Blueberries - berries and leaves: benefits and harm, healing properties, vitamins and microelements. Blueberries and blueberries: what is the difference, which is better? Blueberries: beneficial properties and contraindications for children, women, men, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Berry

You can prepare various delicacies from the berries, make compotes and jam, and they are also consumed fresh. We’ll talk in more detail about the beneficial properties of blueberries in our article.

The most useful fruits contain:

  • Sahara;
  • vitamin B (1,2);
  • iron;
  • anthocyanins, which enhance the effects of antioxidants;
  • phosphorus;
  • fiber;
  • carotene;
  • ascorbic acid;
  • calcium;
  • vitamin P;
  • antioxidants help prevent the formation of cancer cells;
  • organic acids;
  • pectin;
  • vitamin PP;
  • copper;
  • vitamin K, helps blood clot;
  • tannins.

If you want to lose weight, you are allowed to eat berries, since the calorie content of the product is only 61 kcal (per 100 g).

Beneficial properties for human health

Berries have a beneficial effect on the body:

  • protect from the effects of radioactive radiation;
  • normalize heart function;
  • support healthy intestinal function;
  • slow down the aging of nerve cells;
  • strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
  • have a choleretic, cardiological, anti-inflammatory, anti-sclerotic effect.

Blueberries also have a positive effect when:

  • hypertension;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • sore throat;
  • rheumatism;
  • capillary toxicosis.

Berries have a positive effect on diabetics because:

  • restore tissue;
  • help enhance the effect of medications that lower sugar levels;
  • enhance metabolic processes.

If you regularly consume berries, you can relieve eye strain and restore vision.

For men

Men can also benefit from eating blue berries.

  1. Having a diuretic effect, it helps the genitourinary system function properly, thereby preventing its diseases.
  2. Regular use helps prevent prostatitis.
  3. Helps older men keep themselves in good shape and recharge with energy.
  4. Useful for drivers, as it helps improve vision and relieve eye strain.

For women

The benefits of blueberries for women are invaluable. In addition to the listed beneficial qualities, the berry helps, with the help of masks, to prolong the youth of a woman’s skin, whiten it and cleanse it.

When consumed, sleep is normalized and the immune system is strengthened.

Medicinal properties of blueberry leaves

A versatile plant that benefits the body through its fruits and leaves.

They:

  • improve the digestion process;
  • help fight colds;
  • regulate sugar levels;
  • cleanse the body;
  • improve health;
  • have a disinfecting effect;
  • improve sleep;
  • reduce appetite;
  • normalize the functioning of the nervous system;
  • normalize cholesterol;
  • treat the cardiovascular system.

Use in folk medicine

Let's look at the most common diseases that berries can help you cope with.

Diabetes mellitus

Ingredients:

  • blueberry leaves - 1 tbsp. spoon;
  • boiling water – 240 ml.

Preparation:

  1. Chop the leaves. Measure out the required quantity. Place in boiling water.
  2. Boil for eight minutes. The fire should be minimal. Cool.
  3. Drink three times a day. Single dose – 15 ml.

If you want to cure constipation, heart disease or anemia, then you should prepare it according to the same recipe, but take it in a larger dose. You will need 100 ml.

Decoction of leaves

Good prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, vascular system and heart.

Ingredients:

  • boiling water – 260 ml;
  • leaves of the plant – 50 g.

Preparation:

  1. Chop the leaves. Pour boiling water over it. Cover with a saucer. Cover with a towel.
  2. Leave for three hours. Take gauze and strain the broth.
  3. Drink six times a day. Norm – 1 tbsp. spoon.

Diarrhea, bladder problems

Ingredients:

  • blueberry leaves - 2 tbsp. spoon;
  • boiling water – 440 ml.

Preparation:

  1. Pour boiling water into a thermos.
  2. Chop the leaves. Measure out the required quantity. Pour into a thermos. Close.
  3. Set aside for an hour. Drink the prepared tea four times a day in a mug.

General strengthening agent

Ingredients:

  • blueberries – 1100 g of fruit;
  • granulated sugar – 550 g.

Preparation:

  1. Cover the berries with sugar.
  2. Set aside for a couple of hours. Warm up and pour into jars.
  3. Place the container with the fruits in water (boiling water) and hold for a quarter of an hour. Roll up.

Vitamin recipes from blueberries

The fruits help heal the body and make a variety of tasty dishes.

Juice

Ingredients:

  • blueberries – 950 g;
  • water – 610 ml;
  • sugar – 420 g.

Preparation:

  1. Dry the washed berries. Remove damaged copies.
  2. Using a blender, chop the berries. Squeeze out the juice.
  3. Pour some water into the remaining cake. Leave for half an hour and squeeze again.
  4. Mix two juices and heat. The temperature will need 70 degrees. Now you need gauze. Strain the juice.
  5. Add sugar to the remaining water. Boil. Boil for three minutes. Pour in juice. Boil.

Oatmeal

Ingredients:

  • cereal – 5 tbsp. spoons of oatmeal;
  • salt – 0.1 teaspoon;
  • blueberries – 100 g;
  • sugar – 1 teaspoon;
  • milk – 240 ml.

Preparation:

  1. Grind the berries.
  2. Boil the milk. Salt and sweeten. Add oatmeal. Stir.
  3. Boil the mixture for eight minutes.
  4. Pour into bowls. Pour over the berry mixture.

Smoothie

A vitamin treat that children will love.

Ingredients:

  • banana – 1 pc.;
  • spinach – 10 g;
  • ice cubes - mug;
  • avocado – 0.5 pcs.;
  • blueberry - mug;
  • honey - 1 tbsp. spoon;
  • water – 120 ml.

Preparation:

  1. Slice the avocado. Rinse the berries. Slice the banana. Tear the spinach.
  2. Place in a blender bowl. Pour in honey and water. Throw in ice. Beat.

Jam

Ingredients:

  • water – 240 ml;
  • blueberries – 950 g;
  • sugar – 800 g.

Preparation:

  1. Be sure to dry the washed berries.
  2. Pour granulated sugar with water. Boil. Cool.
  3. Pour the berries into the prepared syrup. Warm up. The mass should begin to boil. Turn the flame to low and simmer for half an hour.

Pie

  • puff pastry – packaging;
  • berries - 550 g blueberries;
  • starch;
  • sugar – 240 g;
  • apples – 2 pcs.

Preparation:

  1. Chop the apples. Roll out two layers of dough.
  2. Place the first part in the mold. Sprinkle with starch. Place prepared berries. Sprinkle with sugar. Lay out the berries. Cover with a second layer. To ensure that the steam that forms inside the cake finds an outlet, be sure to make punctures on the surface of the dough.
  3. Place in a hot oven. 180 degree mode. Leave for half an hour.

Cocktail

  • corn starch - 2 tbsp. spoons;
  • cottage cheese – 650 g;
  • sour cream – 130 ml;
  • butter – 1 teaspoon;
  • blueberries – 200 g;
  • egg – 4 pcs.;
  • small strawberries – 100 g;
  • mint – 2 leaves;
  • vanilla sugar – 1 teaspoon;
  • brown sugar – 130 g;
  • powdered sugar – 1 tbsp. spoon;
  • semolina – 1 tbsp. spoon.
  • Preparation:

    1. Pour starch into the cottage cheese. Add semolina. Add vanilla sugar. Pour in the eggs. Sprinkle with sugar. Place in blender bowl. Beat.
    2. Grease the mold with oil. Place the resulting mass. Sprinkle with some blueberries. Bake for an hour. 170 degree mode.
    3. Turn off the oven. Don't open the door. Leave for another hour.
    4. Pour sugar into sour cream and beat. Grease the casserole. Place in the refrigerator for six hours.
    5. Add blueberries and strawberries. Garnish with mint.

    Dried

    Ingredients:

    • garden blueberries – 1500 g.

    Preparation:

    1. Place the berries on a baking sheet.
    2. Set the oven to the required mode (50 degrees).
    3. Place the baking sheet. Leave for seven hours. Shake the pan occasionally.

    Blueberries are often confused with blueberries, but blueberries are a very different plant. At the same time beneficial properties Blueberries are many times superior to other berries, so below we’ll talk about their composition and use.

    Chemical composition and nutritional value of blueberries

    In my own way chemical composition Blueberries are many times richer than black currants, not to mention their cousin blueberries. It is valued for its ability to strengthen the immune system, reduce fever and help improve blood condition. Despite the fact that each blueberry is 88% just water, from 100 grams of such berries you can get:

    • 1 g protein;
    • 8 g carbohydrates;
    • 0.5 g fat.
    Thanks to this, blueberries are considered the most dietary berry, since from 100 grams of product the body receives only 39 kcal. That is, by eating one glass of blueberries for breakfast, your energy supply will increase by only 100 kcal. But at the same time, many microelements enter the body, including large quantities of potassium and calcium. Blueberries are also rich in phosphorus and iron, sodium and magnesium.

    Did you know? After the Chernobyl tragedy, doctors strongly recommended residents of the affected areas to include blueberries in their diet. It was noted that blueberries helped even those who were directly present during the liquidation to get rid of the harmful effects of radiation.

    Among the vitamins contained in this plant are vitamins C and E, as well as group B in almost complete composition. Organic amino acids and even particles of ash (0.5 grams per 100 grams of product) are also present in the berries. In addition, among all the berries, blueberries are a rich source of pectin, a substance that can reduce cholesterol levels and also efficiently cleanse the body of toxins.

    Blueberry properties


    Blueberries have medicinal properties and contraindications, so this berry should be handled with extreme caution. Even if it is indicated for you to consume, you should not eat it in large portions, since its individual components in high concentrations can play a cruel joke on your health.

    Beneficial properties of blueberries

    This plant is a storehouse of vitamins, since even blueberry leaves have beneficial properties. During the most active period of the plant’s growing season, its leaves are torn off and dried in order to later prepare healthy and aromatic tea. In addition to tea, the leaves are used to make useful infusions, which are used in the treatment of colds and even for recovery from gastrointestinal diseases.

    Decoctions from blueberry leaves and berries are useful for people who have low stomach acidity. With regular use of this natural medicine, appetite improves. If we are talking exclusively about the blueberry, then its beneficial properties include:


    Did you know? In the USA, an experiment was conducted using blueberries, which were included in the diet of elderly people in an amount of 200 grams daily. Such nutrition made it possible to prevent the rapid development of senile sclerosis and improved indicators of mental activity. Even those who, due to age, could not remember new information well, improved their memorization performance.

    Harm and contraindications for use

    It is not advisable to give blueberries to children under 1.5 years old. although for older children it can become the basis of the diet. This restriction is due to the fairly high carbohydrate content of blueberries, which can cause diathesis even with breastfeeding. Such precautions do not apply only to pregnant women.


    There are also restrictions on the amount of blueberries consumed. In particular, if you manage to eat a half-liter jar of these berries at once, you are guaranteed to get severe bloating and possibly diarrhea. It is especially important not to overdo it with blueberries for elderly people and people with diabetes, as this natural medicine can turn into poison.

    The use of blueberries in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus

    The first thing people take blueberries for is to combat the symptoms of diabetes. Its main property is ability to reduce blood sugar, which is very important for diabetics. However, if you suffer from hypoglycemia, then you, on the contrary, It is worth minimizing the amount of blueberries in your diet, as it can aggravate the health situation.

    A decoction of leaves and twigs of blueberry bushes

    This recipe can be used by absolutely all diabetics, since it contains no berries, which means there are no carbohydrates at all. To obtain a decoction 2 tbsp needed. l. ground blueberry shoots and leaves, 200 ml boiling water.

    After pouring boiling water over the blueberries, boil them for 10 minutes. After this, the broth needs to brew for at least two hours so that the liquid turns out saturated and rich in vitamins. This medicine should be taken five times during the day, 1 spoon between meals.

    Blueberry leaf decoction


    If you have any in stock only leaves this useful plant, then they are in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. pour a glass of hot water and place in a water bath for 15 minutes in a sealed container. After cooling at room temperature the infusion is filtered (squeeze out the remaining leaves so that the main “juice” flows out of them). Since the volume of the infusion decreases during boiling, after straining it is diluted with water and brought to a boil again.

    The peculiarity of this infusion is that it is stored for no more than two days, after which it is worth preparing a new one. In this case, it is important to choose a cool storage location. The medicinal properties of this decoction consist in a mild laxative effect on the body, so for diabetes mellitus it is taken twice a day, half a glass.

    Important! Blueberries are quite difficult to grow at home, as they do not like changes in temperature and air humidity. Therefore, when growing it, it is necessary to choose a place where there are no drafts and so that the bush does not receive direct sunlight.

    Uses of blueberry juice

    Blueberry juice It is also good for diabetes and a little honey should be added to it for treatment. This medicine is taken half an hour before each meal in a volume of no more than half a glass.

    Using fresh blueberries


    Total 300 grams of blueberries, which a diabetic is recommended to eat daily, can significantly reduce blood sugar levels even without the use of any additional medications (but if the stage of diabetes is too advanced, folk remedy will not protect against attacks).

    Blueberry tea

    To tea made from blueberries was not only tasty, but could also help improve health in diabetes; in addition to a glass of blueberries, you should also add:

    • a glass of cranberries;
    • a glass of rosehip;
    • 1 lemon;
    • 1 apple.
    All ingredients must be thoroughly crushed, ground together and filled with 1 liter of water in a thermos. In just 40 minutes you will have a very tasty and unusual healthy tea, which for diabetes can be drunk in doses of no more than 0.5 glasses four times a day.

    Dried blueberry decoction

    If blueberries are dried in advance, they can also be used to treat diabetes. To receive treatment decoction 1 spoon of berries must be poured into a thermos with boiling water and left for 2 hours. The tea obtained after straining should be drunk one tablespoon three times a day.

    Dried blueberry infusion

    A good way to lower blood sugar levels is infusionfrom dry blueberry berries, of which you only need 2 tbsp. l.. They need to be mashed in 1 tbsp. water and hold over a water bath for 15 minutes. The resulting infusion is drunk immediately after preparation, and there is also no need to throw away the berries. The infusion can be prepared daily.

    Applications of blueberries

    The simplest and most famous way to use blueberries is tea, which can be obtained from both the leaves and the berries of the plant. However, even simple tea can have medicinal properties that help improve health for a variety of diseases.

    Using blueberries for treatment

    Due to the huge number of beneficial properties, blueberries are used not only for the treatment of diabetes. There are many recipes that allow you to get rid of digestive problems, heart disease and a decrease in the body's defenses.

    Blueberries have numerous beneficial properties and contraindications for women and men. This delicious berry has a beneficial effect on health, improves mood and is capable of strengthening the body no worse than pharmacy multivitamin complexes.

    Blueberry properties

    The dark blue berry ripens towards the end of summer. Their taste is soft, delicate and rich. They have a lot of benefits. The latter is determined a large number useful elements in the composition. Blueberries are 90% water. In addition to liquid, the product contains:

    • mineral salts;
    • acetic acid;
    • ascorbic acid;
    • citric acid;
    • nicotinic acid;
    • phosphorus;
    • calcium,
    • provitamins and vitamins A;
    • malic acid;
    • oxalic acid;
    • flavonoids;
    • iron;
    • B vitamins;
    • vitamins K, PP, P;
    • carotene;
    • magnesium.

    A successful combination of all these components provides all the beneficial properties and contraindications that blueberries have for women, men and children. It is a good antioxidant, helps maintain youthful skin, improves vision, fights swelling and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the berry:

    • relieves inflammation;
    • accelerates the body’s recovery processes (which is especially valuable during the period of rehabilitation after serious illnesses);
    • has an antipyretic effect;
    • significantly reduces the risk of cancer;
    • has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
    • improves processes;
    • normalizes the functioning of the pancreas;
    • protects nerve cells from destruction;
    • increases attentiveness;
    • relieves eye tension;
    • prevents age-related weakening.

    How are blueberries beneficial for women?

    This berry is almost universal. All of the beneficial properties and contraindications that blueberries have for women are provided by natural ingredients. Representatives of the fair sex often use the berry to maintain natural beauty. Moreover, it copes with this task no worse than expensive cosmetics. Another benefit of blueberries is that they can help solve one of the most common women's problems -.

    Blueberries for pregnant women - benefits

    Since it is a natural product, expectant mothers can also eat it. More precisely, it is not possible, but necessary. Blueberries for pregnant women will be an excellent source of vitamins, which the body especially needs during this period. Without them, the unborn child will not be able to develop normally. Although all the beneficial properties of blueberries, contraindications for pregnant women must be taken into account.

    If there are no warnings, the product can be safely consumed. In this case, the berry will have the following effects:

    • promote the formation of a strong nervous system in the fetus;
    • participate in the correct laying of organs;
    • improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
    • compensate for the lack of most vital vitamins;
    • improve the mood of a pregnant woman;
    • give the expectant mother's hair shine and strength.

    Blueberries for nursing mothers


    You should not give up berries during lactation. Blueberries have beneficial properties for women at this stage of life:

    1. Natural antioxidants will strengthen the immune system, which will allow the body, weakened after childbirth, to fight various diseases.
    2. Thanks to the properties of the berries, muscle tissue and epidermis are restored more quickly.
    3. A large amount of vitamin PP will strengthen the nervous system of a young mother and protect her from many disorders.
    4. The pectin in blueberries promotes rapid weight loss after childbirth.

    Blueberries for diabetics

    Another thing blueberries are good for is fighting diabetes. Berries effectively remove waste and toxins. In addition, gonobobel - this is one of the many alternative names for blueberries - strengthens the body and prevents the development of various possible complications of diabetes. Regular use of berries allows you to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood and improves the overall well-being of patients.

    Blueberries for immunity

    Like most others, this berry has a good effect on the immune system. Sweet and sour berries contain a lot of vitamins and microelements that help restore and activate your own defenses. Blueberries are especially beneficial for the body if consumed regularly, but eating too much of the product is not recommended. The optimal dose is about 200 grams per day.

    Blueberries for weight loss

    What woman doesn't dream of losing a few? extra pounds. Moreover, almost everyone would like to get away with a little bloodshed. Blueberries, whose benefits for women are invaluable, obviously won’t cope with this task on their own - you won’t be able to get rid of excess weight without changing your diet and without reconsidering your attitude towards physical activity - but it will greatly help in achieving an ideal result.

    The berry is famous for its fat-burning properties. The effect is achieved due to the high content of polyphenols. The latter are involved in the breakdown of fats that are already in the body and prevent the formation of new deposits. What do you need to lose weight with blueberries? Just stick proper nutrition and add berries to your daily diet.

    Blueberries - contraindications


    This product is one of the most harmless. It suits almost everyone, but this does not mean that blueberries do not have properties and contraindications. Some people still need to use the berry with caution:

    1. Blueberries contain a lot of , and if they accumulate in the body in too large quantities, this can negatively affect muscle function.
    2. Berries are not recommended for people with individual intolerance to certain components of their composition.
    3. Don't overeat blueberries. Too many beneficial microelements are also not good.
    4. The berry can harm people with biliary dyskinesia, so before consuming it, people with this diagnosis should consult a specialist.
    5. Additional advice is also required for those taking blood thinning medications. In combination with them, blueberries can cause harm.

    How to use blueberries?

    The most benefits come from fresh berries. Many people love to eat them in their pure form. The beneficial properties of the product are also preserved in compotes, teas, decoctions, and juices prepared from it. Among other things, blueberries for women can be used in the form of products made from the leaves of the plant. The latter contains no less useful components than the fruits of gonobobel. True, before consuming the leaves, you need to spend a little time to prepare some kind of healing remedy from them.

    Blueberry fruit

    If you have fresh gonobobel, it is better to choose dense, unsuppressed, but soft berries. These will be the most pleasant to the taste. The easiest way to prepare juice is from them, which is used for:

    • diarrhea;
    • kidney inflammation;
    • hypovitaminosis.

    Some people have gotten used to adding blueberries to tea and baked goods. True, it is important to understand that in the latter case, during heat treatment, some of the beneficial properties of the fruit are still lost. To be able to be treated with berries all year round, they can be frozen or dried for the winter.

    Blueberry decoction

    Ingredients.

    Feb-2-2012

    What are blueberries?

    What are blueberries, the beneficial properties and contraindications of blueberries, and does this plant have any medicinal properties? These questions often arise among those who care about their health and show interest in traditional methods of treatment, in particular in treatment with medicinal plants.

    And this interest is understandable.

    Maybe in this article, to some extent, you can get an answer to these questions.

    Common blueberry (Vaccinium uliginósum) is a species of deciduous shrub from the genus Vaccinium of the Ericaceae family. Type species of this genus.

    In scientific and popular science literature, the Russian version of the species name is also found: swamp blueberry, swamp blueberry, lowbush blueberry.

    Russian common and local names of the plant (or berries): water drinker, cabbage roll, blueberry, gonobob, gonobobel, gonoboy, gonobol, fool, fool, fool, fool, fool, drunken berry, drunkard, drunkard, drunkard, blue grapes, sinika.

    Wikipedia

    A perennial plant with a long rhizome, from which branch round, grey-brown, bare, woody stems, reaching a height of 50 cm and turning the plant into a splayed shrub. On the stems there are short-petiolate, obovate or elongated, entire-edged, hard leaves with pinnate venation clearly visible below; they are blue-green on the upper side and dull green on the lower side.

    At the ends of short lateral branches there are white or reddish goblet-shaped flowers, from which pear-shaped, less often spherical, blue berries with a white coating develop. Blueberries are easily confused with blueberries, although the plants are coarser, larger and less compact. The main thing that distinguishes blueberries from blueberries is the fruit with greenish pulp and colorless juice.

    The taste of blueberries is rather sickly sweet, in contrast to blueberries, which are aromatic and sour in taste. Blooms from May to July. It is found in damp forests and shrubs, swamps and coniferous forests with marshy soil.

    The leaves are removed during flowering and quickly dried in the shade or even under artificial heating. The fruits are collected when they reach ripeness and dried under artificial heating or in the sun.

    The healing effect of blueberries is in many ways similar to the effect of blueberries. Their relatives also include lingonberry and bearberry, so it is not surprising that in folk medicine the leaves of blueberry, bilberry, lingonberry and bearberry are used almost equally. There is also no consensus regarding the possible toxic effects of blueberries. In some “berry books” it is considered poisonous, in others it is not.

    In folk medicine, blueberry leaves and dried berries are used in the form of tea for diarrhea and bladder diseases. Thanks to the chemical composition (tannins for diarrhea, and arbutin as a means for disinfecting the bladder), this use is quite justified, but there are more effective remedies for these ailments, so it is difficult to understand why traditional medicine clings so stubbornly to blueberries. Tea is made from dried berries, just like tea from leaves.

    Blueberries are good in all types. Eating a fresh juicy berry is a pleasure. But it is equally good in the form of jam, jam, compote.

    For lovers of healthy sweets and drinks, we can recommend berry marshmallows, jelly, kvass or mousse.

    For those who prefer hotter drinks, you can experiment with preparing blueberry liqueurs, wines and tinctures.

    Housewives enjoy making blueberry pies. Both fresh and canned berries are suitable for baking. For canning, nothing is required except the berries themselves and granulated sugar. Ripe blueberries are mashed and sprinkled with sugar, and then placed in jars and pasteurized for about 5 minutes.

    Fresh berries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 days, and in the freezer for up to a year.

    Blueberries are very similar to blueberries, so they are often confused. Both plants grow profusely and both are shrubs. But blueberries are watery, less sweet, have greenish flesh, and are about twice the size of blueberries. Blueberries are more often found in pine forests, and blueberries are an unpretentious berry.

    Where do blueberries grow?

    Blueberries are found almost everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere where the climate is temperate or cold.

    Blueberries “settle” high in the mountains. Grows on dry, rocky, acidic, poor, waterlogged soils. It is found in the Caucasus, Altai, in forests, tundra, cedar thickets, and swampy areas.

    The further south you go, the more it “loves” wetlands. The berry is unpretentious, so it bears fruit even better in poor and acidic soils than in rich ones. It is among the first to appear on land disturbed by man or the elements - clearings, burnt areas, fires.

    There is creeping blueberry, whose thickets resemble a carpet, and blueberry from the American subtropics can reach human height - it is not even a bush, but a small tree with berries.

    Useful properties:

    Almost 90% of blueberries are water. The rest is sugar, protein, fiber, organic acids, pectin, coloring and tannins.
    Blueberries include vitamin A and carotene, vitamin C, citric, nicotinic, malic, acetic, benzoic and oxalic acids. It contains B vitamins, flavonoids, amino acids, vitamins P and K. And also phosphorus, calcium and a little iron. Despite the fact that there is little iron in it, it is absorbed almost completely.

    In folk medicine, the beneficial properties of blueberries are valued, and both berries and leaves are used. Scientific experiments have proven that blueberries stimulate the secretion of gastric juice.

    A decoction of dried blueberries is used for arthritis, enteritis, gastritis, diarrhea, as a general tonic, for lack of vitamins and metabolic disorders, as an antifever and antipyretic.

    This decoction is useful for hypertension, anemia, pyelitis, cystitis, and infection with helminths. As you can see, the beneficial properties of blueberries are very extensive. Let's talk about this in more detail.

    It is recommended to drink a decoction of blueberry leaves and young shoots for diseases of the bladder and kidneys, as a laxative, and for heart ailments. An infusion of blueberry leaves has laxative properties.

    Blueberries, as a food product, improve metabolism. Pectin substances, which blueberries are rich in, help remove radionuclides, heavy metal salts, and toxins from the body. Blueberries have almost twice the iron content of apples and pears.

    Blueberries contain components such as polyphenols - plant substances that dilate blood vessels and increase the level of nitric oxide in human blood. In combination with probiotics, blueberry polyphenols reduce the number of bacteria that provoke inflammation.

    Blueberries help prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, since blueberries prevent the formation of fat deposits in the abdominal area and lower cholesterol and sugar levels in the body. Blueberries owe these features to phytochemicals - natural antioxidants anthocyanins, which give fruits and vegetables their red, dark blue and purple colors.

    Blueberries (its berries) affect the aging process, and thus contribute to the rejuvenation of the body. Blueberries inhibit negative processes in the brain and protect it from the harmful effects of radiation exposure. Being a rich source of pectin, blueberries, or more precisely, their fruits, are capable of removing radioactive elements - strontium and cobalt - from the body. In addition to vitamins and antioxidant substances, blueberries also contain dietary fiber, which is very beneficial for the intestinal tract - they help prevent a number of its diseases, in particular ulcerative colitis.

    The juice obtained from wild blueberries is called the healthiest among juices. This drink, in addition to being simply delicious, surpasses pomegranate, apple and grape juices in its beneficial qualities.

    Blueberry juice is so beneficial due to its antioxidant content. Scientists claim that the amount of antioxidants in it is several times higher than that of other fresh juices. In addition, wild blueberry juice has an anti-inflammatory effect. Just one serving of blueberry juice supplies our body with the amount of vitamins that we approximately need throughout the day. Blueberry juice fits perfectly into any type dietary nutrition. All these beneficial properties of blueberries are available to us - just include its delicious berries in your diet.

    Contraindications:

    As practice shows, blueberries rarely have any side effect on our body. But, as with any other food product, these berries should not be overused. After all, blueberries contain a huge amount of different nutrients, which, when entering the body in too large quantities, can cause various symptoms of intoxication. For example, nausea, vomiting, weakness and headache.

    Pregnant women and nursing mothers should be especially careful when consuming blueberries. In the latter case, abuse of this product can cause an allergic reaction and intoxication in the child.

    Blueberries increase blood clotting, so these berries are contraindicated for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases or taking blood thinners.

    Blueberries (in any form) are contraindicated for consumption by those who suffer from biliary dyskinesia.

    How are blueberries good for children?

    Are blueberries good for children? The baby's first acquaintance with blueberries and blueberries can take place at the age of 6 months (for artificial children - 5.% months). Blueberries are a source of vitamins A, C, PP, and B vitamins. This composition makes its fruits useful for strengthening the child’s body. Vitamin K contained in blueberries is good for teeth, important for normal blood clotting and bone strength. Blueberries can bring many benefits to children.

    Due to the presence of various vitamins and chemical elements in its composition, blueberries help strengthen bones, enhance teeth growth and improve immunity. These berries, which come to our table from the northern regions, have a strong effect on the oral cavity. They are extremely useful for stomatitis, inflamed gums and ulcers. Young children often suffer from scratches in the mouth, which can also cause inflammation. To prevent this, children should be given freshly squeezed blueberry juice. For older children, instead of juice, you can offer well-washed blueberries.

    Blueberries for vision:

    As you know, if your eyes are tired, they need rest. Such a vacation will certainly require some time. For busy people who simply cannot afford to waste time on relaxation, blueberry extract will come to the rescue. This is a wonderful way to reduce eye fatigue. This property of blueberries is due to the large amount of carotene (provitamin A) it contains, which improves vision and protects the eyes from many ailments. Blueberries will benefit men and women whose work requires them to strain their eyes all the time - for example, drivers, pilots, jewelers, and so on.

    Blueberries for diabetes:

    Are blueberries good for diabetes? Blueberry fruits and the juice obtained from them are an excellent remedy for people suffering from diabetes. Blueberries help the tissues of our body grow together faster, promote the restoration of the body as a whole, stimulate metabolism and enhance the effect of sugar-lowering drugs.

    How to store blueberries:

    Another important property of our northern herb is its long shelf life. For example, freshly picked berries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 days, and frozen ones for up to a year.
    The berries are also dried and made into jam and vitamin puree (with or without sugar).

    How to freeze blueberries:

    Many people believe that this is the best way to store blueberries for future use. It's hard to argue with that. Frozen berries do not lose the beneficial properties that freshly picked berries have.

    How to freeze? The blueberries are washed, dried, placed in one layer on a baking sheet and frozen. When the blueberries are frozen, they are placed in special containers or bags and placed back in the freezer. You can always get it out and use it, and it can be stored for more than six months.

    Calorie content of blueberries:

    Blueberries are low in calories, so you can safely enjoy the excellent taste of this berry. However, jams, preserves, liqueurs, and so on are often prepared from this berry, the calorie content of which can be quite high. Pay attention to this table:

    Table of caloric content and nutritional value of blueberries, per 100 grams:

    BlueberrySquirrels, gr.Fats, gr.Carbohydrates, gr.Calories, in kcal
    fresh1,0 0,0 8,2 35
    with sugar0,0 0,0 45,0 180
    jam0,01 0,00 16,0 64,0
    jam0,57 0,00 54,0 216
    jelly0,0 0,0 12,0 50,0

    How are blueberries good for weight loss?

    First of all, blueberries have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But for those who are forced to control their weight, something else is important. Blueberry - delicious way burn waist fat.

    Blueberries have a low calorie content (about 61 kcal per 100 g of berries), it is considered dietary product and is rightly included in many seasonal diets. The ability of blueberries to burn excess fat in the body is also confirmed by studies conducted at the Cardiovascular Center of the University of Michigan. Animal studies have shown that consuming blueberries daily for 90 days significantly reduces belly fat. In order to achieve this effect, it is enough that blueberries account for 2% of your daily calorie intake. This is especially true for those people with predominantly abdominal fat deposits.

    Blueberries, thanks to their chemical composition, actually have the ability to break down and burn fats. In addition, it helps restore impaired metabolism and speeds up metabolism, which is also important for those who are struggling with excess weight. Moreover, blueberries provide a long-lasting feeling of fullness. Eat a glass of blueberries and you will lose the desire to explore the contents of the refrigerator for a while. We especially recommend doing this in the late afternoon. Because, thanks to the magnesium it contains, blueberries have a calming effect and help with insomnia.


    Blueberries are a medicinal plant containing a large amount of useful vitamins and microelements. Its fruits and leaves are used not only for preparing medicines and infusions, but also in cooking. Although the fruits of the shrub are used for medicinal or preventive purposes, it also has a number of contraindications that you should pay attention to in order to prevent negative health consequences. This article provides all the detailed information about the healing properties of blueberries, their features of use in everyday life.

    Blueberries are a member of the heather family and are the closest relative of blueberries. The shrub grows both in forest areas and on the banks of swamps, rivers and lakes. Currently, the plant is grown in vegetable gardens or summer cottages. It is unpretentious, does not require special care, and can easily withstand severe frosts.

    The main value of the shrub is its blue fruits with a bluish tinge. They are small in size (diameter up to 1.2 cm), pleasant aroma and sweet taste.


    Blueberries can be easily grown in your summer cottage

    Vitamin composition

    Blueberries, like any other medicinal plant, contain a large amount of useful vitamins and microelements that are necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. The composition of blueberry leaves and fruits includes:

    • multivitamin A;
    • vitamins: PP, P, C, K and group B;
    • microelements (magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron);
    • acids (citric, oxalic, malic, acetic and benzoic);
    • amino acids;
    • tannins;
    • pectins;
    • fiber;
    • substances with coloring properties;
    • sugar.

    Important! In blueberry berries, beneficial substances and vitamins are in greater concentration, unlike its leaves.

    Medicinal properties of berries and leaves

    The shrub is quite popular in folk medicine; it is used to treat various ailments and prevent them. Blueberries are used as:

    • diuretic;
    • choleretic;
    • cardiac;

    Both berries and blueberry leaves are used in folk medicine.
    • anti-inflammatory;
    • antisclerotic;
    • hypotensive.

    Since the berries contain a concentrated composition of nutrients (especially vitamin K), their juice is used to improve vision and prevent eye diseases.

    A decoction and infusion of the leaves helps normalize the functioning of the heart, intestines and stomach, and helps lower blood sugar levels, which is very important for diabetics.


    Even diabetics can eat blueberries

    Benefits for the body

    1. Berries (juice from them) help to quickly relieve tension in the eyes after a hard day at work, as well as improve vision.
    2. Blueberries are recommended for consumption by people working with radioactive elements (substances contained in the berries contribute to the rapid removal of dangerous radioactive metals from the human body).
    3. Ascorbic acid has a positive effect on the immune system and helps strengthen it, which is very important after an illness.
    4. A decoction of blueberry leaves is used as a mild laxative (it is recommended for people suffering from frequent constipation).
    5. Enzymes contained in berries and leaves help lower blood sugar, enhance the effect of medications and restore tissue (very important for people with diabetic diseases).

    Contraindications to the use of blueberries

    Blueberries can only be consumed in small quantities, as the berry can cause muscle dysfunction due to the influence of antioxidants.


    Don't eat too many blueberries at once

    Main contraindications:

    • pregnancy and breastfeeding (berries can cause severe allergies and intoxication of a fragile baby’s body);
    • biliary dyskinesia (substances contained in fruit pulp can cause an exacerbation of the disease).

    Use of blueberries in cooking

    Blueberry berries and leaves are used for culinary purposes. Various delicious jelly, mousses, sauces, compotes and fruit drinks, preserves and jams are prepared from them. Liqueurs and liqueurs are made from the juice of the fruit; they have a pleasant smell and unusual taste.


    Blueberry jam

    Use of blueberries for medicinal purposes

    1. To improve immunity, it is recommended to drink 100 ml of freshly squeezed blueberry juice daily.
    2. Decoction and juice from the fruit helps to quickly get rid of fever, flu and bronchitis. Taking just 50 ml of natural medicine 3-4 times a day can alleviate the suffering of the patient.
    3. Juice from the berries helps get rid of dysentery (it strengthens the stomach after illness and helps its recovery).
    4. A decoction of leaves and berries helps normalize sleep and relieve nervous tension.

    Blueberries are a natural source of vitamins. It helps get rid of many diseases, strengthens the immune system and improves body functions. Use the berries or leaves of the bush to treat or prevent various diseases, and the result will not be long in coming.