Are you familiar with the beneficial properties of chokeberry?
Aronia, known as black chokeberry, was included in the number of medicinal ones back in the 60s of the last century. This was facilitated by the beneficial properties of chokeberry.
What is aronia
Its leaves are slightly elongated, with small curly denticles along the edge. The fruits of the plant are of particular value. They have a rich dark color, rounded shape, size - about 1-1.2 cm in diameter. The berries are harvested from the end of September.
Fresh berries have a sweet-tart taste. Since chokeberry is naturally resistant to pests, it does not need to be regularly treated with pesticides and other garden chemicals.
If we compare the benefits to the body of red and chokeberry, the latter will undoubtedly lead. There are many recipes for how to use chokeberry.
In recent years, chokeberry has often been included in the diet of those who strive to lead a healthy lifestyle and adhere to a balanced diet. 100 g of fresh berries contain about 50 kcal.
To preserve the maximum number of useful properties of berries, they must not only be picked on time, but also properly prepared.
Useful properties of chokeberry
The benefits of eating chokeberry fruits are due to its rich, saturated composition. The following vitamins are present in berries:
- beta carotene;
- AT 6;
- IN 2;
- IN 1;
- TO;
- E;
- FROM;
- R.
In terms of vitamin P, chokeberry is ahead of oranges by more than 20 times.
In addition, there is an entry of sugars, tannins, pectins, micro and macro elements. All substances in the medicinal plant are in the most balanced form.
What does chokeberry treat? Its properties are so diverse that they can be used in the complex therapy of many diseases and for prevention.
Benefit for hypertensive patients: effect on blood vessels
The active substances in the berries make it very useful for people with high blood pressure and vascular pathologies. It gently and effectively lowers pressure, including intracranial pressure.
The substances contained in chokeberry improve the condition of blood vessels and prevent blood clots. In addition, berries serve as a means of preventing varicose veins and coronary heart disease.
With confirmed ischemia or varicose veins, berries should not be taken.
Boosting immunity and general strengthening
The pulp and juice of black chokeberry has properties to support the immune system, have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails. The best use is fresh use. It is also possible to store it in frozen and dried form, blank in the form jam or compotes.
Gastrointestinal therapy
Pectin in berries is a natural way to improve bowel function. Low acidity of the stomach is a reason to make it a rule to regularly consume fresh berries chokeberry... How is black mountain ash useful for humans in this case?
To achieve a successful result, it is necessary to take up to 100 g of berries right before meals.This will stimulate the production of gastric juice and, as a result, food is better digested and absorbed by the body. This application will also eliminate the bad breath that often accompanies poor stomach function.
One of the qualities of berries is a good choleretic effect.
Endocrine pathologies
The iodine contained in the fruits of the tree is a natural remedy for the prevention and treatment of disorders in the thyroid gland. The medicinal properties of berries make it possible to use chokeberry together with the prescribed course of treatment.
Cleansing function
A useful property of chokeberry is its ability to remove toxins, heavy metal compounds, and cholesterol from the body. Cleansing the blood creates a feeling of cheerfulness, increases efficiency, gives a burst of energy.
Application for women's health
Aronia serves as a means of preventing a large number of diseases. The beneficial substances contained in berries strengthen the immune system and increase the body's resistance to diseases. How is black chokeberry useful for women?
It has an invaluable impact:
- relieves fatigue and headache;
- strengthens the immune system;
- serves as a natural source of vitamins;
- improves liver function;
- replenishes iron deficiency during menstruation;
- stabilizes hormones.
The substance that mountain ash owes its rich color is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. If there are no contraindications, then chokeberry during pregnancy can be included in a woman's diet. The B vitamins contained in it are especially useful for expectant mothers.
High hypoallergenicity allows you to use mountain ash without fear.
It should be especially noted the importance of the use of mountain ash by a woman after the birth of a child. When breastfeeding, chokeberry serves as a supplier of vitamins, which only in extremely rare cases, unlike pharmaceutical products, can cause allergies in an infant or a nursing mother.
How to take berries correctly
A large number of useful properties of chokeberry allows you to take it for prevention and treatment in various forms.
Fortifying medicinal decoction
Dry fruits can be used to make tea from black chokeberry. In a glass of boiling water, measure 20 g of dried berries. All ingredients are combined in one container and heated over low heat for 10 minutes. After that, the broth is removed from heat and left to stand for another 20 minutes. The resulting drink can be filtered and drunk ½ cup three times a day.
For a general strengthening of the immune system, it is recommended to alternate a decoction of rowan fruits with a decoction of fruits rose hips.
Low acid gastritis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure: how to take berries
How to take chokeberry depends on the season. Fresh fruits are considered the most useful.
One of the effective recipes is a mixture of honey (1 tablespoon) and freshly squeezed juice (50 g). The resulting product should be taken half an hour before meals for one to one and a half months.
Contraindications
Despite the wide range of positive qualities, there are situations in which the chokeberry has contraindications.
These conditions include:
- peptic ulcer or duodenal ulcer;
- increased acidity of the stomach with gastritis;
- thrombophlebitis;
- constipation;
- phlebeurysm;
- increased blood clotting rates;
- diagnosed ischemic heart disease;
- suffered a stroke or heart attack.
Harvesting berries: collect and save
Chokeberry has useful properties and contraindications that you should familiarize yourself with before picking and taking berries. Harvesting ripe fruits is not difficult, they are easily separated from the branches. The harvesting season starts around the end of September and lasts 1.5-2 months.
Freezing
Chokeberry berries freeze very well.With this method, useful substances are fully preserved. Having collected the fruits, they must be thoroughly rinsed and dried. Excess water can cause the berries to stick together in a lump, which is undesirable.
Dried fruits are packed in plastic containers or bags and put into the freezer. Frozen blanks in winter can be used after defrosting, in order to prepare black chokeberry tea, compote, filling for pies.
Drying
In order to dry the berries, they are washed from dust and debris after collection. And laid out in the open air for a natural drying process. But this method is not suitable if a busy highway passes nearby or industrial enterprises are located.
In addition to a simple drying method, there is an opportunity to dry the berries in a quality way in another way. To do this, you will need a special apparatus designed for drying fruits and berries. Application of dried chokeberry - for brewing aromatic winter teas. Additionally, such a drink can be fortified with honey.
The use of an airfryer for drying has a minus - electricity consumption.
Other types of blanks
The chokeberry has such useful properties that, if there are no contraindications, can be a reason to cook:
- jam;
- compote;
- make fruit drink, tincture or wine.
To make jam, you can add apples and lemon to mountain ash.
The introduction of chokeberry into the diet will enrich it with vitamins and other useful substances, and will also strengthen the immune system. If you have doubts about the possibility of using chokeberry as a means of therapy, you should consult your doctor.