Cherry plum: health benefits and harms

Cherry plums are small fruits of orange and yellow color, which are most often found in the Caucasus, Crimea and Asia. But in our area, cherry plum is common. Due to its composition, this small fruit is used in cosmetology, cooking and even helps to improve health. Let's consider in more detail what are the benefits and harms of cherry plum.

Description of the plant

Cherry plum is a fruit tree from the Pink family and the Plum subfamily. The homeland of cherry plum is the Transcaucasus. Translated from Azerbaijani it means "small plum". Other names are tkemali and vishnesliva. Shrubs and trees are branched, thorny, have brownish-green shoots. Plant height can range from 3 to 10 m, depending on the species. Leaves in the form of an ellipse pointed upwards. Cherry plum blossoms in late March with white or pink flowers, solitary. Fruits are rounded, with yellow, pink, orange, red or purple drupes. The average diameter of a cherry plum is 2.5 cm.

Halo common:

• Balkans;
• Central and Asia Minor;
• Ukraine;
• Moldova;
• Transcaucasia and North Caucasus;
• Tien Shan;
• Iran.

There is a bone inside the fruit, it is flat and well connected to the pulp. It is difficult to separate it. The skin of the fruit is velvety, covered with a thin layer of waxy coating. Cherry sliva has a pleasant aroma and sweet and sour taste.

Cherry plum and plum - what is the difference

Although cherry plum is called a shallow plum and comes from this family, it has its own characteristics and differences:

• Fruiting of cherry plum begins earlier, around the 20th of March.
• The variety was bred by breeders, therefore it has more nutrients in its composition.
• The amount of sugar and carotene in the plum is higher, so it is sweeter. There are a lot of calcium and acids in cherry plum fruits.
  
• Cherry plums are rich in acids that improve metabolism. It is an ideal product to be incorporated by overweight people.
• Cherry Sliva is used in folk medicine as a cough suppressant and as a choleretic agent. But a simple plum is used to improve the condition of bones and vision.

External differences are also visible. For example, plum fruits are large and blue in color. The size of the cherry plum fruit is smaller and the colors are more varied. It is also juicier, cherry plum jam turns out to be more liquid.

The chemical composition and calorie content of cherry plum

Cherry plum is characterized by the fact that, unlike other fruits, it has a small amount of sugar in its composition. Ripe fruit has up to 10% sugar, usually 3-4%. Along with plums, cherry plums are rich in organic acids such as citric and malic acids. The fruit contains vitamins of group B, as well as PP, A and E. There is a small content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and pectin.

The list of micro and macro elements in fruits:

• Phosphorus - 25 mg per 100 g.
• Magnesium - 21 mg
• Potassium - 188 mg
• Iron - 1.9 mg
• Calcium - 27 mg
• Sodium - 17 mg

Due to the chemical composition, the fruits contribute to the assimilation of meat and fats. As for nutritional value, 100 g cherry plum has:

• proteins - 200 mg;
• dietary fiber - 1800 mg;
• ash - 500 mg;
• fats - 100 mg;
• carbohydrates - 8000 mg;
• monosaccharides and disaccharides - 7800 mg;
• water - 8900 mg;
• organic acids - 500 mg;
• starch - 100 mg;
• fiber - 1800 mg.

Percentage of all substances:

• Sugar - 5 to 10%.
• Pectin - from 0.3 to 1.5%.
• Iron - 11%.
• Malic and citric acid - from 1.5 to 4%.
• Ascorbic acid - 22%.
• Calcium - 3%.
• Phosphorus - 3%.
• Provitamin A - 11%.
• Magnesium - 5%.

The ratio of protein / fat / carbohydrates is 2%: 3%: 93%. Cherry plum fruits can be called a low-calorie product. For 100 g of yellow fruit, there are 25–35 kcal. One standard cherry plum fruit weighs 35 g, and 190 g of fruit is placed in a glass.

Why is cherry plum useful?

The fruit contains many useful vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is recommended to take it to prevent and treat coughs, colds or vitamin deficiencies. Nutritionists advise to include fruits in the daily diet for the elderly, children, pregnant and lactating mothers to replenish missing vitamins.

Cherry Sliva stimulates the digestive tract, therefore it is used for constipation. And pectin and fiber remove radionuclide substances. The potassium content confirms that cherry plum should be consumed by those suffering from heart disease. Regular intake can strengthen the heart muscle and prevent arrhythmias. And since there is little sugar in the composition of the fruit, the fruit can be consumed by diabetics suffering from obesity and metabolic disorders.

The calming and relaxing effect of cherry plum is noted, its medicinal properties have a positive effect on the central nervous system and normalize blood pressure. And due to the high amount of vitamins A and C, cherry plum has an antioxidant effect. Fruit juice quenches thirst, and compotes increase appetite and digestive tract function.

List of properties of cherry plum fruits: immunomodulatory, tonic, diaphoretic, laxative, antitussive, tonic, antioxidant.

For women

For the treatment of gynecological diseases, cherry plums are not used, since they do not have any medicinal properties. The benefits lie in the above effects on the body. Fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals that women need for good health.

For men

But for male power, cherry plum is very useful. It is advised to use it for impotence. It is enough to make a tincture of cherry plum flowers with the addition of water, and in this form you can take it. The tincture is useful for dysfunction of the liver and kidneys in men.

The plant is able to improve intestinal peristalsis by stimulating its work.

For pregnant women and children

Although cherry plum is not used in medicine, doctors advise including it in the diet of pregnant and lactating mothers, since the benefits of cherry plum for a woman's body are invaluable. It is a source of vitamins and minerals that are needed while carrying the baby. However, pregnant women should not abuse it, as this can affect the health of the baby.

If we talk about children, then babies under 10 months old are strictly prohibited from giving it. Closer to the year, babies are allowed to make grated puree in an amount of half a teaspoon, such a portion will not cause an allergic reaction to the fruits. Only yellow fruits are used. At a more mature age, children are advised to add cherry plums to the diet, which will make it possible to replenish the lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Useful properties of green cherry plum

In an immature state, the fruit is also very useful. The vitamin C content reaches 14%. Green fruits are used for the cheap production of citric and malic acid.They are popular in cooking meat dishes, and are also served as a side dish and sauces. Unripe fruits add spice to the dish, and also contribute to the rapid absorption of food.

Green fruits are a great antioxidant. They are used by cosmetologists to rejuvenate and cleanse the body. More on this later.

Use in cosmetology

Cherry plum fruits protect the body from negative environmental factors. Fruit masks made at home will remove oily sheen from the skin, giving it a matte finish.

Recipe:

• Crush 1-2 ripe cherry plums.
• Pour them with warm water, purified, leaving to infuse overnight. 100 g of liquid is enough.

When a rash appears on the skin, it is enough to wipe these areas with a half of cherry plum, the rash will dry out. The content of vitamin C and provitamin A helps to slow down the aging process and skin flabbiness, and the condition improves. To rejuvenate the skin on the face, neck and décolleté, it is required to apply a mask of pulp and crushed bones. Keep for 20 minutes. This will help get rid of pimples and acne.

Cherry plum fruits also help hair. You need to make a decoction: add fresh, ground fruits to 0.5 liters of water. They should be used to rinse your hair after shampooing. The broth is able to strengthen the roots, restore silkiness and shine to the hair.

The use of cherry plum for medicinal purposes

To improve digestion and increase appetite, you need to drink a decoction and compote from cherry plums. It is indicated for low acid gastritis. And for diseases of a respiratory nature, an infusion and a decoction are made, with which they rinse the throat, it is used for coughing.

Cherry plum infusion recipe:

• Take 1 tbsp. l. dried cherry plum.
• Put everything into a thermos.
• Pour 0.2 liters of boiling water there.
• Brew the infusion for 5 hours.
• Strain the broth through cheesecloth.

You need to take medicine from cherry plum fruits 3 times a day in the amount of 60 mg before meals.

Recipe from sheets and flowers:

• Take 30 g of flowers and leaves.
• Boil two glasses of water and pour over the leaves.
• Leave the medicine for 3-4 hours.
• Strain it through cheesecloth.

The frequency of taking the infusion is 3 times a day in the amount of 100 mg before meals.

Cooking applications

Cherry plum fruits are not only healthy, but also tasty. Often in cooking, there is a sweet and sour cherry plum sauce, which is loved by gourmets. The fruit is used both fresh and as a conservation.

Since cherry plum is a sweet fruit, the fruits are used to make jam, syrup, jelly, marshmallow, marmalade, preserves and jam.

Compotes, decoctions and delicious wine are made from cherry plum. Caucasians make lavash from the pulp. Its taste is pleasant, and the dish turns out to be nutritious and dietary. Lavash is stored for a long time, prevents the development of scurvy. Also, the fruits are simply baked, or dried fruits are made.

Cherry plum tkemali

Small plum is the main product for the Georgian tkemali sauce. It is ideal with fried or baked fish, meat, pasta, potatoes or poultry.

List of ingredients:

• fruits of the cherry plum variety tkemali (fresh);
• garlic;
• dill, red and black pepper, cilantro and other spices (necessarily mint - ombalo).

For cooking, you need to pour the cherry plum with water, and cook over low heat for about 40 minutes. The resulting mass is removed from the fire, cools down, and then grinds with broth through a sieve. The rind and bones are discarded. This puree is put on low heat and boiled down to get the consistency of sour cream. Grated garlic, cilantro, salt, dill and red pepper are added to the sauce. When it boils, it is removed from the fire. Stored in the refrigerator.

The calorie content of tkemali is 42 kcal per 100 g, where protein is 2 g, and carbohydrates are 8 g. The sauce is filled with organic acids, vitamin PP, C A, B1, B2, E and trace elements. It helps to improve digestion and speeds up metabolic processes in the body.

The use of cherry plum seeds and flowers

The seeds produce a fatty oil. The content of vegetable oil in them is about 42%.The properties and quality are close to those of almond vegetable oil. The oil contains amygdalin. With water and emulsin, it decomposes into glucose, hydrocyanic acid and benzoic aldehyde.

When oil is extracted from the seeds, meal is formed, which consists of up to 70% protein. Their meal is made from vegetable casein. And cherry plum shells have been used to create activated (active) carbon since the 1930s.

As for the flowers, they are useful for liver and kidney disease in the form of an aqueous tincture. The same applies to the male reproductive system, the infusion of flowers improves potency.

Useful properties of cherry plum leaves

After cultivation, they are dried, as cherry plum leaves have unique properties. They contain vitamins such as PP, A, E and B vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium and potassium. The leaves are added to seasonings that aid in the absorption of fats and meat.

Cherry plum leaves can be stored for a long time and they are brewed to treat colds and coughs, anemia and vitamin deficiency, impotence, liver and kidney disease and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Infusion calms and relaxes, helps to cope with stress. The leaves are used to create a multi-component collection that fights inflammation, varicose veins, and uterine bleeding.

How to dry cherry plum

There are several ways to do this:

• natural;
• forced.

In Central Asia, cherry plum is dried naturally under the influence of the sun. The method is excellent, but the drying time is quite long. In addition, flies and other insects can land on the cherry plum, and dust also accumulates. The easiest way is to use an electric dryer.

It is enough to throw the washed cherry plum fruits into the dryer without removing the seeds. If you remove the seeds, the cherry plum will begin to spread, only one skin will remain dried. Cherry plum is dried for the winter like marshmallow, only without added sugar.

Contraindications and possible harm

In addition to the benefits, cherry plum has its own contraindications. Namely:

• Individual intolerance, it is also an allergy.
• Gout and rheumatism.
• With a stomach disease, in which there is an increased secretion of gastric juice.
• Ulcerative lesion of the gastroduodental area.
• Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.
• Gastritis, in which the acidity of the gastric juice is increased.
• Children under 12 years old should not eat a lot of dried cherry plum.

Any product in large quantities can be harmful. When overeating cherry plum fruits, heartburn, diarrhea and poisoning are observed.

Selection and storage of cherry plum

Tips on how to pick and store good cherry plums:

• If the fruit is ripe, then it has a pleasant smell.
• There are no scratches on the fetus, no darkening and dents.
• If the fruit is too soft, then it is overripe and will quickly deteriorate.
• A white coating on the skin of cherry plums is normal.
• Storage in its original form in the refrigerator is allowed for several days. Cherry plum can be frozen for the winter.

If you put the fruits in a plastic bag, then they can be stored for several months. Unripe fruits without defects are selected.

The bag is 2/3 full and placed in the refrigerator.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of cherry plum have made it an irreplaceable product in the diet. Due to its composition and positive effect on the body, the fruit is so highly valued. Cherry plum is used in cosmetology, folk medicine and cooking. Following detailed recipes, it is possible to get rid of various diseases. Since growing and caring for a plant is easy, you can start cultivating a crop in your garden.