Black currant: useful properties and contraindications

The benefits and harms of black currant are an interesting topic for fans of berries from their own garden. Small black fruits are found in desserts and jams, they are eaten fresh - what properties are inherent in any blackcurrant dishes?

The chemical composition of black currant

The fruits contain many beneficial properties, and all of them are due to the rich composition of the product. The currants contain:

• vitamins C and A;
• a significant set of B vitamins;
• vitamin PP, it is also niacin;
• vitamin K;
• citric and malic acids;
• glucose and fructose;
• pectins;
• flavonoids;
• potassium and calcium;
• iron, magnesium and phosphorus;
• tanning components.

In terms of the content of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, berries confidently overtake even lemon.

Nutritional value and calorie content of black currant

The energy value is represented mainly by carbohydrates - there are about 7.3 g of them in currants. Proteins are contained in a much smaller, but still significant amount - about 1 g. Very little fat in berries - no more than 0.4 g.

100 g of fresh fruit contains up to 44 calories. This makes currants a dietary dish that is not capable of causing any harm to the figure.

Why is black currant useful for the body

If you eat small black fruits on an ongoing basis, then the benefits of black currants for the human body will not slow down to show themselves. The product has a positive effect on almost the entire body. Namely:

• serves as an excellent antipyretic and firming agent;
• acts as a good natural diuretic;
• helps to fight inflammation of any nature;
• has a tonic and at the same time calming effect, which is very beneficial for the nervous system;
• helps to free the body from accumulated toxins during a diet;
• has a beneficial effect on the skeletal system and is very useful for rheumatism;
• strengthens the vascular walls and protects the heart, contributing to its normal functioning;
• has a beneficial effect on metabolism and strengthens the intestines and stomach;
• can serve as the prevention of oncology, as it promotes cell renewal.

Does black currant raise or lower blood pressure? The properties of the product will be appreciated by hypertensive patients, since the pressure decreases when black berries are consumed.But people with chronically low blood pressure should be careful.

For women

The particular benefit of berries for women is that the product has a rejuvenating effect on the body. This manifests itself both in improving general well-being and in appearance - the skin becomes smoother and cleaner, the condition of the hair improves.

Currants help with problem menstruation and during menopause - relieves PMS, makes it easier to endure the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. With the help of blackcurrant, you can quickly lose weight - it is part of many diets.

For men

The value of the product for men lies in the fact that fresh blackcurrant, dishes and drinks based on it strengthen the heart and cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol. This is the benefit of black currant for the liver - the berry helps the natural "filter" of the body.

Also, currants protect men from heart attacks and strokes, to which the stronger sex is especially prone. In adulthood, the use of the product for men is useful as a prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

For children

In general, black sweet berries are very useful for babies. But a child is often allergic to black currant - therefore, for the first time, the product should be introduced into the diet only after 7 months of life, and in a boiled form. The vitamins present in the product can protect the child from anemia and colds.

Is black currant possible for pregnant and lactating mothers

The benefits of black currant for pregnant women are quite large. First of all, the product saturates the body with essential vitamins and minerals, strengthens, protects against colds. Berries can be used to treat an already appeared flu or ARVI in cases where the use of medications is undesirable. Thanks to its positive effect on the stomach, the properties of the berry will help to cope with attacks of nausea.

But with black currants when breastfeeding, it is better to wait 4 months after giving birth before returning the berry to the list of permitted foods. It can harm the baby if the baby is allergic. In addition, not all the substances present in the composition of the berries are able to digest the child's delicate body immediately.

Black currant for weight loss (on a diet)

Since there are very few calories in the product, currants are ideal for dietary nutrition. She not only does not harm the figure, but also actively contributes to the loss of extra pounds. Vitamin C in its composition helps to break down fatty deposits, valuable minerals and organic acids help maintain good health even with a limited diet.

Are dried and frozen currants useful?

The fruits harvested from the bush are not stored for long, and the currants are usually dried or frozen - then its shelf life increases up to a year. But a natural question arises - is there any benefit in frozen black currants or dried berries?

Drying and freezing in no way affect the value of the berries - the fruits retain the full range of vitamins and elements. Of course, this is true, provided that the processing was carried out correctly. You need to freeze the berries only at very low temperatures (-18 degrees or lower), and dry them in the shade, with good ventilation, preventing moisture from accumulating in the berries.

Tip: after storage in the freezer, it is not recommended to defrost the product, and then put it back in the cold - in this case, the benefits of frozen currants will disappear.

Blackcurrant recipes in folk medicine

The beneficial properties of black berries are the reason that currants can often be found in home medicine recipes. In one form or another, it is used to treat:

• avitaminosis and colds;
• atherosclerosis and scurvy;
• diarrhea and diarrhea;
• cystitis and edema;
• gastritis with low acidity.

Also, black currant treatment is carried out externally - with currant-based compositions, skin lesions, cuts, dermatitis can be treated.

Blackcurrant juice

Most often, freshly squeezed currant juice is taken as a remedy. Making it is simple - you need to knead a sufficient amount of berries and pass the juice through folded gauze. The drink will be beneficial for:

• gastritis and indigestion;
• colds, sore throats, bronchitis;
• with arrhythmias of the heart and high blood pressure.

Also, the juice is highly recommended for use in diabetes and as a prophylaxis against colds. They drink it a little, three times a day, just a few sips. It is better to take the remedy shortly before meals. If the juice is used to treat colds, then first it must be warmed to at least room temperature.

You can rinse a sore throat or gums with fresh currant juice - it will have an antiseptic and mild analgesic effect. In case of irritation and damage to the skin with juice, you can lubricate the diseased areas - the product will promote healing.

Blackcurrant tincture with vodka

A valuable remedy made from currants is prepared using alcohol. A handful of fresh or dried currant berries are poured with a sufficient amount of vodka, the vessel is tightly sealed and the tincture is removed to a dark place for 3 weeks.

Periodically, the product should be taken out and shaken up, and after the tincture is completely ready, it must be filtered.

Cold symptoms and inflammatory processes in the body can be treated with the drink. The main condition is to take the tincture no more than three times a day, and only 1 small spoon. You cannot continue treatment for more than 10 days - otherwise the benefits of the drink will turn into harm.

Infusion of black currant

A quick-to-prepare and very useful drink for treatment is an infusion on black currant leaves or on berries. The berries can be simply poured with boiling water, and the leaves must be pre-chopped. The hot infusion is kept for half an hour, and then filtered through cheesecloth or a fine sieve.

Inside, the infusion is taken in the volume of half a glass, shortly before eating. Blackcurrant infusion is useful for the intestines, it helps to relieve exacerbations of gastritis. You can also drink it simply to strengthen the body, adding a little honey to it, or gargle with a cold - no more than 5 times a day.

Blackcurrant decoction

Most often, the broth is prepared from dried currant berries - the concentration of nutrients in them is the highest. Several tablespoons of raw materials are poured into a small saucepan, poured with water - and boiled for 10 minutes. When the broth is ready, it will need to be kept under the lid for another hour.

• The remedy effectively reduces high blood pressure if taken three times a day, several sips.
• Also, the broth serves as a good diaphoretic for colds and relieves the temperature.
• With diarrhea, it is recommended to take the remedy 1 large spoon three times a day, the same dosage is prescribed when using a decoction as a diuretic for edema.

Blackcurrant ointment

The properties of black currant, or rather, an ointment prepared on its basis, is often used to treat skin ailments. An ointment is prepared from two components - 20 ml of fresh currant juice and 80 g of melted internal fat.

The ingredients are mixed until completely homogeneous, and then treated with homemade ointment for irritations, abrasions, cuts, bruises and healing burns. The properties of berries and fat have a beneficial effect on the skin - they cleanse cuts and abrasions, relieve inflammation and swelling, and promote rapid skin regeneration.

How much black currant can you eat per day

Delicious black berries are easy to get carried away. However, it is necessary to observe the dosage - the benefits and harms of black currant for health depend on it. The maximum daily allowance for an adult is 300 - 500 g of fresh berries per day, and for children - no more than 200 g. At the same time, you need to eat berries in several stages.

Black currant for diabetes

Since the product contains sugar, many believe that black currant is prohibited for diabetes. This is not so - the sugars in the berries are vegetable, the glycemic index is about 15 units. When consumed, the glucose level rises slightly and slowly, so there is no harm to health.

At the same time, the beneficial properties of currants help to improve the functioning of the pancreas, intestines, kidneys, black currants are useful for the heart. In diabetes, the product protects against many complications that may arise against the background of the disease. In small quantities, berries are highly recommended for consumption and are only beneficial.

The benefits of blackcurrant blanks

As a rule, fresh currant berries are eaten only during the harvest period and not long after. And during the rest of the year, the product is used to prepare all kinds of workpieces with long shelf life. And each of these useful preparations has not only excellent taste, but also value for the body.

The benefits of blackcurrant jam

Sweet, tasty and nutritious black fruit jam is a great remedy for many diseases. First of all, jam has anti-cold properties - if you eat it together with tea for prevention and treatment, then the ARVI and influenza viruses will not harm the body.

The benefit of currant jam is that the delicacy helps to get rid of the symptoms of anemia and atherosclerosis, helps to cure gastritis and even helps with tuberculosis. Even the official medicine recommends to eat dessert.

Why is black currant fruit drink useful

Fortifying, vitamin and tasty currant juice is one of the healthiest berry-based drinks. The fact is that in the preparation of fruit drinks, the fruits are almost not subjected to high-temperature processing - accordingly, the beneficial properties are preserved to the maximum.

Blackcurrant juice contains a huge amount of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and iron. Drinking fruit drink is useful for the prevention of all kinds of ailments, to strengthen blood vessels and to normalize the bowels. The drink relieves thirst for a long time, slightly tones, regulates appetite. Fruit drink is a good natural diuretic and may help relieve swelling.

Useful properties of black currant compote

Blackcurrant compote is slightly less useful than fruit drink or fresh berries. But at the same time, it still retains valuable properties. Sour compote has a low calorie content and contains a lot of essential trace elements, acids and vitamins.

The benefits of currant compote are the same both cold and hot. A cool drink in the summer heat will help restore fluid balance in the body, and in winter it will keep you warm. Compote is drunk to restore gastric secretion and to treat colds; during ARVI, a hot remedy helps to sweat and relieve fever. You can offer blackcurrant compote to a child - the drink is allowed for children's consumption, starting from 7 months.

Correctly canned compote is stored for several months. It can be consumed in winter - and get all the vitamins that are lacking in the cold season.

The benefits of blackcurrant jelly

Blackcurrant jelly best used for acute and chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines. In the form of jelly, black currant is very useful for stomach ulcers - a viscous drink envelops the mucous membranes, does not cause unnecessary irritation, and promotes healing.

Black currant jelly is no less useful for gastritis with high acidity. It is better to refuse fresh berries and concentrated juices with such an ailment, but an enveloping drink will have a very beneficial effect on gastric functions and will not cause unnecessary harm.

The benefits and harms of blackcurrant wine

Usually alcoholic beverages are appreciated for their pleasant taste. But purchased or homemade blackcurrant wine also has valuable properties for health. It participates in the process of hematopoiesis, protects against anemia and helps maintain hemoglobin at a normal level. Currant wine strengthens the heart and does not allow the development of tachycardia, has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and makes their walls more elastic.

But of course, you can only drink an alcoholic drink occasionally - and in small quantities. A couple of glasses a week will be enough. If you abuse blackcurrant wine, it will only harm.

The use of black currant in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of small berries are also highly valued in the cosmetic field. The vitamins present in fruits have an extremely positive effect on the condition of the skin, nails, hair follicles. Black currants in one volume or another can often be seen in the compositions of personal care products - they are found in masks and creams, lotions and peeling compositions, scrubs.

Properly mashed pulp is used in homemade health-improving formulations - the benefit of a currant face mask is that the product rejuvenates and tightens the skin. Decoctions are prepared from the leaves and fruits of the berry bush for rinsing the hair - with regular use, the curls acquire strength, volume and shine.

Harm of black currant and contraindications

Whatever the benefits of blackcurrant, in some situations it can be harmful. You can not use black berries for the following diseases:

• gastritis with high acidity - with the exception of jelly;
• thrombophlebitis and tendency to varicose veins;
• inflammation of the pancreas in the acute stage - black currant with pancreatitis will have an irritating effect;
• individual allergy to the fruit of the berry bush.

With great care, you need to eat currants with hypotension. Since the fruit has blood pressure-lowering properties, abuse can be harmful to the body.

Collection and storage of black currant

Black currant fruits are harvested during the ripening period, while during the season you can get 2 or 3 crops at once - the berries ripen at different times.

• The currants, which are planned to be consumed fresh, can be immediately removed to the refrigerator.
• Berries that will be dried in the future should be spread out in an even layer in a shaded place with good access of fresh air and dried slightly. Then they will need to be dried at a temperature of about 40 degrees, and then dried completely - naturally or in the oven at 60 degrees.
• Freeze dry berries at a temperature not higher than - 18 degrees, while repeated freezing should be avoided in the future.

Fresh black chokeberry retains its taste and beneficial properties for about a month in the refrigerator. Frozen or dried fruits are stored for a year or more without loss of valuable qualities - provided that the storage rules are fully observed.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of black currant depend primarily on the state of health. If there are no ailments from the list of contraindications, then berries, drinks and preparations can be consumed calmly - they will only benefit.