Strawberry juice

Strawberries are the most important summer berry for the Slavic culinary tradition. The product is replete with vitamins and minerals, which are so necessary to stock up for the winter. Strawberry juice is most often drunk as a drink on its own. In complex recipes, the ingredient is practically not used, and the culinary potential of the juice is limited to alcoholic drinks, mousses, ice cream and jelly.

What you need to know about the product, how to make a drink at home and where, besides the kitchen, you can use strawberry juice?

Benefits of strawberry juice

Liquid food is essential for the human body. It is much faster and easier to digest, saturating the body with vitamins / minerals. Moreover, juices are an excellent appetite regulator. We can drink 500 milliliters of juice, fill our stomach and forget about the feeling of hunger for several hours. Concentrated herbal drinks strengthen the immune system, accumulate internal energy and affect the microflora. The liquid improves the external condition – evens out the tone and literally makes the face shine, strengthens the nails, stimulates the hair follicles. Frequent consumption of liquid food provides “rest” to the digestive system, exacerbates the susceptibility of taste buds and smell.

Important: despite the advantages of juices, you cannot build a diet on them alone. The daily menu should include both liquid and solid foods in order to maintain balance, inner harmony and performance of the body.

Strawberry juice helps fight chronic fatigue and distraction through antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activity. An apathetic state occurs due to internal inflammation and oxidative processes that occur at the cellular level. Scientists have confirmed that strawberries fight free radicals, improve cognitive function and memory.

The main advantage of strawberry juice is its high content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). It is a powerful antioxidant whose main function is the production of collagen. Collagen is a specific substance that makes our skin supple, even and radiant. Moreover, ascorbic acid protects the cells of the hair follicles and those located near the blood vessels. The more vitamin C in the diet, the better the quality of the skin. The nutrient smoothes wrinkles, reduces their appearance, promotes rapid regeneration of wounds/damages and additionally protects against aggressive sunlight.

Important: ascorbic acid is destroyed by high temperatures. That is why strawberry juice is best drunk fresh or after minimal heat treatment.

Strawberry juice affects not only the skin, but also the teeth. It is this ingredient that is most often used for home whitening. Berry juice is combined with baking soda, and the teeth are rinsed with the finished liquid 2 times a week until the desired result is obtained. Baking soda creates a special alkaline environment that prevents the growth and spread of pathogenic microflora. Ascorbic and malic acids from strawberries are responsible for removing plaque and staining the surface of the teeth.

Possible harm and contraindications

Strawberries are a strong allergen in which vegetable acids are concentrated. Among the contraindications to the use of berries:

• individual intolerance to the product or predisposition to allergic reactions;
• gastritis;
• caries and inflammatory processes in the oral cavity;
• pathology of the genitourinary system in the acute stage;
• joint diseases;
• the use of medications that regulate blood pressure (strawberries cannot be combined with these particular medications to avoid side effects and excessive stress on the kidneys);
• ulcerative pathologies in the acute stage.

Another risk associated with eating berries is pesticides. Strawberries lead the ranking of the dirtiest foods that can be exposed to pesticides. Pesticides are special chemicals that kill pests/weeds and regulate plant growth. The substance gradually accumulates in the human body and can cause a wide range of problems – from a dull complexion to serious genetic diseases.

How to protect yourself? Buy berries only from certified outlets. Information about the region of collection, confirmation of the quality and safety of the goods should be indicated on the packaging. If you have the opportunity, plant strawberries on your own windowsill or find a supplier who is engaged in organic production.

Chemical composition

Use component in cooking

Strawberry juice is rarely used in multi-ingredient recipes. Usually they drink it as an independent drink, less often they prepare jelly, biscuits, add it to sauces / marinades for meat or poultry. What is the rationale for this? It is impossible to knead the dough or make a sauce based on sweet juice – the finished product will turn out to be too watery and lose its rich taste. For these purposes, fresh or frozen strawberries are best suited. Use berry juice to dilute spirits or create strawberry variations of your favorite cocktails (like margaritas, mojitos, or daiquiris).

Strawberry margarita recipe

We need:

• white tequila – 50 milliliters;
• liquor – 25 milliliters;
• lemon juice – 20 milliliters;
• sugar syrup – 20 milliliters;
• ice strawberry juice – 100 milliliters;
• strawberry syrup – 10 milliliters;
• ice crumb.

Preparation

Alternately mix all ingredients in a shaker/blender for 15 seconds. Sprinkle the rim of the glass with lime pulp and dip in salt to coat the glass with salt crystals. Pour the finished cocktail into a glass, garnish with strawberries and crushed ice.

How to make juice at home

Rinse ripe juicy berries thoroughly under running water, remove sepals and rotten / damaged areas. Place clean berries in a juicer or blender, start the mechanism and pour the finished juice into a convenient container.

Juice preservation instructions:

• wash the strawberries thoroughly and remove the sepals;
• transfer the berries to a cloth bag and squeeze under pressure;
• pour the resulting juice into a saucepan, heat the liquid, but do not boil;
• pour the warm mass into sterilized jars and close tightly with metal lids;
• the cake that remains from the strawberries can be reused. Pour the cake with water (1 liter of liquid per 5 kilograms of pulp) and leave for 4 hours. Place the pulp in a cloth bag and squeeze again under pressure. Pour the finished juice into sterilized containers, drink or prepare a syrup / sauce / cocktail / jelly-like dessert based on it.

Use of the component in cosmetology

Strawberry extract is used both in professional care lines and home procedures. Enzymes that are concentrated in the berry are especially useful for owners of oily skin with enlarged pores and age spots. Additionally, strawberry juice stimulates collagen production due to its high content of copper (Cu).

How to use the liquid? You can wipe your face with it daily before using tonic and moisturizing day cream or apply as a mask (for example, with avocado puree) for 10-15 minutes. The result is the neutralization of inflammation, a whitening effect, a pleasant pink blush, delicate elastic skin.

Do not forget that strawberries are a strong allergen, so do not leave the concentrated liquid on your face for more than 15 minutes.

Home procedures can be carried out regardless of the season. In winter, use frozen strawberries – low temperatures help keep the balance of nutrients in full, so the effectiveness of care will not be affected.

How to choose and buy strawberry juice

Packaging, price segment, aesthetic qualities of packaging and design are of secondary importance. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the composition. It should be as simple and understandable as possible. The ideal juice contains only fruit and water. It is this drink that will give energy and saturate the body with useful nutrients.

Avoid flavor enhancers, E-preservatives, extra sugar, and complex chemical formulas that you can’t figure out. There are practically no nutrients in such juice, and the only thing the manufacturer can boast of is high calorie content and a long shelf life.

Nutritionists claim that the maximum benefit is found in freshly squeezed juice. At what it needs to be drunk within 20 minutes after preparation. After 20 minutes, the drink will begin the oxidation process, which will destroy some of the vital nutrients.