One of the most delicious and healthy berries is blueberry. The culture is characterized by anti-aging, disinfecting and anti-inflammatory properties. If you regularly include it in the diet, you can improve not only the health of the body, but also the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

Blueberry Vitamins

Berries consist of a rich vitamin and mineral complex.

The fruits and leaves of the culture contain such useful components:

Vitamin A	This substance is necessary for regulating the functioning of the sebaceous glands of the skin and is the prevention of cancer
Vitamins B1 and B2	Organic compound B1 has a positive effect on the nervous and digestive systems. Vitamin B2 is involved in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It also improves the condition of the visual system.
Vitamin C	Strengthens the human immune system, allowing you to fight viral infections
Vitamin PP	Participates in the regulation of blood cholesterol and detoxification
Vitamin K	Essential for normal blood coagulation

The nutritional value of blueberries per 100 g of product: proteins - 1 g; fats - 0.5 g; carbohydrates - 6.5 g. Total calories - 39 kcal.

If we consider the chemical composition of the fetus, the presence of:

• calcium: 1.6%;
• magnesium: 1.8%;
• potassium: 2%;
• phosphorus: 1%;
• acids (malic, nicotinic, oxalic, citric);
• antioxidants.

Did you know? After the Chernobyl accident, doctors recommended eating berries every day, as they remove all radioactive substances from the body.

Useful properties for the body

Blueberries, like most berries, bring great benefits to the human body. Regular use of the fruits of this culture helps to regulate the work of all internal systems (digestive, nervous, cardiovascular, etc.).

Due to the low calorie content, berries can be consumed by everyone who leads a healthy lifestyle and monitors their nutrition. For an adult, the norm per day is 150 g.

Blueberry leaves

Most people are convinced that only blueberries are enriched with vitamins and minerals. However, the leaves contain no less useful substances.

The healing properties of deciduous cover include:

• fighting microbes, lowering body temperature;
• strengthening the immune system;
• helps to cope with constipation;
• decrease in cholesterol in the blood;
• compresses from crushed leaves cope with heaviness in the eyes and relieve swelling;
• A drink from leaf blades promotes the production of insulin, which lowers blood sugar.

Berries

The fruits contain a record amount of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, their regular use will help you prevent or stop the development of many diseases. If you eat berries 2 times a week (100 g each), then you can normalize the digestive system (improve metabolism and assimilation of vitamins).

Important! A sour berry drink is recommended for colds and fever. It is more effective than tea with lemon or cranberry.

Fruits help to remove all radioactive metals from the body, which contributes to the prevention of cancer. The berries of this culture normalize the pancreas, preventing the development of diabetes, ulcers and gastritis.

Regular consumption of fruits contributes to improved formation of blood cells and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Thanks to these properties, a person has a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, heart attack and stroke.

Blueberries are an ideal option for those involved in mental work. The usefulness is to improve memory and stimulate brain function. If you know the problem of hair loss, dehydration of the skin and permanent bruising under the eyes, then the fruits will help to cope with these unpleasant symptoms.

Due to the fact that they contribute to increased blood circulation in the body, after a few weeks you will notice an improvement in appearance (hair will become thicker and healthier, wrinkles on the skin will become less noticeable, and bruises under the eyes will lighten).

We invite you to learn how to grow blueberries on your own.

Contraindications

• Despite the enormous benefits of blueberries for the human body, it has a number of contraindications:
• increased acidity of the stomach (gastritis and ulcer);
• allergic reaction (individual intolerance);
• breastfeeding (newborns have an undeveloped digestive system, which can lead to allergies).

It is forbidden to consume berries to people taking medications to reduce blood clots. This is due to the fact that blueberries help increase the viscosity of lymph. If you are at risk of developing a heart attack or stroke, it is best to refrain from using it.

Collect fruits in areas with high environmental performance.

Blueberry bushes are able to absorb all the negative substances in the soil. The use of such berries can cause harm to the body (bloating, headaches and nausea). Doctors prohibit combining blueberries with tea or coffee. In combination with caffeine, the berry becomes toxic. As a result, a person has a headache, vomiting and stomach pain.

Blueberries for women

Fruits have a positive effect on women's health. They participate in the normalization of the menstrual cycle and strengthen the walls of the internal genital organs, which reduces the number of bacteria.

If you have problem skin (regular inflammation on the face, rashes, dryness under the eyes), then eating berries will help to cope with unpleasant symptoms. Since they remove bile from the body, after a week you can get rid of edema and dark bruises under the eyes.

During pregnancy

The fruits of blueberries are a panacea for many diseases. During pregnancy, a woman can consume them, but in small quantities. If 30–40 g of the product is introduced into the daily diet, this will contribute to the development of bone tissue in the infant. Berries also help expectant mothers to maintain a healthy state of hair, skin and nails after childbirth.

Iron contained in berries helps to break down fats and reduce body weight (relevant for pregnant women and after childbirth). The composition of blueberries contains folic acid, which is necessary for a woman in position. It normalizes hormonal levels and protects against the appearance of depression.

Important! Try not to exceed the recommended fetal rate so as not to provoke allergic reactions.

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During breastfeeding, you can eat berries, but in a minimal amount. Remember that with mother's milk all the nutrients get into the baby’s body. If you eat an excessive amount of blueberries, the baby may develop intoxication, rashes and redness on the skin.

When breastfeeding, it is recommended to consume 20-30 g of product per day. This will be enough to enrich the milk with useful vitamins.

Blueberries for children

The fruits of blueberries help strengthen the immune system, which is important for children who like to walk outside even in cold weather. The child should consume at least 70–80 g of berries per day.

• Blueberries not only improve immunity, but also positively affect other systems of the child's body:
• participates in the formation of bone tissue;
• strengthens tooth enamel;
• increases blood coagulation.

Introduce them into the diet gradually so as not to cause intolerance in the future. Start with 10 g per day, increasing the rate every week.

The use of blueberries in folk medicine

Berries are quite popular. They are used in traditional medicine, because they help to fight common diseases at home. If during the full ripening period to collect the fruits and make a decoction of them, then it can be used for anemia, tonsillitis, stomatitis or dermatitis.

To prepare the tincture, pour 2 tbsp. l berries with a glass of warm water (temperature from + 25 ° С to + 30 ° С). Let it brew for 15 minutes and drink half an hour before meals.

During flowering, blueberry leaves are collected to make a decoction of them, which helps with anemia or diabetes. Regular face masks made from berries help improve skin color, relieve fine expression wrinkles and eliminate inflammation.

Did you know? At the beginning of the XXI century, an experiment was conducted in the United States, the essence of which was the daily consumption of 200 g of blueberries. In 2 weeks, the subjects improved their memory and mental activity.

Blueberry Recipes

There are a huge number of different recipes from this medicinal plant, which has been popular for many years:

1. Morse . To prepare a drink, you need to rinse 300 g of berries under running water and place them in a deep container. Mash the fruits with your hands so that the juice appears. Add 200 g of sugar and pour 3 liters of boiling water (from + 90 ° C to + 95 ° C). Put on low heat and simmer for 5 minutes. After that, leave the drink to cool. After 2-3 hours, it must be filtered through a sieve and bottled. It is recommended to store fruit drinks in the refrigerator (at a temperature of + 1 ° C to + 8 ° C).
   

2. Kissel . To prepare a delicious dessert, you need to wipe 200 g of blueberries through a sieve. Pour the mixture with 1 liter of boiling water (+ 90 ° C) and cook for 5 minutes. Strain the broth and add sugar. Put on low heat and cook for another 10 minutes. In a separate container, mix 1 tbsp. l starch and 1 cup of cold water. Add the contents to the syrup. After boiling, remove the container from the heat and let it brew for 20 minutes. Serve cooked jelly better cold.
   

3. Preserves First you need to make the syrup. To do this, pour 4 cups of sugar in 1 liter of water and put on a slow fire. Then washed with 1 kg of berries and dried them. Add the fruit to the syrup and cook for 20 minutes. In the process of cooking, remove the foam so that the jam is stored longer. Distribute the dessert into sterilized jars and tighten the tin lids. Leave the containers upside down for 24 hours until completely cooled. You can store jam in the refrigerator or pantry. The optimum temperature is from + 3 ° C to + 15 ° C.
   

Blueberry bushes can not only decorate your garden. The leaves and berries of this culture help fight many diseases: colds, diabetes mellitus and oncology. To benefit the body, try not to exceed the recommended daily intake of blueberries. Otherwise, you can provoke an allergic reaction and food poisoning.