Cranberries are a popular folk remedy for colds and viral infections, it has tonic and antipyretic properties. This berry is effective not only with high fever and cough, but also with otitis media and even angina, as it helps to strengthen the body. With a cold infection, you can cook a lot of healthy drinks and dishes from it.
The healing properties of cranberries
The fruits of this shrub from the Heather family contain many useful substances. For example, they are famous for the presence of glucose, malic and citric acids, iodine, vitamins of groups B, C, K and A. All these components make cranberries an effective tool in the treatment of colds. For example, due to its strong antioxidant properties, vitamin A prevents the destruction of cells and helps to improve the protective functions of the body.
Cranberries with colds are often used in folk medicine, as it has a strengthening, diaphoretic and antipyretic effect. Its ascorbic acid has an antibacterial effect and avoids the occurrence of complications of respiratory diseases.
The use of these berries has the following positive effects on the body:
- Reduces the risk of miscarriage because it contains vitamin B9.
- Helps in the fight against colds.
- It has a diuretic effect, which saves from the appearance of edema.
- Reduces high blood pressure.
- Calcium and phosphorus present in the fruits of this shrub help strengthen teeth and bones.
- Eliminates headaches.
- Potassium in cranberries strengthens the heart muscle.
Cranberries for colds in pregnant women
Women bearing a child should carefully protect themselves from various infections and viruses, since even a minor cold can lead to trouble. Expectant mothers are not recommended to take many medications that pose a threat to the health and sometimes life of the baby, so you have to be treated with folk remedies. For example, cranberries have proven to be excellent during pregnancy. With a cold, this berry is indispensable, because the flavonoids and vitamins contained in it activate the immune system, contributing to a quick recovery.
This plant has bactericidal properties that help reduce inflammation, fight infections, pathologies of the respiratory tract and throat.
How to take cranberries?
Treatment of colds with this berry consists in taking drinks and desserts: juice, preserves and tinctures. But most often they make fruit drink out of it.
Cooking classic cranberry juice is easy. To do this, squeeze the juice from the berries. The remaining squeeze is poured with water and boiled over medium heat for no more than 5 minutes. Cranberry juice will only be added to the finished mixture. If desired, a few tablespoons of sugar are allowed in this fruit drink. It should be drunk in the morning and in the evening at 100-150 ml.
In addition, with a cold, a decoction helps well. It also has a diaphoretic and antipyretic effect. But before you brew cranberries with a cold, you must first sort it out and wash it well. Fruits are poured with water and put on a plate until boiling. After they begin to burst, the fire can be reduced and cooked for about 7-10 minutes. To improve the taste of the drink, sugar is usually added. Take it at 200 ml at least 2 times a day.
Cranberries for colds: recipes for healthy drinks
If the child is sick, then, in addition to the main treatment, you can drink combined tea from raspberries and cranberries. To brew it, you must first knead the berries and mix them with sugar. This tasty mass is poured with a small amount of water and boiled, after which it is insisted and filtered. In winter, instead of raspberries, you can use jam from it or dried berries.
With a loss of voice and a strong cough, freshly squeezed cranberry juice mixed with liquid mashed potatoes will help. It is recommended to use this mixture 3 times a day, 150 ml each.
Cranberry drink for colds compensates for the deficiency of vitamins and nutrients. To prepare it you will need:
- granulated sugar - 6 tablespoons;
- cranberries - not less than 1 kg;
- carrots - about 2 kg.
The first step is to squeeze the juice from the berries and grated carrots. A little sugar is added to the resulting slurry, everything is thoroughly mixed and diluted with water. They drink this drink daily chilled.
At an early stage of a cold, a cranberry and citrus remedy will help. A glass of berries should be crushed in a blender with orange and lemon, without removing the peel. This mixture is advised to use during the day for 1 dessert spoon.
Tasty cranberry jam for colds
This healthy delicacy is prepared from the following ingredients:
- walnuts;
- cranberries;
- apples.
To make cranberry jam, first you need to thoroughly wash the apples, peel them from seeds and peel, and then cut into small cubes. Berries are also washed, dried and moved. After that, they are put in a pan, add water (preferably boiled) and put on fire. When the cranberries become soft, they are ground through a sieve.
Then the syrup is cooked: half an glass of water and about 2.5 kg of sugar are added to the enameled container. Pour nuts, berries and apples into this solution. It is left to cook on low heat for 1 hour. The finished treat is poured into cans and rolled up.
Cranberry jam can be made in another way. Dessert according to this recipe will have a diaphoretic effect. To create it, you need components such as shrubs and bee honey. Even an inexperienced housewife can make such cranberry jam.
First you have to lower the berries of this plant in boiling water, and then put it in a colander. Syrup is prepared from honey and water, into which deferred fruits will be added. The jam is left to boil and bottled in sterilized containers.
By the way, tea with cranberries for colds perfectly removes pathogenic toxins from the body. At the same time, it is not necessary to use fresh berries for brewing it, a delicacy prepared according to the above recipes is also suitable.
Cranberry treatment of diseases of the oral cavity and throat
With sore throat, cranberry juice is often used in folk medicine, to which several tablespoons of honey are added. It is used as a means for ingestion and rinsing. In addition, with inflammatory processes in the throat, a decoction of berries leaves helps.
Cranberry juice copes well with diphtheria. It is necessary to treat throat deposits with this liquid up to 5 times a day. But in the treatment of laryngitis, cranberry juice is best mixed with honey and taken daily with a dessert spoon.
In the fight against pharyngitis, you can use a mixture of cranberries and various herbs: coltsfoot, oregano and marshmallow. All these components are mixed and poured with boiling water. It is recommended to drink a warm drink of 150 ml at least 4 times a day.
If you are concerned about a dry cough, then cranberry tincture can be prepared. First, grind or knead the fruits into gruel. Then 100 ml of vodka is brought to a boil and poured into a berry mixture. After cooling the tincture, a little honey should be added to improve the taste. It is advisable to use it at bedtime a few tablespoons.
Strengthening the body's immune system
To maintain immunity at a good level, to protect yourself from respiratory viral infections in winter and spring, you should regularly drink cranberry juice. Another excellent remedy is tea with rosehips and cranberries. But in order to saturate the body in the spring and winter with the necessary useful substances, the berries of this plant should be mixed with carrot juice. To drink such a drink is worth it once a day.
Collection and storage
Cranberries should be harvested before the start of winter, since the snow-covered fruits practically do not contain vitamin C. It is allowed to store the berries for 2-3 months in wooden containers or crates. Many soak it in sugar syrup.
To whom are the fruits of this shrub contraindicated?
Despite all the medicinal properties, cranberries for colds are not recommended if a person suffers from high acidity or a stomach ulcer, especially at the acute stage.
After drinking drinks from frozen or fresh berries, rinse your mouth immediately with warm water, otherwise acids will quickly destroy tooth enamel. Of course, there is another option - to drink juice through a straw.
But remember that cranberries with colds quickly restore strength, however, if the disease is accompanied by a high temperature that does not subside for several days, you must immediately call a doctor. Self-medication can lead to sad consequences!