Common blueberries: useful properties and contraindications

Blueberries are a unique berry that is one of the main treasures of forests, along with other edible plants and mushrooms. It has valuable nutritional properties, its role in human health is no less significant. The health benefits and harms of blueberries will be covered in detail in this article. After all, it is not without reason that this plant has been included in the list of medicines in many countries of the world. In addition to its widely advertised properties to have a beneficial effect on the organs of vision, many other healing properties can be found in this plant.

The chemical composition of blueberries

Blueberries are a small shrub with dark purple berries covered with a pronounced waxy coating. Such an attractive appearance of the berries gives the content of a large amount of essential oils. There is a shrub both in swamps and in forests, mainly in the northern regions of Our Country, but there is also its southern variety, which is widespread in the Caucasus mountains.

Breeders have bred and successfully cultivated garden forms of common blueberries. But if their taste qualities are in no way inferior to their wild relative, then forest blueberries are significantly superior to their garden counterparts in terms of their health benefits.

Of course, its vitamin composition is rich and varied:

• beta-carotene or vitamin A;
• ascorbic acid or vitamin C;
• almost a complete set of B vitamins;
• nicotinic acid or vitamin PP;
• tocopherol or vitamin E;
• phylloquinone or vitamin K.

Many in berries and various micro and macro elements:

• copper;
• manganese;
• zinc;
• selenium;
• iron;
• phosphorus;
• chromium;
• sulfur;
• potassium;
• sodium;
• calcium;
• magnesium.

But most of the unique health benefits of blueberries come from their diverse organic acid content, which makes up about 7% of the dry matter:

• dairy;
• apple;
• lemon;
• oxalic;
• cinchona;
• amber;
• acetic.

After all, organic acids have not only antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but are also able to slow down the processes of cellular aging, prevent the formation of free radicals and normalize all types of metabolism.

Both berries and blueberry leaves contain a significant amount of pectins and tannins (more than 12%), which accelerate the restoration of cells and tissues and have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.

And the essential oils, which have already been mentioned, can destroy pathogenic bacteria, as well as have a sedative and anti-inflammatory effect.

In addition, its leaves and fruits contain flavonoids, myrtillin and neomyrtillin, organic compounds that have an antioxidant effect and can lower blood sugar levels.

At the same time, the glycemic index of blueberries is quite low. It is 43 units.

Blueberries calories per 100 grams

Regardless of the rich composition, the calorie content of blueberries cannot be called very high. According to various sources, it ranges from 40 to 55 kcal. Which in turn is only 2,5% of the average daily value.

What is useful blueberries for the human body

Having examined in detail the richest composition of a plant called blueberries, it becomes clear that its beneficial effects on the health of the human body are unusually wide.

1. Berries are an excellent natural antibiotic and antiseptic. Therefore, many colds are effectively treated, including sore throat, cough and sore throat.
2. They are no less useful for curing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The substances found in the berries have a disinfecting effect on the internal organs. As a result, the microflora in the intestine improves significantly, and putrefactive processes are prevented.
3. The anti-inflammatory effect that berries have is favorable for the treatment of all types of rheumatism, as well as diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
4. Blueberries help to remove toxins from the body, which in general leads to a slowdown in the aging and destruction processes.
5. Their use can have a beneficial effect on the pancreas, the normal functioning of which prevents the development of diabetes. Yes, and other unique substances contained in the berries can positively affect the treatment of this disease.
6. One of the most unique beneficial properties inherent in blueberries is its beneficial effect in the course of eye diseases.
7. Infusions of berries and leaves, in addition, actively fight radioactive compounds and are even able to remove them from the body.
8. The astringent and disinfecting properties of berries and leaves help in the treatment of hemorrhoids, as well as for the healing of lesions in various skin diseases: eczema, abscesses, burns.
9. Equally good blueberries and preparations from it affect the human body for preventive purposes. They increase immunity, strengthen blood vessels, prevent the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

blueberry honey

Honey obtained by bees during the flowering of blueberry bushes is distinguished by a translucent color with a reddish-raspberry tint, a pronounced blueberry flavor and berry aroma. Useful properties of blueberry honey and contraindications to its use are not fundamentally different from the berry itself.

What is useful blueberries for the body of women

For women, the berries themselves and decoctions of blueberry leaves can be beneficial, primarily for cosmetic purposes, and when using them for the health of the female body, one should also take into account the possible harm that they can cause.

1. Berries have long been widely used for skin rejuvenation. They make anti-inflammatory and moisturizing masks and creams.
2. Antioxidants in fruits accelerate blood circulation, have a beneficial effect on cell regeneration, and prevent tissues from aging prematurely.
3. Both in folk and official medicine, it is advised to use blueberries on critical women’s days. She will be able to remove unpleasant and painful syndromes, relieve muscle spasms, help regulate the menstrual cycle.
4. The usefulness of blueberries is also manifested in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and gynecological problems.
5. The rich composition of berries favorably affects the condition of the hair. Within a month of regular use, both inside and out, dandruff will disappear, and the hair will become thick and shiny.
6. Relevant for women and help in the treatment of varicose veins. Due to the normalization of blood flow and improvement of circulation in the blood channels, the use of blueberries can alleviate the course of this disease.

The benefits of blueberries for men

Blueberries can also benefit men’s health. As a result of many years of research, the presence of flavonoids in berries has been proven – special substances that provide many body functions, including sexual health. Reproductive function improves by improving the functioning of the testicles and improving the quality of spermatozoa.

The health benefits of berries also help in curing inflammation of the prostate gland and solving problems with the work of the heart, which is increasingly becoming relevant for middle-aged men.

The benefits of blueberries for pregnant women

Blueberries can be a lifesaver for many women during pregnancy. Indeed, during this period, treatment with antibiotics and other strong drugs is contraindicated. But, due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, the berry will help to cope with most colds and infectious diseases.

So, with angina, the following recipe will be very effective: dilute 2 tablespoons of blueberry juice in a glass of warm water and gargle regularly with the resulting composition.

During pregnancy, any female body works for two, so it just needs a double dose of minerals and vitamins. Lack of calcium, iron, potassium, low hemoglobin levels can lead not only to a deterioration in the condition of teeth and hair, but also to more serious health problems. All this can be fully provided by blueberries, if consumed in small quantities, but regularly. In addition, they can serve as an excellent prevention of exacerbation of chronic diseases.

The fruits will help with any problems with digestion. It should only be remembered about the main contraindications in the use of this berry and eat it in small quantities, preferably after meals.

And, of course, any pregnant woman wants, no matter what, to remain beautiful. And in this, blueberries will also provide effective help. By including it in your daily diet and supplementing the action with the use of masks with its presence from time to time, you can ensure the beauty of the skin, hair and nails. And both before and after the birth of a child, when there will no longer be too much extra time for self-care.

Is it possible to blueberries while breastfeeding

Even during the period of bearing a child, the substances present in blueberries contribute to the formation of its central nervous system and skeleton. Therefore, even later, after birth, the use of blueberries by a nursing mother can hardly be called harmful. Of course, in the absence of general contraindications to eating this berry, universal for everyone.

After all, it is blueberries with HB that will help the mother’s body recover faster after gestation and childbirth, and the child will receive in its natural form all possible substances useful for life.

It is better to start with just a few berries and carefully monitor the reactions of the baby in order to timely identify cases of individual intolerance.

Useful properties of blueberries for children

If the baby has already met blueberries during breastfeeding, then even at an older age this berry can bring him a lot of health benefits.

It contains a lot of calcium, so the formation of the bone and muscle apparatus in a child will occur faster and more fully. Especially willingly, children drink milk with blueberries, and this drink is not able to bring anything but benefits for the actively growing children’s body.

During periods of the spread of colds, regular eating of fresh berries mashed with sugar can have a serious preventive effect. After all, blueberries are good for strengthening the immune system.

It can also be of considerable importance for giving additional strength during active physical and mental stress.

For both small and large children, it will be the best assistant in normalizing digestion. After all, with any disorders, especially non-infectious ones, berries normalize digestion, and in the necessary direction. You should not just abuse the fruits for chronic constipation – it is better to find a more suitable medicinal product.

At what age can you give blueberries to a child

Blueberries are rather a sweet berry and should please any kid. Unlike many other healthy berries, pediatricians recommend giving blueberries a try already at the most tender age, even before a year, from seven months. Of course, the berries must be crushed and introduced into the child’s diet in the form of mashed potatoes. Perhaps mixed with other hypoallergenic berries and fruits, such as apples.

Starting from the age of three, children can eat blueberries well and in large quantities – up to 1-2 glasses a day.

Blueberry harm

It is hard to imagine that such a useful berry as blueberries can have any harmful effect on the health of the body. However, this is quite likely if it was collected in areas unfavorable for environmental factors. After all, blueberries have the ability to accumulate a variety of toxins and radioactive substances in their fruits. Therefore, one should beware of eating berries brought from Belarus, Ryazan and Bryansk regions.

Blueberries harden or loosen stools

Many discrepancies exist in connection with the ability of blueberries, one way or another, to affect the body during intestinal disorders. Many sources claim her ability to loosen the stool. On the other hand, there is also a lot of information about its fixing properties.

It turns out that the matter is quite simple. Dried berries are an excellent remedy for loose stools, and for these purposes they can also be used in the form of decoctions and compotes. But to cope with constipation (only not of a chronic nature), fresh blueberries or juice squeezed out of them in a necessarily raw form are quite suitable.

Blueberries for diarrhea

As already mentioned, dried blueberries are best used to treat diarrhea or loose stools. It is enough to eat about 5-6 berries so that after a few hours the swelling stops, diarrhea disappears, and strength begins to recover.

A similar effect of blueberries in diarrhea is due to the presence of a large amount of tannins, the concentration of which only increases when dried. By the way, a decoction of blueberry leaves has a similar effect. It contains many tannins that have a beneficial effect on the intestinal mucosa and remove harmful compounds from it.

For treatment, you can use the following recipe:

• 1 st. l. dried berries or dried blueberry leaves;
• 2 cups boiling water.

Manufacture:

1. Mix the necessary ingredients and evaporate the liquid on water vapor until its volume is reduced by half.
2. Strain and let cool.
3. Take ¼ cup of decoction before meals several times a day.

The tool will help reduce acidity, eliminate heartburn and relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.

There is also a recipe for alcohol tincture, which, unlike a decoction, can be stored for a long time. 100 g of dry berries are poured into 1 liter of 70% alcohol and infused in a dark place for 21 days. It is taken by diluting with water (1 tablespoon per 100 ml of liquid), several times with an interval between doses of about 6 hours. The tincture can significantly alleviate the condition of both gastrointestinal infections and food poisoning.

Blueberries for constipation

But fresh blueberries or juice from them can have the exact opposite effect. The fact is that in fresh berries there is a large amount of fiber. And it contributes to the rapid cleansing of the intestinal tract from stagnant food. In addition, blueberries contain substances that are very beneficial for the intestinal microflora.

It should be remembered that an absolutely harmless daily dose when eating fresh blueberries is about 100 g.

Health benefits of blueberries

A lot has already been said about the beneficial effects of the properties of blueberries on the body. This chapter contains specific recipes that use berries or blueberry leaves.

Blueberries for vision

Not so long ago, it was believed that the unique composition of the substances contained in blueberries can serve as a panacea for almost all eye diseases. But neither completely refute nor prove this fact scientists could not. In the composition of the berries, only a glucoside was found, which can resist the formation of glaucoma and cataracts. However, in practice, cases of improved night vision as a result of regular consumption of blueberries have been confirmed.

Therefore, there are specific recipes for using blueberries to prevent and help with the following eye problems.

1. To restore and improve visual acuity 1-2 tbsp. l. dry berries are poured with cold water so that they are completely hidden under water. Soak for 10-12 hours. Berries are eaten half an hour before a meal.

   

2. Exactly the same effect is exerted by the so-called “raw” jam, that is, berries grated with sugar in a 1: 1 ratio.
3. To help with conjunctivitis, just eat 1 tbsp. l. dry blueberries a day.
4. For the treatment of myopia, juice is squeezed out of fresh berries, diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 2 and instilled into each eye 5 drops 1 time per day in the morning.

Blueberries for weight loss

Both berries and blueberry leaves are actively used in a variety of diets due to their rich composition and at the same time low calorie content.

For example, you can arrange fasting days in which to eat exclusively blueberry products. You can alternate fresh berries with dairy products. (Blueberry puree is mixed with kefir in a ratio of 1:2 and 1 teaspoon of honey is added.) True, you should not extend such a fasting period for more than 3 days without first consulting a specialist.

Blueberry leaves will also have a beneficial role in reducing appetite if mixed in equal proportions with green tea leaves and brewed as a tea.

You can also take a special powder of natural herbs to reduce appetite. It contains in equal proportions:

• blueberry leaves,
• horsetail grass;
• valerian root;
• bean stalks.

All dry herbs are crushed, mixed and taken in ½ tsp. a quarter of an hour after eating 2 times a day.

Blueberries for type 2 diabetes

Since organic compounds similar in structure to insulin were found in blueberries, the berries are quite capable of being beneficial and playing the role of a real remedy, especially for type 2 diabetes.

In this case, herbal preparations prepared according to the following recipes can help:

1. 35 g of blueberry leaves, nettle and dandelion roots pour 250 ml of boiling water. Heat in a water bath for about 40 minutes and, divided into 3 parts, drink during the day.
2. Blueberry leaves and burdock roots are mixed in equal parts. 1 tsp mixture pour 250 ml of boiling water, insist 1 hour. Take 2 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day.

Blueberries for gout

With gout, blueberries, like some other berries, play the role of a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Use the following recipes:

1. 4 tbsp. l. blueberries are poured with a liter of water, heated for an hour in a water bath, the same amount is insisted and filtered. Take 4-5 times a day, 1 tablespoon.
2. 1 st. l. blueberry leaves are poured into 500 ml of boiling water, insisted for half an hour and taken throughout the day.

For the cardiovascular system

The unique composition of blueberries allows:

1. Reduce blood pressure with its long-term use.
2. It has a beneficial effect on the walls of blood vessels and reduces the fragility and permeability of capillaries.

To lower high blood pressure 5 tsp. dried berries pour a glass of boiling water and insist 8 hours. After straining, the infusion is evenly distributed to be consumed throughout the day.

For immunity

No other berry can compare with blueberries in terms of its effect on the immune system. Indeed, in addition to a rich set of vitamins and minerals, it contains anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants), and even in the highest possible concentration.

It is best to brew 1 tsp. berries and leaves of blueberries in a glass of boiling water, insist and take regularly 3 tbsp. l. infusion about 4 times a day.

What is the best way to consume berries

For treatment and prevention, it is best to use fresh berries or juice squeezed out of them.

Of course, for the berries for the winter, you can prepare a lot of delicious things from them. But most of the health benefits of the berry disappear during heat treatment, especially long-term.

Best of all, useful properties are preserved in the dried berry. Blueberries are dried in two stages: first, at a temperature of + 35-40 ° C, they are slightly dried for about 2 hours, and then they are finally allowed to dry already at a temperature of + 55-60 ° in an oven or electric dryer.

To a greater extent, useful properties are preserved in frozen berries, especially since this method of preservation is one of the simplest.

One of the most popular ways to harvest berries for the winter is to grind them with sugar using a 1:1 ratio. Keep this natural medicine in the refrigerator.

Why blueberries are bitter

Fresh blueberries are hardly capable of bitterness, but after 3-4 days of storage, a slight bitterness may appear in them. This usually means that the fruits are spoiled and are unsuitable for food, and even more so for treatment.

Another common reason that berries are allegedly bitter is simple deception. If you look closely, you can see that some berries differ in shape and, possibly, size from others. Simply, when selling blueberries, an unscrupulous seller replaced some of the berries with cheaper and sometimes bitter fruits of edible honeysuckle. These berries are similar in color, but differ in shape.

In this case, blueberries (along with honeysuckle) can be eaten, although the therapeutic effect may be reduced.

Противопоказания

In addition to a large number of useful properties, blueberries also have some contraindications for use.

1. First of all, like all edible products, blueberries can cause individual intolerance with an associated allergic reaction.
2. Berries are not recommended for use in the oxalate form of urolithiasis.
3. Caution should be taken when eating berries in acute forms of diseases of the duodenum and pancreas.
4. No need to use dried berries for constipation.
5. There are also contraindications to its use with reduced blood clotting.

Conclusion

Both the health benefits and harms of blueberries are pretty obvious. Useful recommendations and recipes outlined in the article can help many people become healthier with the help of a truly and seemingly very unpretentious, but surprisingly healing berry – blueberries.