkles. Blanque the freckles and pigmentary spots.
Pour 10 g of red blueberry leaves crushed into 1. 5 glasses of water. Bring to boil and boil for 10 minutes. Let infuse and cool, then strain. Apply the resulting decoction on the face every day with a cotton.
Exfoliating
A facial exfoliant with dried blueberries clean the pores and helps eliminate acne and black points. Ingredients to do the exfoliant
- Nuts – 5 gr;
- oatmeal – 5 gr;
- Thomillo – 5 gr.
The berries and thyme are grinding in a coffee grinder until they turn them into dust, which is then mixed with oatmeal. The face is massaged with a small amount of the resulting dough and left a few minutes on the skin. To wash the exfoliant, it is best to use green tea. The advantage of using such a exfoliant is that it is very soft, so it cannot traumatize the skin. The exfoliant can be used on alternate days.
Ice with red blueberries
This facial recipe is recommended in case of swelling. The use of these ice cubes with red blueberries will make the skin look fresh and firm. Pour 50 ml of water over 10 g of red blueberries, take it to boil and tell it over low heat for 5 – 7 minutes. Add the mango butter at the end of cooking. Wait for the liquid to cool and widge it in the molds for ice cubes. Place the molds in the freezer. Liff your face with the ice prepared every night, after having removed your skin.
In the kitchen
Red blueberries added to meat and fish dishes give them a spicy and unusual, bright. From these fruits, sweets are prepared – cakes, desserts, jams, which are very tasty, and also healthy for the body.
An interesting fact Dry and toasted blueberries can replace coffee. The fruits are ground and boiled.
Jam
For jam, 1 kg of fruit and 1. 5 kg of sugar are needed. Sugar syrup on berries (3/4 of the total amount of dissolved sugar at 400 ml of hot water) is poured. Boil until the berries are fully cooked, adding the remaining sugar to the mixture at the end of cooking.
To dilute the taste of red blueberries, it is recommended to add 200 g of chopped apples to the jam.
Red blueberry puree
Rinse the berries, stripping them of any other garbage and leaves. Press them and sequence them and then cut them into a blender, chopper or pich them finely. The berries can be crushed with a pusher, but it must only be made of wood. Fill the crushed berries with 1 kg of sugar. Cover the jar with gauze so you don’t enter insects and let stand all night. Slightly sterilize small jars and fill them with the mixture.
Red blueberry syrup
To prepare the fruit in a spicy syrup, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 kg of red blueberries;
- 500 ml of water;
- 1. 5 kg of sugar;
- 5 smell nails;
- 250 g of apples or pears
- 1 orange or lemon peel.
Wash red blueberries. Remove the heart from apples. Take the water to boil, adding some sugar and stirring continuously so that the syrup is as thicker as possible. When the syrup has thickened. Add the chopped apples to the syrup and the skin of the citrus. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring constantly.
Put the blueberries in an enameled container and pour over the syrup. Boil for 5 minutes and add the nails at the end of cooking. Put the mixture in jars.
Curiosity A traditional Finnish dish is the squad salmon with red blueberries and potatoes. In Sweden salmon fillet with red blueberry sauce.
Particularities to keep red blueberries
The best ways to keep the fruit are to freeze or dry it. To freeze the berries, rinses and pelé them before, place them on a tray lined and put them in the freezer. After a few hours, when the berries have hardened, they can be transferred to a container.
To dry the fruit, place it on a baking sheet and introduce it into a preheated oven at 60 0 C. It is advisable to leave the oven door to the ajar so that the berries do not get stunities. Dry berries can be kept in a glass container with the lid closed.
Red blueberries in syrup and grated berries with sugar in glass containers can be kept up to 6 months in a dark and fresh place.
The red blueberry is a healthy berry for the entire organism. Heals the colds and prevents the appearance of cancer cells, returns youth and beauty to the skin and smoothes wrinkles. If sauce or syrup of red blueberry is added to a dish of meat or fish, its flavor is enhanced and exotic aromas are added.