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The benefits of white currant for the human body are quite large, the berry helps to improve well-being and strengthen the immune system. To evaluate the properties of berries, you need to study their composition and find out exactly how white currants are used in various fields.
Composition of white currant berries
In the fruits of white currant there is a huge amount of vitamins, organic acids and valuable minerals. In many qualities, the white variety of currant even surpasses red and black.
The composition contains:
- ascorbic acid, which has a powerful antimicrobial effect;
- vitamin P, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure;
- rutin – a substance that reduces vascular fragility and improves skin condition;
- tocopherol, which is responsible for good blood circulation and rapid rejuvenation of body cells;
- pectin – a substance that allows you to maintain normal bowel function;
- vitamin B4, necessary for the healthy functioning of the nervous system;
- folic acid, which protects against the development of oncology;
- oxycoumarins – substances that thin the blood and protect the heart from ailments.
Also, white currant in its composition contains fructose and other natural sugars, iron and potassium, phosphorus and sodium. Berries are rich in fiber, so eating them is good for speeding up digestion.
Useful properties of white currant
If you regularly use white currants at least in the summer, the benefits for the body will be enormous. Delicious light berries:
- eliminate inflammation and infections due to the high content of vitamin C – white currant helps fight colds and viruses, accelerates the healing of injured tissues;
- improve skin condition – when consumed, white currant stimulates the production of collagen, which means it reduces the number of wrinkles, pimples, blackheads and other skin defects;
- contribute to the rapid growth and strengthening of hair;
- improve the composition of the blood – the berries contain a lot of iron, which is responsible for the production of red blood cells and the saturation of tissues with oxygen, when using white currants, blood clotting increases;
- contribute to weight loss – white currant helps cleanse the body of toxic substances and accumulated toxins, normalizes metabolic processes and helps burn excess body fat;
- help get rid of allergies – since white currant does not contain pigments, it rarely causes a negative reaction, and with frequent use it can have an antihistamine effect and mitigate allergies to other products.
Whitecurrant is known for its anti-cancer properties. It contains a large amount of antioxidants, anthocyanins and other substances that inhibit the growth of malignant tumors. White currant reduces the likelihood of developing cancer, and the therapy of an existing disease becomes more successful.
The benefits of white currant for women
White currant has a special benefit for women. First of all, it is actively used for cosmetic purposes. On the basis of fresh fruits, scrubs and masks are prepared, which significantly improve the condition of the skin and have a powerful anti-aging effect. Also, white currant is often present in diets, it allows you to lose extra pounds and maintain a normal balance of vitamins and minerals in the body.
White currant is of great benefit during pregnancy, it will help the expectant mother to avoid beriberi, and folic acid in the composition will be very useful for the fetus. Also, white currant protects a pregnant woman from colds and helps to get rid of edema.
The benefits of white currant for men
For men, the fruits of white currant also bring significant benefits. They help fight all kinds of infections and inflammations of the genitourinary system, protect against the development of prostatitis and adenoma. Eating fruits is useful in case of malfunctioning of the kidneys – currants serve as an effective natural diuretic.
Since white berries have a healing effect on the reproductive and urinary systems, against this background, male potency improves and normal libido returns. Also, eating white currant is useful for the prevention of vascular and heart diseases.
The benefits of white currant for children
White currant can bring great benefits to the children’s body. First of all, it strengthens the child’s immune system and serves as a prevention of viruses and colds. Berries also protect the intestines from malfunctions, help regulate stools, and prevent the development of anemia and beriberi in the baby.
Whitecurrant is a unique berry that can be offered to babies under one year old. For the first time, currant fruits can be introduced into the children’s diet from the age of 7 months, since the white berry does not contain dyes, it almost never causes allergies.
What helps white currant
Useful properties and contraindications of white currant largely affect the sphere of health. It is recommended to use this juicy berry for some ailments, currant fruits can reduce the symptoms of diseases and contribute to recovery.
- Taking fruit drinks and compotes from white currant is useful for colds, coughs and runny nose. After a slight heat treatment, valuable vitamins and acids are preserved in the fruits, which help to relieve inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
- Fresh berries and marmalades or jams based on them are beneficial for anemia and anemia, as they improve blood composition and restore strength.
- It is useful to eat white currants for digestive ailments – the berries speed up metabolic processes and remove toxins from the body, and also prevent the development of inflammation of the mucous membranes.
- Eating white currants is useful for nervous disorders and disruptions of the endocrine system – the berries have a beneficial effect on the hormonal and emotional background, improve the quality of sleep and increase vigor.
- It is useful to take white currants with high blood pressure, it has a positive effect on blood vessels and thins the blood, due to which the state of health normalizes.
- Whitecurrant is beneficial for liver diseases and high cholesterol, it can be eaten both for the prevention of ailments, and as an addition to official treatment.
- White currant berries are useful for diseases of the heart system, as they normalize blood circulation and reduce the risk of heart attacks.
- You can use the berry for diabetes – the glycemic index of the fruit is low. If eaten in moderation, currants can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent serious complications.
The use of white currant
Currant white varieties are used very widely. It is used for the treatment of ailments and for the preparation of culinary dishes, for the care of appearance. Valuable properties are not only fresh, but also frozen or processed fruits – with proper preparation and storage, white currant retains all the benefits.
In folk medicine
In recipes for home medicine, white currants are very common. Several products based on white berries are especially popular.
- Strengthening tea. To prepare it, young buds, leaves and thin twigs of white currant are poured with boiling water and infused for several hours. The finished drink, if desired, is supplemented with a spoonful of honey and taken 150 ml per day. Tea helps with reduced immunity, and also serves as a good diuretic and helps to remove small stones from the kidneys and bladder.
- Anti-inflammatory infusion. Young shoots and leaves of the plant are crushed, 1 large spoonful of raw materials is measured and poured with a glass of boiling water, and then placed in a water bath for 10 minutes. The finished infusion is cooled and filtered, and then the mouth is rinsed with inflammatory processes in the gums and throat.
- A decoction for constipation. About 5 large spoons of fresh or dried berries must be boiled for 10 minutes, and then insisted under the lid for several more hours. They drink the remedy 100 ml three times a day, currant decoction helps to quickly get rid of constipation and also normalizes digestion in general with regular use.
From whitecurrant you can prepare a fragrant tincture with healing properties. To do this, 500 g of fruits and 15 leaves of the plant must be thoroughly washed, poured into a large jar, covered with a glass of sugar on top, and then poured with 500 ml of alcohol or vodka.
A jar of tincture is kept for 10 days in a dark and warm place, and then filtered and used for colds, reduced immunity and inflammatory ailments. You need to drink the remedy 50 ml per day for no longer than 14 days, then the tincture will benefit.
In cooking
The benefits of white currant for the human body are also manifested in cooking. The easiest way is to make compote or fruit drink from berries, but these are far from the only options for using currant fruits.
For example, with the addition of white berries, you can make a light and healthy diet salad. Prepare it like this:
- 200 g of fresh turnips are washed, peeled and cut into strips;
- in a small bowl, the root crop is salted and mixed well;
- 2 large spoons of sour cream and the same amount of lemon juice are added to the turnip;
- pour 80 g of currant berries into a bowl.
At the last stage, the salad is seasoned with a large spoonful of liquid honey, you can also add a couple of fresh mint leaves. You can eat the dish at any time of the day, such a salad will bring great benefits to the body and provide it with the most valuable vitamins.
A very popular dish is a delicious and healthy jam. The simplest recipe for its preparation looks like this:
- for jam, a large enameled pan is selected and 1,5 kg of washed fresh berries without twigs are poured into it;
- from above, the raw materials are covered with the same amount of granulated sugar;
- the ingredients are mixed properly and left for 4 hours, during which time the sugar will completely dissolve in the released juice.
After that, the pan is sent to the stove, waiting for the sweet syrup to boil and cook for exactly 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly. The finished jam retains the maximum amount of useful properties, due to the short thermal effect, the currant almost does not lose valuable acids and vitamins.
In cosmetology
White currant is a valuable cosmetic product. Vitamins and organic acids in its composition have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, especially when using homemade masks.
With a tendency to acne and acne, you can use the following remedy:
- 2 large spoons of currant leaves pour a glass of boiling water;
- leave to infuse for about 20 minutes;
- when the infusion becomes warm, gauze or thin cloth napkins are moistened in it and applied to the face for half an hour.
Another mask helps to whiten the skin and get rid of freckles:
- half a glass of fresh white berries is kneaded and passed through gauze to squeeze out the juice;
- after that, the juice is mixed with a similar amount of low-fat natural cottage cheese;
- if desired, add a little cream or milk to improve the consistency;
- for 20 minutes distribute the mask over the face.
The skin becomes lighter and softer after 2-3 procedures, and it is recommended to make masks at least once a week.
White currant helps to eliminate the first superficial wrinkles:
- a handful of fresh berries must be mashed and squeezed out of them pure juice;
- then the juice must be mixed with a similar amount of vegetable oil – olive or linseed;
- The mixture is applied to the face and neck with massaging movements and left for 20 minutes.
The mask not only smoothes the skin well, but also makes it more elastic and velvety.
To restore damaged skin, you can prepare a currant mask in combination with blue cosmetic clay. It is easy to make – a handful of fruits are mashed to a state of puree or mixed with clay powder until the desired consistency is obtained. Then the gruel is distributed over the face for 20 minutes, after which it is gently washed off with warm water.
Calorie content of berries
For all their benefits, white currant berries have a very low nutritional value. 100 g of fresh fruit contains only 42 kcal – this is less than blackcurrant. Most fruits consist of carbohydrates, they also contain some proteins, but there are no fats at all.
Contraindications to white currant
The benefits and harms of white currant are not the same for everyone. With all its great value, the product can harm the body. Contraindications for it are:
- individual intolerance to individual components in the composition – even hypoallergenic white currants can cause a negative reaction;
- gastric ulcer and hyperacid gastritis in the acute phase – organic acids in the composition will have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes;
- hemophilia – with poor blood clotting, the product may worsen the condition;
- hepatitis – the use of fruits is not recommended for severe liver damage;
- pancreatitis – in case of acute inflammation of the pancreas, the product will only harm.
Even in the absence of contraindications, berries should be consumed in moderation, preferably no more than 200 g per day. In overdose, they will lead to indigestion, nausea and diarrhea, since a large amount of organic acids will irritate the digestive tract.
Conclusion
The benefits of white currant for a person are very high, and the product has quite a few contraindications. You can use berries for treatment, maintaining beauty and for preparing delicious dishes – white currant fruits will benefit in all situations.
