Contents
Jam is one of the most popular and favorite ways to preserve fruit and berry crops. Natural dessert, moreover, easy to prepare, without chemical additives, safe and tasty.
Despite all its advantages, it is not advised to abuse jam: is homemade jam useful and can it do harm?
Vitamins
Are vitamins preserved in the jam, because it undergoes sufficient heat treatment so as not to leave practically anything useful there? In fact, some of the vitamins are undoubtedly retained, and the shorter the cooking time, the more vitamins. But it’s hard to call jam a vitamin bomb.
Fruits and berries are rich in beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, vitamins of group B, E. Beta-carotene and ascorbic acid are partially destroyed during cooking, vitamins B1, B2, PP and E remain practically unchanged.
Calorie value
Jam is a high-calorie product, because it contains a lot of sugar, otherwise the jam would not be so tasty without it. Fruit fructose is less high in calories, so you can increase the benefits of jam by adding less sugar and using fruits and berries that are sweet on their own.
You need to be careful with the use of jam for people suffering from diabetes mellitus or at risk for this disease, as well as people suffering from obesity.
Effect on mood
Like any dessert, jam can influence your mood. After taking it, serotonin is released into the blood – the hormone of joy. The work of the brain improves, activity increases, joy arises.
Effects on teeth
Sugar is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria that secrete acid and destroy enamel. Of course, this is followed by caries and the teeth lose their strength. If you love jam, get in the habit of rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth right after you take it.
Effect on the stomach
If you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, acidity is disturbed – for sure, jam will not be your useful must-have. It will only add to the problems by increasing acidity or irritating the walls of an inflamed stomach. And it also stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and increases appetite, which is not in the hands of chronic gastritis.
On the other hand, there is a lot of fiber in jam, which does not break down under the influence of high temperature, and therefore will help the stomach and intestines work.
Influence on immunity
The jam contains preventive doses of vitamin C, as well as unchanged vitamin E – they increase and support immunity during a period of viral diseases. The largest amount of useful vitamins is in currant and raspberry jam, especially if it is with seeds.
Be healthy!
We will remind, earlier we told how to make unusual and healthy onion jam, and also shared the recipe for tomato jam.