Blueberries: beneficial properties and contraindications, methods of consumption and preparation. Beneficial properties of blueberries for humans

The delicate, soft taste of blueberries is very attractive to children. It is especially good in desserts and baked goods. Just a third of a glass of this berry will provide a child with daily norm vitamins and useful substances, and about her healing power knew in ancient times. The pulp of the fruit does not have a seed, but taste qualities comparable to blueberries, but inferior in sweetness. We invite you to find out how eating blueberries will affect your child’s health, when you can offer them to your baby, and how to avoid allergies.

What are the benefits of blueberries?

The most important property of this berry is its ability to reduce the effects of radioactive radiation. But the usefulness of blueberries is not limited to this:

• increases the strength and elasticity of blood vessels, stabilizes the functioning of the heart;
• improves activity digestive system, activates the work of the intestines and pancreas, increases appetite;
• It is enough to regularly consume blueberries throughout the season to slow down the aging process of nerve cells, including the brain;
• contains almost all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are necessary for full development;
• provides an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it should be included in the diet of children with viral diseases, helps improve the condition of angina;
• helps lower blood pressure;
• suitable for preventing scurvy;
• blueberries enhance the effect of pharmaceutical drugs to lower blood sugar - for this reason it is recommended to be included in the diet of diabetics;
• dried berries will help cure dysentery: only 1 tablespoon is needed per 200 ml of water, brew for a quarter of an hour;
• if your child spends a lot of time studying, try giving him blueberries for 1–2 weeks: firstly, his vision will improve, and secondly, eye fatigue will decrease;
• useful for low acidity gastric juice;
• contains phylloquinone, which ensures blood clotting;
• it contains essential acids that promote muscle formation;
• The fiber and pectins contained in blueberries improve intestinal motility and help cope with constipation;
• The berry contains anthocyanins; they perform several functions at once: increase the production of collagen (important for the rejuvenation of skin cells), activate the removal of oxidants, increase the elasticity of blood vessels, and enrich cells with oxygen.

With a significant content of nutrients, blueberries have a low calorie content, which means they can be safely given to children prone to obesity. It also activates metabolism, greatly facilitating the fight against extra pounds. Blueberries are very popular in folk medicine. In particular, it is used to treat certain diseases. We offer several simple recipes:

From deprivation. For 1.5 tablespoons of washed and dried blueberries you will need 1 glass of water. Place in a water bath, wait until it boils, then simmer for 15 minutes. Use for compresses.

Sore throat remedy. Mash 2-3 tablespoons of blueberries, pour boiling water (200 ml), leave to steep for an hour, strain. Gargle every 1–1.5 hours.

For bladder problems or diarrhea prepare blueberry tea: pour a glass of boiling water over dried berries (a tablespoon), then leave for an hour (it’s best to do this in a thermos). Drink up to 4 times a day.

Boil 1–1.5 cups of fresh blueberries (dried if in winter) without sugar, drink for colds and fever. This compote also helps with problems with the kidneys and bladder.

Fresh blueberries have the most beneficial properties. If you want to save it for the winter, the berries should be subjected to gentle heat treatment. A great option is to grind the fruits with sugar.

Introduction to blueberries

Is your baby prone to allergies? Does eating berries often cause diathesis? This means that blueberries can be offered to him only after three years. If the baby does not have such problems, offer him a small portion of berries after he reaches one year. It's best to add it to a dessert, such as mousse or pudding. The first portion should be tiny so that the child gradually gets used to the new product - half a teaspoon of ground berries is enough.

Blueberries can be added to fruit puree - apple or pear. It is also good in porridges, including rice or oatmeal. Important! It matters not only appearance berries, but also their origin. It is best to collect them yourself, in an environmentally safe area. You should only buy them from those you trust, since blueberries collected, for example, along the highway, can be harmful to health. Please note that for a child aged 1–2 years, the serving should not exceed 40–50 g. An overdose can cause nausea, rash, vomiting and dizziness.

Precautionary measures

Since blueberries have a strong antioxidant effect, they should be eaten in moderation. It is not recommended to consume blueberries if you have biliary dyskinesia. If a child is taking medications to reduce blood viscosity (thinning drugs), it is better to exclude this berry from the diet.

Blueberry recipes for children

Blueberry pudding

Ingredients: 1 glass of blueberries, half a lemon, 1–2 tbsp. spoons of butter, 100-120 g of sugar, 0.5 cups of flour, baking powder - half a teaspoon, salt on the tip of a knife, 50-70 ml of milk, 1 teaspoon of corn starch, 100 ml of water.

Preparation:

• Before cooking, light (turn on) the oven to warm it up.
• Wash the blueberries under running water, place them in a mold, having previously greased it sunflower oil and lightly sprinkle with lemon juice.
• Grind butter with sugar (80–100 g).
• In a separate bowl, mix the sifted flour, baking powder and salt, add it all to the buttery mixture, then combine with the milk, stir until smooth.
• Pour the resulting dough over the berries.
• Add starch and salt to the rest of the sugar, mix, sprinkle the mixture onto the dough poured into the mold.
• Place the form with the pudding in a pan of heated water and place in the oven - cook in a water bath for 50-60 minutes.

Blueberry mousse

Ingredients: 100 g blueberries, 100 g sugar, 500 ml water, 15 g gelatin.

Preparation:

• Wash the berries and make juice from them.
• Soak the gelatin.
• Pour in the pulp cold water, boil, cook for 5–6 minutes, then strain, add sugar and prepared gelatin to the liquid, mix everything well until dissolved, boil, then add blueberry juice.
• To get rid of the remaining pulp, the mousse must be strained, only then poured into molds and set to harden.

Wild berry smoothie with ice cream

Products: 50 g of ice cream, 70–80 g of strawberries, 50 g of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Preparation:

• Wash and dry the berries, after removing the sepals.
• Using a blender, prepare the puree and add ice cream at the end of blending.

Serve in glasses.

Fruit dessert with blueberries

Ingredients: a glass of yogurt, a tablespoon of sugar, 100 g of blueberries (a little more than half a glass), a small banana, 1 large peach or 2 small ones, a teaspoon of honey, a tablespoon of raisins and cranberries, mint for decoration.

Preparation:

• Wash the fruits and remove the peel from the banana.
• Cut all fruits, except blueberries, into small pieces.
• Wash the raisins and cranberries thoroughly under running water.
• Grind all ingredients except mint in a blender, leave a few blueberries for decoration. Cool before serving.

Oatmeal dessert with blueberries

Products: 1 egg, a tablespoon of sugar, a pinch of salt, 50–60 ml of milk, 1.5–2 tbsp. spoons of flour, 2-3 spoons of oatmeal, vegetable oil, half a glass of blueberries - fresh or frozen.

Preparation:

• Carefully separate the yolks from the whites; they must not be allowed to mix, otherwise it will not be possible to obtain a stable foam.
• Place the whites in the freezer for 5–10 minutes, then beat with a pinch of salt; when foam begins to form, slowly, little by little add sugar - 1 teaspoon. To make the process easier, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the mixture.
• Mix the yolks with flour and the remaining sugar, add milk, mix well, add oatmeal at the end, it is best to use instant oatmeal, such as “Mistral” or similar. Leave the resulting mixture for 15 minutes so that the cereal swells.
• Mix the dessert with the chilled egg white; this must be done carefully, from bottom to top; it is convenient to use a spatula for this purpose.
• Heat the frying pan well, pour in the vegetable oil, place the dough in the frying pan, place the blueberries on top. Fry over medium heat until the bottom is browned, then turn over.
• Using spatulas, divide the pancake into small pieces and stir them until they fry better.

Before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar; you can use fresh blueberries for decoration.

Peculiarity: It is advisable to introduce it into children's diets from the age of three.

Blueberries are not picky and can grow in the most different conditions: high in the mountains, on dry, swampy, rocky, poor and swampy soil. Very often, wild rosemary grows next to blueberries, the branches of which contain poisonous essential oils. If its leaf falls into a basket of blueberries, you can get poisoned and lose consciousness. Because of this, people sometimes call the berry durnika, dunnitsa, blueberry, etc.

Blueberries are often confused with blueberries, but blueberries are watery, less sweet, twice the size of blueberries, and have a greenish flesh.

The blueberry bush can reach one and a half meters in height. The berries are bluish-black with a bluish bloom. The plant is perennial and can live more than 90 years.

100 grams of blueberries contain 39 kcal

Composition and nutritional properties blueberries

100 g of blueberries contain:

• Proteins - 1 g
• Fats - 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates - 6.6 g
• Organic acids - 1.4 g
• Water - 87.7 g
• Mono- and disaccharides - 6.6 g
• Ash - 0.3 g

Beneficial features blueberries

These berries contain vitamins B1, B2, PP, C, A, P, phosphorus, calcium, iron, sugar, phenolic compounds, organic acids, fiber, tannins, coloring and pectin substances. Its fruits are very beneficial for health. Blueberries increase concentration and also have anti-sclerosis, anti-inflammatory, capillary-strengthening, antipyretic effects. Also stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Contraindications for use

Blueberries contain antioxidants, so consuming them in large quantities can impair muscle function.

Blueberries in children's diets

Pediatricians recommend introducing blueberries into children's diets after three years. You can try earlier if the child is not prone to allergies. This berry contains many useful substances that a child’s body needs. But do not give your child a store-bought berry - it will be impossible to check how it was picked and whether a wild rosemary leaf was in the basket.

Preparation and consistency

Blueberries can be consumed both fresh and processed. The berries are used to prepare purees, compotes, mousses, jelly and preserves.

Culinary recipes from blueberries for children - from 3 years old

Rice casserole with blueberries

Ingredients:

• Rice porridge - 2 cups
• Blueberries - 1 cup
• Egg - 1 pc.
• Sugar - 1 tbsp. spoon

Preparation:

Cook rice porridge in milk, cool and add a raw egg, mix. Place half of the resulting mixture on a greased form, lay the berries in layers and top with the rest of the mixture. Upper part brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in the oven until golden brown.

Blueberry jelly - from 3 years

Ingredients:

• Blueberries - 60 g
• Sugar - 50 g
• Starch - 20 g
• Citric acid - 0.4 g

Preparation:

Mash the blueberries in a non-oxidizing bowl and squeeze out the juice. Pour in the berry mass hot water and boil for 5-6 minutes, strain, add sugar, bring to a boil. We dilute the starch with cold boiled water and add it to the broth along with berry juice and citric acid. Stir and cool.

Blueberry muffins - from 3 years

Ingredients:

• Flour - 260 g
• Powder (for baking) - 2 teaspoons
• Soda - 1/2 teaspoon
• Blueberries - 1 cup
• Egg - 2 pcs.
• Sugar - 180 g
• Vegetable oil - 100 g
• Vanilla sugar - 1 sachet
• Sour cream - 300 g

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease the baking dish vegetable oil, place the paper molds. Mix flour with oatmeal, baking powder, baking soda. Beat the egg with sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla sugar, sour cream. Add the flour mixture and stir, and only then add the blueberries. Place the dough in the molds and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Bon appetit!

A perennial plant that lives up to a hundred years and bears large, oblong (up to one and a half centimeters in diameter) fruits is blueberry. The pulp of the berries of this close relative of blueberries has a watery consistency and a greenish tint. Blueberries grow in dry areas well lit by the sun. You can meet her in the tundra and middle lane Russia, in the Caucasus, on poor acidic soils and in cedar forests, as well as in wetlands.

What are the benefits of blueberries? This amazing berry contains substances that are valuable for the functioning of the human body. It contains a lot of vitamins - A, PP, B1 and B2, as well as C. Therefore, blueberries are useful for women during pregnancy. It makes an invaluable contribution to the normal development of the child's body.

What else is blueberry good for? Its berries contain almost ninety percent water, eight percent sugar, two percent organic acids and proteins. Pectin and tannins are found in blueberries. Thanks to these active components, the valuable berry is used to remove cobalt and strontium, which are radioactive elements, from the body.

How are blueberries beneficial for the human skeletal system? The berry contains vitamin K. It strengthens teeth and bones. In addition, blueberries improve blood circulation in the human body and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland.

It is also recommended to consume blueberries for problems with the organs of vision. It is necessary to include its fruits in the menu for those who decide to get rid of extra pounds. Blueberries have low calorie content and excellent ability to break down and burn fat.

In the twenties of the last century, the first garden varieties of plants were brought from Europe. Currently, they are often planted on summer cottages. The beneficial properties of which are similar to those growing in nature, and is used in cooking. Jam, jelly and compotes are made from it. Delicious berry Great for mousses and jams. Blueberries also become the basis for making various wines, kvass and desserts. The fruits of this valuable berry are used in baked goods as a filling.

Blueberry juice, which has a higher content of nutrients than apple, pomegranate and grape juice, is beneficial for children and adults. All fruit products valuable plant bring enormous benefits to human health. You can also include fresh berries in the menu. They supply the body with many microelements and vitamins.

Back in ancient times healing properties blueberries were actively used among peoples northern forests. The berry is rich in vitamins and minerals, thanks to which it effectively strengthens the human immune system and allows you to maintain the health of the body throughout the winter season.

Where do blueberries grow?

Blueberries are found in the Northern Hemisphere. Since the berry is an unpretentious plant, it grows well in all regions of temperate and cold climates. It can be seen in the tundra, forests, mountains and swamps. She is not afraid of rocky terrain or dry soil. The lifespan of a small shrub can reach 90 years.

Blueberries grow in the Arctic, Altai, Far East, Caucasus, Siberia, Urals, as well as in North America, Iceland, etc.

Chemical composition of blueberries

The largest amount of useful elements is contained in the skin of the berry.

Vitamins: A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, K, RR, N.

Minerals: iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, sodium, phosphorus.

Organic acids: benzoin, lemon, vinegar, oxalic, apple.

The value of blueberries lies in the fact that they contain all the essential amino acids and 12 non-essential ones. In terms of their content, it is ahead of many berries. In addition, the berry contains fiber, essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, antioxidants and dietary fiber (15% of the daily value).

Calorie content of blueberries - 40 kcal per 100 g.

Daily intake of blueberries: 150 g for adults, 80 g for children.

Health Benefits and Health Benefits of Blueberries

• has antimicrobial and antipyretic properties,
• strengthens the immune system,
• improves vision,
• relieves eye strain,
• relieves constipation,
• improves digestion,
• normalizes metabolism,
• cancer prevention,
• removes radioactive metals,
• helps with cystitis,
• normalizes the functioning of the pancreas,
• reduces swelling,
• lowers blood sugar levels,
• strengthens the heart and blood vessel walls,
• promotes hematopoiesis,
• lowers the level of bad cholesterol,
• improves the functioning of the nervous system,
• prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease,
• strengthens memory,
• stimulates brain function,
• relieves dark circles under the eyes,
• slows down the aging process,
• improves the condition of skin and hair,
• accelerates the healing of wounds and pustules.

To get all the beneficial vitamins and minerals from the berry, as well as to get rid of many ailments and improve health, you need to eat it exclusively fresh.

Beneficial properties of blueberries for women

Blue berry is very useful for female body. She normalizes menstrual cycle and strengthens the functioning of the endocrine glands.

Blueberries improve the appearance of the skin, eliminate skin rashes and bruises under the eyes, which often occur due to problems with the pancreas. The plant removes bile and relieves swelling.

Pregnant women can eat blueberries, but not large quantities. Since it contains calcium, its consumption will contribute to the proper development of the bones of the unborn baby. In addition, it will allow a woman to maintain healthy hair and nails after childbirth.

Medicinal properties of blueberry leaves

The leaves of this plant also have medicinal properties. They are identical in composition to fruits, but the concentration of nutrients is slightly lower. As a rule, decoctions are prepared from them for treatment colds, vitamin deficiency and diseases of the urinary system. In addition, the leaves are famous for their laxative effect, so they are used to combat constipation.

For drying, leaves should be collected when blueberries are in bloom.

The medicinal drink is prepared simply: 1 tsp. crushed dried leaves pour 1 cup warm water. Let it brew for 10 minutes and then strain.

Contraindications and harm of blueberries

• individual intolerance,
• lactation,
• stomach ulcer.

Despite all the benefits of blue berries, you should not abuse them, otherwise digestion will worsen: prolonged diarrhea, bloating and increased gas formation will appear. But to get such “consequences” you should try harder. This effect appears if you eat about 1 kg of the product.

You should not mix blueberries with - this mixture is very toxic to the human body, and therefore may cause unpleasant symptoms poisoning (nausea, vomiting, headache).

In addition, the real benefits come from berries collected only in ecologically clean areas. The fact is that blueberries absorb all harmful substances from the soil well.

When and how to pick blueberries

Blue berries ripen at the end of July - beginning of August, respectively, this is best time to collect it. The work is quite labor-intensive.

It is best to pick berries by hand rather than using special tools (hand harvesters). They damage bushes, thereby reducing the amount of harvest in subsequent years. Agree that it is better to be patient, but rejoice and enjoy the berries every summer.

How to store blueberries at home

Fresh berries are stored for 7-12 days in the refrigerator. It is recommended to use glass or wooden containers to store it.

The fruits can also be dried. Spread the berries on a flat surface (tray) in a thin layer, then leave them in the sun for 1 day. During this time they dry out. The next day, move them to a dark, cool, well-ventilated area. Don't forget to turn the blueberries over to dry evenly. Dried berries are purchased dark color, they do not stick to your hands or to each other. Shelf life 9-12 months.

Berries can also be frozen. If frozen, they will last for about a year.

During the season of this berry, be sure to get your fill of it. It works wonders: it improves health, tones the body and energizes it.

Video: beneficial properties of blueberries

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 are interested in traditional methods treatment, in particular 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. Found in wet forests and bushes, in swamps and in 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 no unanimity of opinion regarding the possible poisonous action 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 chemical composition(tannins for diarrhea, and arbutin - as a means for disinfecting the bladder) this use is quite justified, but there are more for these ailments effective means, so it is difficult to understand why traditional medicine clings so stubbornly to blueberries. Tea from dried berries prepared in the same way as 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 healthy sweets and drinks, you can recommend berry marshmallow, 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 common in pine forests, and blueberries are unpretentious berries.

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 are creeping blueberries, whose thickets resemble a carpet, and blueberries from the American subtropics can reach human height - it’s not even a shrub, but a small tree with berries.

Beneficial features:

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 expand blood vessels and increasing the content 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 harmful consequences radioactive 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 intestinal tract– they help prevent a number of his 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, has its own useful qualities superior to pomegranate, apple and grape juices.

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 number of different nutrients, which, when ingested 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 allergic reaction and intoxication in a 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, blueberries help strengthen bones, enhance tooth growth and improve immunity. These berries, which came to our table from the northern regions, have a strong effect on 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 big amount the carotene it contains (provitamin A), 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 juice obtained from them - excellent remedy for people suffering diabetes mellitus. 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 them great taste 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 calorie content and nutritional value of blueberries, per 100 grams:

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 daily consumption of blueberries for 90 days significantly reduces... body fat on the stomach. 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.