gooseberry juice

Most of us include fruits and berries in our diet solely because of their pleasant taste and aroma. But some of the natural “desserts” are a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals, and therefore bring undeniable benefits to our health.

Gooseberry bushes can be found in many gardens. These fruits, unusual in appearance and taste, are liked by many. But does everyone know about the properties of this berry? If you regard gooseberries as a medicine, then you should definitely know about contraindications and restrictions on use so that your favorite delicacy does not cause a deterioration in well-being. We will talk more about the benefits and harms of berries.

General information

Gooseberries are sometimes also called “northern grapes” – outwardly, the berries are really a bit similar in shape and color. But in fact, this shrub belongs to the currant family. If you look at the available historical facts, it was the gooseberry that first appeared in the gardens of our ancestors – the noble appearance of its fruits attracted people. And the currant itself received due recognition a couple of centuries later.

If you ask our grandmothers what this shrub is called, you can hear – bersen – another ancient name for gooseberries.

There are a lot of varieties of this fruit shrub, the fruits differ in shape, size and taste. But all berries are nutritious and healthy. And it is important that gooseberry juice also contains useful properties, therefore, it will be possible to please yourself with vitamin sweetness even in harsh winter.

Picking berries

It is better to pick berries in mid-August – by this time they will fully ripen, become soft and juicy. If you are growing an early maturing variety, then harvesting can take place as early as early August. Well-ripened berries can be left for desserts. But a little unripe will go perfectly for juice for the winter.

To keep the berries fresh and unharmed without any heat treatment, you will need to create special conditions for them – air temperature 0 C, humidity – 90%.

If it is possible to maintain stable performance, then the gooseberries will be stored without loss of quality for one and a half to two months.

Juice Recipes

Concentrated juice can be obtained by simply passing the berries through a juicer. To prevent the fermentation process, pasteurization is required: pour the juice into sterile liter jars and pasteurize in a water bath for 15-20 minutes.

The technology for making gooseberry juice is not necessarily based on the use of a juicer. You can skip the berries through a meat grinder, after weighing them. Pour the berry mass into a thick-walled saucepan and add 200 ml of boiled water per kilogram, warm over low heat for 30 minutes. Then grind through a fine sieve and dilute with saturated sugar syrup 1: 2, boil and roll up.

Knowing how to make juice, you need to understand the composition of the berry in more detail. To make sure the relevance of this drink in winter.

Composition and useful properties

In addition, gooseberries contain many vitamins – A, B1, B6, B9, B2, E, C and PP.

Due to the rich inclusion of useful and nutritious substances, gooseberries have a positive effect on the human body:

• the berry is useful for weakened immunity of the upper respiratory tract, as it helps to strengthen the body’s defenses against colds;
• fresh fruits have mild choleretic, diuretic and laxative effects;
• regular consumption of gooseberries prevents the development of cancer cells;
• contributes to the normalization of blood glucose levels, stabilizes acidity;
• increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

And thanks to the “rich” composition, the berry can become a natural alternative to the pharmacy vitamin complex.

Gooseberries must be in the diet of a pregnant woman, since the trace elements contained in it will contribute to the normal development of the fetus.

In addition, thanks to the laxative effect, this dessert will save the expectant mother from the problem of constipation. Moreover, the berry can be eaten even by nursing mothers, only the product should be introduced into the diet carefully, observing the child’s reaction to it.

Caloric value

The calorie content of gooseberries is not high – only 42-45 kcal per 100 g. Considering the almost complete absence of fats, one can understand why this berry is so popular among adherents of a healthy diet. By regularly adding gooseberries to your daily diet, you can not only improve your health, but also get rid of extra pounds.

But do not forget that this product, like many others, has contraindications. If you eat gooseberries daily in large portions, the body can be oversaturated with vitamins. And hypervitaminosis will have to be eliminated with the help of doctors and medications.

Since the “northern grape” contributes to an increase in acidity, it should be carefully introduced into the menu for people suffering from inflammatory processes in the stomach and duodenum. Colitis and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are also a reason for refusing to use.

Gooseberries contain a lot of fructose and sucrose – these are easily digestible saccharides, which the body can easily cope with. Therefore, with diabetes, you can eat berries only in moderation. Another plus of this affordable sweet for diabetics is the content of chromium, the lack of which provokes metabolic disorders and disruptions in insulin production.

Cooking application

Undoubtedly, it is more useful to eat berries, without any processing. But gooseberry juice contains most of the useful trace elements and vitamins, and its shelf life is much longer. The juice can be consumed as a drink, or used to make jellies, smoothies, gravies, and marinades.

For example, you can add a clove of chopped garlic and a pinch of suneli hops to a small amount of concentrated juice – an excellent marinade for meat will come out.

Gooseberries are a delicious, fragrant and very healthy berry, which must be in the diet of every person.