Sorrel: health benefits and harms

Contents

The history of the appearance of sorrel in nutrition
The composition and calorie content of sorrel
The benefits of sorrel
Sorrel harm
The use of sorrel in medicine
The use of sorrel in cooking
- Soup with sorrel and egg
- sorrel sauce
How to choose and store sorrel
Popular questions and answers

Once considered a weed, sorrel was later used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Together with the doctor, we understand what the benefits and harms of this plant are.

Sorrel is a herbaceous plant that is used as a food additive, soups, salads and even used in medicine. Why is sorrel so useful and does it have any unhealthy properties? We will tell in our article.

The history of the appearance of sorrel in nutrition

Today, sorrel is a familiar and familiar plant, but it was not always popular in our country.

In ancient Greece and Rome, sorrel was widely used in medicine as a remedy for skin itching, diarrhea, and bleeding. The French were the first to eat sorrel in the XNUMXth century, after which the plant spread throughout Europe. In Our Country, sorrel was considered a weed for a long time, and many wondered how foreigners could eat this sour grass. But over time, sorrel began to be grown in vegetable gardens and eaten in our country.

The composition and calorie content of sorrel

Fresh sorrel leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, K and group B. Sorrel is a source of vital minerals such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron. In addition to vitamins, macro- and microelements, the plant contains fiber, proteins, carbohydrates and oxalic acid, which gives the greens a sour taste.

Calories (per 100 g)	22 kcal
Proteins	1,5 g
Fats	0,3 g
Carbohydrates	2,9 g

The benefits of sorrel

The benefits of sorrel are explained by its chemical composition.

– Sorrel is rich in vitamins and due to this it is an excellent tool for combating seasonal beriberi. It will replenish vitamin reserves in the body and improve health,” says gastroenterologist-hepatologist Olga Arisheva. – Calcium and vitamin K improve the condition of blood vessels, normalize blood clotting. Vitamin A is useful for people with visual impairments.

Plant fibers, which are part of sorrel, contribute to the removal of harmful cholesterol from the body (1). A high content of B vitamins helps to resist stress, improves mood, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system and energizes the body.

The benefits of sorrel for women

Sorrel contributes to the normal functioning of the female body. It has a minimal calorie content and is suitable for women seeking to get rid of extra pounds. Also, sorrel will help increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, cope with hormonal changes during menopause, normalize blood pressure and maintain an attractive appearance and youth.

“Sorrel contains a large amount of folic acid, which is useful for pregnant women and contributes to the normal course of pregnancy and fetal development,” says Olga Arisheva.

The benefits of sorrel for men

“For men, sorrel is useful in that it improves blood circulation in the prostate gland and prevents the development of diseases of the genitourinary system, but only if there are no contraindications to its use,” says Olga Arisheva.

The benefits of sorrel for children

“Children are recommended to introduce sorrel into their diet from the age of three,” says Olga Arisheva. – Sorrel is rich in vitamins and microelements that are necessary for the development of the body, and help strengthen the immune system and nervous system of the child.

In addition, sorrel improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and increases appetite in children.

Sorrel harm

“Despite the large number of useful properties of sorrel, it is recommended to exclude it from the diet for people suffering from urolithiasis, pancreatitis, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and exacerbation of gastritis due to the content of oxalic acid,” notes Olga Arisheva.

When cooked, sorrel produces a special form of oxalic acid, which, when consumed in large amounts, can lead to kidney stones (2) and joint problems.

The use of sorrel in medicine

The beneficial properties of this plant have been known since ancient times. Sorrel was used to treat diseases of the stomach, infertility, tuberculosis, rheumatism, and a decoction of sorrel roots was given to patients with a runny nose and cough.

Modern experts believe that regular use of sorrel improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.

“Sorrel has antiseptic properties, so a decoction of sorrel is recommended for wounds in the mouth and on the skin, sore throat and cough,” says Olga Arisheva.

Sorrel extract is widely used in cosmetology for the preparation of products for skin lightening and removal of age spots. Such cosmetics are considered completely safe for the skin.

The use of sorrel in cooking

Sorrel is widely used in cooking in many countries. Salads, soups, teas, sauces, seasonings are prepared from it. We will share with you some interesting recipes.

Soup with sorrel and egg

Spring soup full of vitamins – straight from childhood. Fast, simple and delicious

Chicken	500 g
Water	2,5 l
Potatoes	5-7 pieces.
Bow	1 piece.
Carrots	1 piece.
Egg	4 piece.
Sorrel	2 bundle
Salt	1 hours. Spoon
Pepper	to taste
Bay leaf	1 piece.

Rinse the chicken, put in a saucepan, cover with cold water and put on a slow fire. Boil for about an hour, removing the resulting foam. Salt the broth.

Peel potatoes, carrots and onions. Cut vegetables and fry in hot oil. Add to saucepan. Cook for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are soft, add the pepper.

Boil eggs, peel and cut into cubes. Wash and cut the sorrel into strips. After the vegetables are ready, turn off the heat under the pan. Add eggs, sorrel and bay leaf, mix, cover and infuse the soup for 10 minutes. When serving, you can add sour cream and herbs to the soup.

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sorrel sauce

An original and tasty addition to fish, meat and potatoes

Cream 20%	150 ml
Sorrel	1 beam
Butter	50 g
Chicken or vegetable broth	2 Art. spoons
Salt	to taste
Pepper	to taste

Pour the cream into a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring.

Finely chop the sorrel and fry in butter in another saucepan. Pour in the cream, add spices and bring to a thickening over low heat.

If the sauce seems too thick, you can add broth to it and mix well.

How to choose and store sorrel

Only high-quality sorrel will have useful properties, so it is important to know how to choose greens and keep them fresh.

Good and fresh sorrel will have a bright, uniform green hue. Its leaves are whole and dense, without any signs of damage and rot. Fresh sorrel has a rich and slightly sour taste.

Sorrel can be stored in several ways.

In a glass of water, if you want to keep the greens for a few days.
In the refrigerator, washed and dried sorrel leaves can be kept fresh for up to 20 days. It is recommended to keep them in a dry closed container.
For a longer shelf life, sorrel can be frozen. To do this, dry the leaves at a temperature of 50 ° C, cut, arrange in bags and place in the freezer.
Also, sorrel can be preserved. To do this, grind the leaves with water in a blender to the desired consistency. Boil the resulting mass, put in sterilized jars and close.