Useful properties of cowberries

The health benefits and harms of lingonberries are incomparable. There are not so many contraindications for eating berries. True, the leaves are quite a strong drug, not everyone can drink decoctions and infusions. But if you take them under the guidance of a doctor, do not exceed dosages, take breaks, you can replace some expensive and toxic drugs with a pleasant-tasting drink.

The composition and nutritional value of cranberries

In addition to the fact that lingonberries are tasty, stored for a long time and suitable for making jams, juices, desserts, side dishes, they have a number of healing properties. This is one of the richest marsh berries in vitamins, microelements and organic acids.

The chemical composition of cranberries

Depending on the place of growth and on whether the berry is cultivated or collected in natural conditions, the chemical composition of lingonberries can vary, and significantly. But in any case, the culture is rich in substances that are vital for the human body.

First of all, it should be noted the high content in the berries of various organic acids, ranging from 2,5 to 3% of dry matter:

• lemon (1,3%);
• apple (0,3%);
• benzoic (0,05-0,2%);
• wine;
• salicylic;
• ursolic;
• oxalic;
• acetic;
• glyoxylic;
• pyruvic.

Polysaccharides, which are the main source of energy for humans, are represented by fiber (1,8%) and pectins (0,8-1,0%).

Phenolic compounds (including tannins) in cranberries contain 0,3-0,6%, these are biologically active substances:

• anthocyanins;
• leucoanthocyanins;
• catechins;
• flavonol;
• phenolic acids.

Lingonberries are also useful for the human body due to the rich mineral composition of the berries. True, the number of elements and microelements depends on the conditions in which the culture grew. According to T. V. Kurlovich, Candidate of Biological Sciences, who has been studying lingonberries for many years, the berry contains approximately (mg / kg):

• calcium (94,6);
• phosphorus (44,52);
• copper (32,25);
• magnesium (22,4);
• iron (11,17);
• barium (1,505);
• strontium (1,118);
• titanium (0,245);
• zinc (0,159);
• lead (0,108);
• nickel (0,065);
• tungsten (0,053);
• lead (0,053);
• chromium (0,025);
• molybdenum (0,02);
• silver (0,016).

In addition, the culture contains:

• nitrogen – 0,45-0,77%;
• potassium – 0,43-0,61%;
• manganese – 70-83 mg%;
• sodium – 17-40 mg%;
• boron – 0,12-0,36 mg%.

Glucose, fructose and sucrose add sweetness to berries, the total share of which is 8-12%. Ripe fruits contain arbutin.

What vitamins are found in lingonberries

The healing properties of lingonberries are not least due to the vitamins contained in the berry. Depending on the place of growth, it contains (according to T. V. Kurlovich):

• vitamin C – from 5 to 30 (!) mg%, although most often its amount does not exceed 18 mg%;
• vitamins of group B – up to 0,03 mg%;
• vitamin E – 1 mg%;
• provitamin A – from 0,05 to 0,1 mg%;
• vitamin K.

Calorie cranberries

For 100 g of lingonberries, the calorie content is only 39,3 kcal for fresh fruits and 42,2 kcal after they are frozen. This makes berries an indispensable product for all kinds of diets aimed at weight loss. At the same time, lingonberries are not only a pleasant low-calorie supplement. It supplies the body with many vitamins and other useful substances, the lack of which necessarily occurs when the list of foods eaten is limited.

The benefits of cranberries for the human body

Medicinal properties of cranberries are used by official medicine as an aid in the treatment of many diseases. This is due to the chemical composition of the fruit. Only the leaves are considered medicinal. At the same time, folk healers offer many recipes that include berries.

Of course, lingonberries are useful to everyone who has no contraindications. Even if a person does not think about treatment, and simply eats berries or drinks tea with fruits or leaves, he receives a significant dose of vitamins and minerals. And this has a positive effect on the state of the body.

But the beneficial properties and contraindications of lingonberries may differ slightly depending on the gender or age of the person who consumes them.

Useful properties and contraindications of cranberries for women

Lingonberries are useful for women of any age. Oddly enough, berries help with meager and heavy periods. Of course, they cannot replace medicines, before limiting treatment to lingonberries, you need to consult a doctor – after all, menstrual irregularities can be caused by a number of serious diseases. But if the doctor approves, berries or fruit drinks, taken for at least a week, can relieve spasm and reduce pain.

A real salvation can be lingonberries during menopause. Taking berries, both fresh and dried, frozen, soaked, processed into juice or fruit drink, can:

• normalize the state of the nervous system;
• reduce sweating;
• serves as a prevention of venous congestion;
• helps with hot flashes.

For pregnant women, the doctor often prescribes berries as a natural mild diuretic that relieves swelling and saturates the body with useful trace elements. But in rare cases, lingonberries can harm a child, so you should not prescribe it yourself. With extreme caution, you need to use berries during lactation – the baby is no longer protected by the placenta and everything that mommy eats goes to him.

Cowberry: useful properties and contraindications for men

The benefits of lingonberries for men are primarily due to the ability to alleviate the condition with prostatitis. Even if there are no problems yet, starting from middle age it is useful to drink lingonberry water, tea or eat berries in courses of 10-14 days with a break of at least a month. Naturally, it is better to consult a doctor – after all, prostate diseases are sometimes accompanied by urolithiasis. And in this case, the benefit and harm of lingonberries for the body of a man should be evaluated by a doctor.

The stronger sex suffers from stress and neurosis as often as the weaker one. He just prefers not to admit it, not to let off steam, but to keep everything in himself. Berries, fruit drinks, tea will help bring the nervous system in order. Even a few spoons of jam have healing powers.

At what age can lingonberries be for children

There are ongoing discussions on this topic. Even doctors cannot agree among themselves at what age lingonberries can be given to children. Some say that from the age of three, others – from the age of twelve.

Probably, it all depends on the health of the child, as well as the characteristics of his development. In any case, even berries, whose effect on the body is much weaker than leaves, must first be given in small doses. And if the child is sick or the parents want him to take courses of lingonberries for medicinal purposes, you should first consult a doctor.

Children are given berries:

• as a diuretic;
• from allergies (having previously checked for tolerability of lingonberries);
• for colds as an anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing agent;
• in the complex treatment for diabetes mellitus;
• for general strengthening of the body.

It should be remembered that children should eat smaller portions of fruit than adults. Berries are also credited with properties to enhance the action of antibiotics – this should be remembered in complex therapy.

Recipe for bedwetting

Despite the fact that lingonberries are a well-known diuretic (diuretic), traditional medicine uses them for children’s enuresis. For this, 2 tbsp. spoons of equal parts of dried berries and leaves are poured with two glasses of boiling water, insisted for 10 minutes, then cooled and filtered.

Half of the infusion is drunk during the day, the second – in the evening, but no later than 17-00.

What helps cranberries

In addition to the fact that lingonberries are used as a tonic, vitamin, astringent, diuretic and sedative, they are prescribed in the complex treatment of various diseases. The leaves of the plant can act as an independent medicine – their effect is much stronger, and is recognized by official medicine. But the berries have fewer contraindications, in small quantities they can be eaten without consulting a doctor.

With colds

Lingonberries are used for colds due to the large amount of vitamin C, antipyretic, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. In addition, berries contain a lot of other vitamins and nutrients that contribute to the activation of the body’s own protective properties.

tea for colds

The simplest and most harmless advice is to drink lingonberry tea with honey or sugar at the first sign of a cold. For this, a tablespoon of berries is kneaded with the same amount of sweetener, poured with boiling water, stirred. When the drink becomes drinkable, it is consumed orally until it cools down.

Cold Morse

If a cold is “missed”, you can prepare a fruit drink and drink it 1-1,5 glasses a day. To do this, pour a glass of berries with water in a ratio of 1: 2, bring to a boil, pour in 5 teaspoons of sugar (not honey!), Simmer over low heat for a quarter of an hour, filter.

From temperature

Lingonberries can bring down the temperature with a common cold. If a person has a sore throat, you need to see a doctor – he will prescribe medications to cure the underlying disease. Perhaps, lingonberries will also be included in the set of measures against temperature.

Cowberry-beet juice

This fruit drink will not only lower the temperature, but also increase hemoglobin, saturate the body with vitamins and microelements. Beets soften the effect of lingonberries, the drink can be drunk even by patients with high acidity.

For 250 g of fresh or soaked berries, you need to take the same amount of red beets, 750 ml of water, 50 g of honey.

Cowberries are crushed with a blender or in another way, poured with chilled purified water and put on a small fire, brought to a boil. Turn off, insist 30 minutes.

Beets are washed, peeled, twisted in a meat grinder. Add lingonberries to the infusion, boil. When the broth cools down to 40 degrees, it is filtered through gauze, combined with honey.

Drink warm during the day, 100 ml 3-4 times. You can store this decoction in the refrigerator for no longer than three days. But it is better to make fresh daily.

Simple temperature recipe with raspberries

If the temperature is not burdened with complications, a delicious medicine can be easily prepared from frozen lingonberries and raspberries. A tablespoon of fruit is placed directly in a cup, poured with hot water, sugar or honey is added to taste. Berries should be crushed a little – they will easily release juice.

Drink 100 ml three times a day hot.

From cough

Lingonberry cough helps well – it has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. But coughing is different.

Prescription for sputum separation

To make it easier to separate sputum, honey is added to taste prepared for the winter or from fresh or frozen berries. One tablespoon of delicious medicine is drunk 6-8 times a day.

Recipe for cough with tuberculosis

Lingonberries can even moderate a cough in tuberculosis.

Take equal parts of fresh or frozen berries and honey, grind. Take 2-3 tbsp. spoons 3 or 4 times a day. Wash down with warm (not hot!) Water.

With cystitis

Lingonberries with cystitis are used quite often. Of course, the effect of the leaves is stronger than the berries. But you don’t always need a powerful tool. The berries are mild. At the beginning of the disease, when it seems that it is too early to go to the doctor, but discomfort is already felt, you can prescribe them yourself.

With inflammation of the bladder, relief after taking berries occurs:

• due to the high content of inflammation-relieving vitamin C in the fruits;
• due to the presence of an antiseptic arbutin that enhances the outflow of urine;
• the benzoic acid found in the plant also has an anti-inflammatory effect.

With cystitis, you can prepare fruit drinks in the same way as described in the recipe for colds.

Cowberry water from cystitis

An effective remedy is the water in which lingonberries were stored. The berries are washed, poured into a jar up to the neck and poured with clean water. So they can be stored all winter. The water, which was filled with berries, becomes healing after 2 months, and it has practically no contraindications.

Infusion of lingonberries from cystitis

A glass of crushed berries is poured with a liter of boiling water, wrapped in a warm blanket and insisted for 60 minutes. Then filter and drink, but not more than three glasses a day.

For the kidneys

Lingonberries for the kidneys should be taken with caution. Berries, of course, are not leaves, but there are diseases in which even they can be harmful. Without consulting a doctor, lingonberries should not be eaten:

• with renal failure;
• glomerulonephritis;
• kidney stones.

The therapeutic effect of berries is due to their antiseptic and diuretic effect. They activate the work of the kidneys, and this can have not only a positive effect. With infectious diseases, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of berries will help.

Below are recipes for lingonberry water and fruit drink, but you can cook them as described in other sections of the article.

Morse for kidney disease

50 ml of juice is squeezed out of fresh or frozen berries, diluted with 150 ml of boiled water. Add a sweetener to taste, drink 100 ml 3-4 times a day half an hour after eating.

Cowberry water for kidney disease

Not always, especially among residents of the southern regions, lingonberries are in such quantities that they can be soaked for the winter and kept untouched for 2-3 months. Yes, and the medicine may be needed urgently, and not when the berry is infused.

A glass of fruit is scalded, and then immediately poured with two parts of cold purified water for 7 hours. The resulting cold infusion is taken 30 minutes before each meal, 100 ml.

From edema

Lingonberry helps with edema due to its diuretic properties. The berries have a milder effect than the leaves, they can be taken on their own in a course of 10-14 days. But only if the person does not have intolerance, hypotension, stones, or severe kidney damage.

Together with urine, salts are excreted from the body, due to which fluid is retained in the body. It is important not to overdo it and not bring yourself to dehydration or washing out all the useful trace elements and vitamins.

Decoction of edema

To reduce swelling, dry berries and lingonberry leaves are mixed in equal proportions. Two teaspoons pour a glass of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes. Cool, filter, drink during the day.

Delicious fruit drink from edema

This recipe is quite simple, but the fruit drink turns out to be saturated, people with high acidity should absolutely not drink it. For those whose body is not accustomed to the constant use of marsh berries, it is better to consult a doctor.

Three glasses of lingonberries are kneaded, poured with a liter of water, stirred and boiled over low heat. Add the zest of 1 lemon, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar to taste. Turn off the fire, cool the drink, filter.

With urolithiasis

Lingonberries are not used for treatment of urolithiasis. It is able to remove sand, prevent further deposition of salts. A good berry for the prevention of the formation of kidney stones. But if they are already there, uncontrolled intake of not only leaves, but also a large number of fruits can lead to poor health.

Berries have a diuretic effect, the stone can move and block the ureter. This leads to severe pain, and surgery may be required.

Is it possible to eat berries at all with kidney stones? If a person lives in an area where lingonberries grow, a few or even a dozen fruits will not bring much harm, just like a sip of juice. But there can be no talk of eating plenty of berries. For people for whom lingonberries are exotic, it is better to abstain and first consult with a nephrologist.

With gastritis

You can use lingonberries for gastritis only with normal or low acidity.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lingonberries help due to the presence in it of tannic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic substances. The high content of various acids makes it impossible to use berries and leaves for people prone to high acidity.

Cranberry water for gastritis

For gastritis with normal or low acidity, they drink lingonberry water prepared according to one of the recipes described above. Take 100 ml 4 times a day.

Juice for gastritis with low acidity

This recipe is only suitable for people who have low acidity of gastric juice. Add a tablespoon of honey to half a glass of juice. Drink during the day for 3 doses – before meals, or 30 minutes after meals.

With pancreatitis

Lingonberries with pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas can only be used during remission.

Why can’t you eat lingonberries with acute pancreatitis?

1. Berries stimulate the release of enzymes, which are already not released into the duodenum. They self-digest in the pancreas and destroy it.
2. Lingonberries contain many acids that irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.
3. The shell of the fruit is poorly digested, lingers in the stomach and intestines. And this violates the first of the principles of the treatment of pancreatitis – hunger, cold and rest.

Even during the period of remission, it is better not to use fresh berries, but compotes, jelly, puddings, jelly, or put a spoonful of jam in tea. If you really want lingonberries, they start eating it with 1-2 fruits, reach half a glass, and stop there.

Kissel to restore the body after an acute period

But when the disease begins to let go, around the second week, you can use jelly with well-boiled lingonberries, sweetened with a sweetener. They quench thirst, help relieve spasms and restore strength. Lingonberries will accelerate the regeneration of the pancreas and relieve inflammation.

Cowberry juice during remission

In chronic pancreatitis, it is allowed to drink only freshly prepared juice (you can use frozen berries). It is diluted 1:1 with water, softened with a permitted sweetener, drunk 2 times a day for ½ cup. This will help prevent inflammation of the pancreas.

With gallstone disease

Lingonberries for cholelithiasis should be used only when prescribed and under the supervision of a physician. You can easily find recipes in which “healers” advise drinking juice, eating fresh berries, and not paying attention to pain in the right hypochondrium for 10-12 days. Like, small pebbles come out.

But what if a big one went, or a small one blocked the bile duct? At this time, the patient believes that since 12 days have not passed, you need to endure. So you can not only end up on the operating table … In addition, the exit of even small stones can result in their getting stuck in the bile duct.

Yes, lingonberries have the ability to accelerate regeneration, reduce inflammation, and relieve spasms. But it also increases the outflow of bile! This in itself increases the irritation of the already inflamed gallbladder, stomach and intestines.

Gout

Lingonberries for gout, arthritis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism are taken in the same way. Pain, inflammatory processes in the joints cannot be treated, relying only on the anti-inflammatory properties of berries. The fruits of lingonberries should be included in complex therapy, but not replace it.

Teas, decoctions and infusions from berries for the treatment and prevention of exacerbations of diseases of the musculoskeletal system should be drunk hot.

Cowberry anti-inflammatory tea

They take one part of dried lingonberries, stone fruit leaves and oregano herb, 2 parts of dry raspberries. A teaspoon of the mixture with a slide is poured with a glass of boiling water, brought to a boil, poured into a thermos or wrapped well, insisted for 60-90 minutes.

Take hot 1-2 cups a day, adding a sweetener to taste. Pregnant women, due to the presence of oregano, can drink such a drink only after consulting a doctor.

Lingonberry juice for gout and arthritis

It is prepared in the same way as with gastritis with low acidity – a tablespoon of honey is dissolved in half a glass of the drink. Only you need to drink juice just during the day, regardless of the meal.

Cowberry for weight loss

You can often find advice to eat lingonberries with diets aimed at weight loss. Yes, berries are low in calories. But even if a person has no contraindications, before including lingonberries in the menu, you need to think.

If the diet is that you can not eat certain foods, while the rest can be eaten in unlimited quantities – lingonberries will come in handy. But if the amount of food taken is minimal and calculated in portions, a man or woman who has included a delicious berry in the diet may greatly regret it.

The fact is that lingonberries stimulate the appetite. In the first case, you can fill your stomach with cabbage or boiled beets (well, or other permitted products). The second one will have to be patient. So, in order to avoid moral and physical suffering, it is better to consult a nutritionist.

But, in general, lingonberries with a diet can make up for the lack of vitamins and other nutrients in the body, caused by a limited range of food products.

The use of cranberries in cosmetology

Cowberry berries are used in cosmetology due to:

• high content of biologically active substances;
• benzoic acid, which has antiseptic properties;
• a large number of vitamins and minerals;
• anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and astringent properties;
• tonic effect.

That’s just the berries of lingonberries are dense, it is difficult to quickly knead them. You will have to use a pusher, and then wipe through a sieve, or a blender.

Cowberry face masks

Lingonberry can:

• relieve inflammation and irritation;
• moisturize the skin of the face;
• strengthen the epidermis;
• prevent skin aging and wrinkles;
• stimulate metabolic processes;
• narrow the pores;
• supply the skin with essential vitamins and minerals.

How to make face masks

Face masks with lingonberries are done 2 times a week for a month. They are applied to a clean face with fingers or a silicone brush, left for 15-20 minutes, washed off with warm water. Then wash with cool water to shrink pores.

Mask for dry skin

A tablespoon of lingonberry pulp is thoroughly mixed with a teaspoon of sour cream and the same amount of any vegetable oil (preferably jojoba, olive or coconut).

This mask nourishes the skin, smoothes wrinkles.

Mask for oily skin       

Beat the protein, add 2 tablespoons of lingonberry pulp. After the mask is removed, a nourishing cream is applied to the face.

This procedure narrows the pores, dries the skin, normalizes the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Mask for normal or combination skin

A tablespoon of lingonberry pulp is combined with the same amount of grapefruit juice, then wheat flour is added (as much as to get a thick mixture).

This is both a rejuvenating and whitening mask.

Cowberry masks for hair

The anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and astringent properties of lingonberries are used to treat hair. It helps eliminate dandruff and itching. Shampoos and rinses strengthen hair, stop hair loss, saturate with minerals and vitamins. But masks prepared from lingonberries with your own hands work best.

For strengthening and against hair loss

Finely grated carrots, a third cup of chopped fresh or frozen lingonberries and 2 tbsp. spoons of castor oil are thoroughly mixed and applied to the hair roots. They cover the head with cellophane (you can wear a swimming cap or a special one for the shower), wrap it with a terry towel. After 2 hours, the mask is washed off first with water and then with shampoo.

Mask for the restoration of severely damaged hair

Porridge from 2 tbsp. spoons of lingonberries and the same amount of castor or burdock oil, 2 chicken (or 6 quail) yolks are thoroughly mixed. Apply to wet hair, wrap with cellophane and a terry towel for 2 hours. Wash your hair first with warm water, then shampoo.

This mask should be done once a week for 1 months.

Contraindications to the use of cranberries

Compared with leaves, lingonberries have fewer medicinal properties and contraindications. Their action is mild, if you do not eat fruits in large quantities. It is believed that if there are no contraindications, without prejudice to health and consultation with a doctor, even people for whom lingonberries are an exotic culture can eat half a glass of berries. Those who have been accustomed to marsh berries since childhood consume them in much larger quantities.

Meanwhile, you need to know what contraindications exist for the use of lingonberries:

1. With stones in the kidneys or gallbladder, it is strictly forbidden to eat berries without consulting a doctor.
2. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with high acidity completely exclude the use of lingonberries. Even with normal acidity, ulcers should consult a doctor.
3. In acute pancreatitis, in no case should you eat not only lingonberries, but also other berries. In general, the exacerbation of this disease involves a severe diet!
4. With many kidney diseases, such as kidney failure or glomerulonephritis, a handful of berries that you allow yourself can turn into a disaster.
5. Lingonberry lowers blood pressure. It should not be eaten by hypotensive patients.
6. Before giving berries to a child, you need to consult a doctor, conduct a sensitivity test. You need to start taking lingonberries with 1-2 fruits, gradually increasing the dose. The maximum number of berries allowed to the child should be determined by the doctor, but the dose should not exceed half a glass.
7. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking cranberries – in some cases, the berries can harm the baby.
8. During lactation, the intake of lingonberries must be agreed with the doctor, otherwise the child may have constipation, dehydration and other troubles.
9. Postoperative period.
10. Individual intolerance.

Hypersensitivity test

Before eating lingonberries for the first time, a simple test should be done, since 100% hypoallergenic products do not exist. To do this, a bandage is moistened in juice diluted with water, tied around the wrist. If within 10 minutes there is no hives, itching, irritation, or other negative reaction, you can start eating berries. For the first time, it is better to limit yourself to 1-2 pieces, in the future, their number can be gradually increased.

What else to pay attention to? First, it is believed that lingonberries enhance the effect of antibiotics. Secondly, it increases appetite, so the low calorie content of berries is not a reason to immediately include them in the diet.

Conclusion

The health benefits and harms of lingonberries, despite the large list of contraindications, are incomparable. Often doctors prescribe berries even for those diseases that are on the forbidden list. They themselves calculate the dosage and time of admission, depending on the weight of the patient, concomitant diseases. In addition, the origin of the berries is of great importance – it is one thing to independently collect fruits in an ecologically clean place, and quite another – bought from hand or at a retail outlet.