Physalis: health benefits and harms

Physalis is the largest member of the nightshade family. In the common people, it has the name emerald berry or earthen cranberry. A characteristic feature of the plant is the fruit-berry in a bright sheath of sepals, reminiscent of a Chinese lantern. Many gardeners grow a crop to decorate their backyard, not knowing that the beneficial properties of physalis have been studied for a long time, and it is widely used in traditional medicine.

Physalis is a berry or fruit

Growing an emerald berry in a personal plot, many gardeners are wondering if physalis is a fruit, berry or vegetable. In appearance, the fruits are similar to cherry tomatoes in yellow, red or orange. In nature, there are 3 types: decorative, berry and vegetable.

A culture can be called a berry, fruit, flower and vegetable at the same time, it all depends on the variety and sugar content, and physalis can be grown as an annual or perennial plant.

Vegetable physalis is a shade-tolerant, frost-resistant plant. A powerful bush has yellow, green or purple foliage. Ripe fruits are large, weighing up to 80 grams. Vegetable culture has a bitter taste, is used for canning, making sauces, goes as an addition to second courses.

Berry or strawberry physalis is a small plant with dark olive leaves and small bright orange-colored fruits. The berry has a sweet or sour-sweet taste. Used to make jam, compote, candied fruits and raisins.

Decorative look – a popular plant designed to decorate the backyard. There are tall and short varieties, emerald and crimson. Lantern flowers are painted orange, lemon or walnut. Decorative physalis has found wide application in floristry. Cut flowers make a great addition to your winter bouquet.

Physalis is a berry, fruit, vegetable or flower, there is no difference, the main thing is to grow a healthy, strong plant, you need to make a minimum of care and cultivation efforts.

Is it possible to eat physalis

There are 2 types of edible physalis: vegetable or Peruvian gooseberry and berry or strawberry. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid, B vitamins and other useful substances, physalis has found wide application in cooking and traditional medicine.

Physalis is somewhat reminiscent of tomatoes. It can be eaten directly from the garden, used to make jams and jams, also salted and harvested for the winter.

It must be remembered that physalis has poisonous leaves and a bright orange shell. Therefore, when preparing infusions and decoctions, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage and consult a specialist before use.

Palatability

Edible species of physalis are perennials, but in our latitudes the crop is grown as an annual. The plant is gaining fame around the world for its good taste and beneficial properties.

Berry physalis is more popular than vegetable physalis, and has several varieties with a variety of tastes:

1. Raisin – has a sweet taste. The berry is dried and used instead of raisins.
2. Peruvian or strawberry – small fruits with a sweet and sour taste, reminiscent of strawberries.
3. Florida – the variety has delicious sweet fruits. There is one drawback – they do not exude aroma.

Vegetable physalis is represented by one Mexican species, which has a large number of varieties. Most popular:

1. Confectioner – strongly branched plant with large sour fruits.
2. Korolek – a medium-sized bush with light lemon fruits of a sweet and sour taste.
3. Ground Gribovsky – an upright plant strewn with light olive fruits with a characteristic sweet and sour taste. The variety is suitable for cultivation in all regions of Our Country.

What is useful physalis for a person

Physalis is a tasty and healthy berry. The benefits have been known for a long time. Physalis was discovered by the tribes of South and Central America several millennia ago. Modern scientists have studied culture for a long time and have come to the general conclusion that physalis has positive properties and contraindications:

1. It contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, due to which the berry accelerates the recovery of the body after infectious diseases.
2. Nicotinic acid eliminates “bad” cholesterol.
3. B vitamins normalize the functioning of the nervous system.
4. Potassium and magnesium strengthen the heart muscle and remove excess fluid from the body.
5. Beta-carotene and lycopene prevent the formation of cancer cells.
6. Fibers remove toxins and slags, improve intestinal motility.
7. Juice heals wounds and burns, smoothes out old scars and scars.

Physalis has diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties.

Fresh berries or medicine prepared on the basis of physalis are recommended for:

• kidney disease;
• cholecystitis;
• Botkin’s disease;
• rheumatism;
• hypertension;
• after surgery.

The plant will benefit those who are on a diet. Since it contains dietary fiber, which normalizes the functioning of the intestines. The culture contains vitamins, microelements, phytoncides and acids, which are necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Fruits remove fluid and toxins from the body.

Physalis has found wide application in cosmetology. Due to the high content of copper, the skin is smoothed and becomes velvety. Regular consumption of fruits helps to get rid of wrinkles and pigmentation.

Physalis during pregnancy

Physalis, according to French beliefs, is a symbol of a long-awaited pregnancy. In ancient times, a woman who gave birth to a child presented her husband with a green branch as a token of gratitude for conception.

Most pregnant women, having learned about the beneficial properties of the fruit, begin to consume it in large quantities. Forgetting that physalis, like any other plant, can bring not only benefits to the body, but also harm.

Physalis is a very strong allergen, its use can cause a severe allergic reaction in the form of a rash, swelling and itching. This reaction can adversely affect the development of the fetus.

During pregnancy, a woman’s blood pressure is unstable, and since the plant is able to reduce performance, you must be extremely careful when taking berries.

And also the culture has a diuretic. With severe edema, it is useful, when used with other drugs, there is a possibility of complete dehydration of the body, which will adversely affect the child.

How to use physalis

Physalis is used fresh and for cooking various dishes. When purchasing a product in a store, you must adhere to the rules:

• fruits are selected in a closed, dry shell;
• green sepals – the first sign of immaturity;
• store the berry in the shell, in a dark, cool place for about a month;
• the purified product should only be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days.

Cooking does not stand still, chefs from all over the world come up with more and more new recipes from berries, vegetables and fruits. Physalis is no exception. Here are some tried and tested sweet and sour berry recipes.

Sauce from apples and physalis

The seasoning goes well with pork chops.

Ingredients:

• strawberry – 250 g;
• sweet apples – 2 pcs.;
• lemon juice – 30 ml;
• apple juice – ½ tbsp.;
• coriander, curry – ½ tsp each;
• honey – 1 tsp;
• salt and pepper to taste.

Performance:

1. Apples are peeled and seeds are peeled, cut into small slices and fried in butter.
2. Physalis is sorted, washed, cut in half and sent to apples. Fry until the fruit turns golden.
3. Pour in apple and lemon juice and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
4. Softened apples and physalis are crushed in a blender to a puree state.
5. Add honey, spices and leave to stew for another 5 minutes.
6. The dish is ready, bon appetit.

Jam

Delicious, healthy delicacy will warm you on cold winter evenings.

Ingredients:

• strawberry – 1 kg;
• water – half a liter;
• granulated sugar – 1200

Preparation:

1. Physalis is washed and each berry is pierced with a toothpick.
2. Syrup is prepared from water and 500 g of sugar.
3. The berry is poured with hot syrup and left to infuse all night.
4. In the morning, put the pan on a small fire, add the remaining sugar and cook until the desired density.
5. Hot jam is poured into prepared containers and after cooling is removed for storage.

Caviar

An appetizer prepared according to this recipe tastes good and will be an unusual addition to meat dishes.

Ingredients:

• strawberry – 1 kg;
• onion – 0,3 kg;
• carrots – 0,8 kg;
• vegetable oil for frying;
• spices – to taste.

Execution method:

1. Carrots are grated, onions are cut into half rings, physalis – in half.
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the food until the carrots soften.
3. Grind the cooked vegetables through a sieve or grind until smooth in a blender.
4. Add spices and pour into jars.
5. The preparation is stored in the refrigerator. For longer storage, the snack must be sterilized. 0,5 l cans – 20 minutes.

Use in folk medicine

Due to its beneficial properties, physalis saves from many ailments. Decoctions, infusions and ointments are prepared from it.

Decoction for the treatment of the genitourinary system, biliary tract, rheumatism and fever. 30 pcs. dried berries pour 500 ml of water, put on fire and simmer for 15-20 minutes. The broth is removed for 30 minutes for infusion, cooled and filtered. Take 50 ml 4 times a day after meals.

Ointment for skin diseases. The fruits are burned. The resulting ash is mixed with vegetable oil to get the consistency of gruel. The ointment is applied to the affected areas for a half month. A jar of medicine is stored in the refrigerator.

Healing ointment. 10 g of crushed fruits are mixed with 40 ml of olive oil, mixed thoroughly and removed for 1 month to infuse in a dark place. The prepared ointment is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas of the skin.

Juice for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Freshly squeezed juice is taken 10 ml 3-4 times a day for 7 days.

Porridge and juice for the treatment of childhood diseases: tonsillitis, laryngitis and stomatitis. Part of the berry is crushed, juice is obtained from the other. The gruel is transferred to a saucepan, juice is added and brought to a boil over low heat. Warm milk is added to the finished natural medicine. Children are given 3 tbsp. l. 2-3 times a day for 5 days. The medicine is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Противопоказания

Like any plant, physalis has contraindications. First of all, the danger comes from the poisonous parts of the plant – these are the leaves and sepals. If the culture is used to prepare a dish, the fruits must be thoroughly cleaned and washed. If Physalis is used as a therapeutic drug, the dosage must be strictly observed. Healing decoctions and infusions are not recommended for use with other drugs.

Physalis is taken very carefully in the following cases:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• children up to 12 years;
• allergic reaction;
• increased acidity of the stomach;
• aggravation of peptic ulcer disease;
• diabetes.

Conclusion

Useful properties of physalis have been known since ancient times. But in order for the emerald berry to bring benefits, and not harm, it is necessary to use medications under the supervision of a specialist.