In Russia, a large number of different berries grows. Among them, far from the most famous are relatives of raspberries, northern berries. Cloudberry belongs to a plant of the Rubus family. It can be found in wetlands and the tundra. The berry is very capricious, because it does not like rain, wind and frost, but it is very useful.
Description
Sweet and sour taste and aroma are similar to a mixture of currants and oranges. In addition to the name "northern berry" in the people it is also called "moss currant." The composition of nutrients and trace elements, however, has much in common with these crops.
So, cloudberries contain:
- vitamins B 1 , B 2 , PP, A;
- potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, aluminum, silicon, sodium;
- carotenoids, beta-carotene;
- fatty and organic acids;
- mono- and disaccharides;
- tannins;
- pectins;
- volatile;
- cellulose;
- alimentary fiber;
- ash;
- other beneficial substances.
These northern berries are 84% water. In addition, they have a high content of vitamins, so that they become a source of important elements for the body.
Useful properties of cloudberries and contraindications
Phytotherapists have long appreciated the therapeutic effect that the berry gives, and use it. The use of cloudberries contributes to:
- improve blood circulation;
- cell regeneration and renewal;
- increased cardiovascular activity;
- lowering blood pressure;
- strengthening immunity;
- infection prevention;
- improve vision.
Like all plants, saturated with many useful substances, there are useful properties of cloudberries, and contraindications. The berry has the following therapeutic effect:
- diuretic;
- antimicrobial;
- healing;
- astringent;
- anti-inflammatory;
- sweatshops.
It perfectly treats skin diseases, moisturizing, softening and restoring the skin. Helps nail growth and stops hair loss. Having examined the useful properties of cloudberries, and contraindications, we will now also study to know whether it is possible to take this berry for food.
Harm
Cloudberries should not be used for individual intolerance, and not only in its pure form. Do not stand and eat dishes with its addition. In addition, cloudberries are contraindicated in:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- increased acidity;
- chronic diseases of the kidneys and liver.
Even if a person is healthy, the berry should not be abused. Otherwise, itching, rash may appear, and heartburn or nausea may occur.
For weight loss
Cloudberry is a berry (photo that you see), which favorably affects the digestive system, normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, removes toxins and toxins from the body, helps eliminate excess fluid, get rid of swelling and normalize the lymphatic drainage system. Having a very low calorie content and low sugar content, she is actively struggling with excess weight.
The dishes that can be prepared with it for this purpose are as follows:
- salads;
- stewed fruit, juices and other drinks;
- mashed potatoes, soufflé, puddings;
- snacks
- gravy and sauces;
- others.
Teas are made from it, marmalade, pastille and jam are prepared. Despite the fact that these are sweet dishes, thanks to the presence of cloudberries during the diet, they are allowed.
The berry may well be combined with mushrooms, meat, fish, cereals and cereals, nuts, dairy products, vegetables and dried fruits, croutons and honey.
But, of course, fresh cloudberry (berry) is of the greatest value. The photo below illustrates the most common diet dish with her. This is sauerkraut, with the addition of carrots and cranberries with cloudberries. Refueling is water and spices.
There are no diets that would consist only of cloudberries (the so-called mono-diets). But the fact that adding it to the diet, you will significantly improve your body and will help get rid of extra pounds, this is an established fact.
How to use
A week is good to eat 2-3 times 100-150 grams of berries. The same rule applies for pregnant women. But nursing mothers should consult a doctor before taking cloudberries for food.
Children should not be given berries until 8 months old. From a year old, it can be added to fruit puree, for example, from apples. Begin to feed with one tablespoon, gradually increasing the serving. Pure cloudberries can be eaten by a child from three years old and only under adult supervision.
How to choose
The berry ripens exactly in the middle of summer. But the period does not last very long, only half a month. An interesting feature is that the red color of the fruit means unripe berry. Upon reaching ripeness, it acquires a yellowish-orange color.
If you purchase cloudberries in a store or in the market, you need to carefully examine it: are there any signs of damage and is it covered with mold.
The useful properties of cloudberries will be manifested, and contraindications will become relevant only if the product is of poor quality. That is, the berry should not be crumpled or with juice allocated. But it would be preferable to purchase with sepals, as it is better preserved in this form. In the frozen form, cloudberries should be thoroughly felt so that the berries are not sticky and do not have pieces of ice.
Storage
Berries are stored at a temperature of 0 to 4 degrees. The ripening period is up to 4 days, and green - up to two weeks.
Traditionally, cloudberries make sweet dishes, compote or a preparation in their own juice. In another recipe, the berry is mixed with sugar, diluted in a ratio of 1: 1, and left in the refrigerator. You can just freeze the fruits. The main condition for this is their dry and undamaged condition.
Berry in folk medicine
Sorcerers treated various diseases using not only fruits, but also leaves with plant roots. They relieved people of problems with the intestines, liver and kidneys, biliary tract and cardiovascular activity. It is noted that with regular use, putrefactive processes in the gastrointestinal system are reduced, and biochemical processes return to normal.
It is useful to eat after poisoning, with vitamin deficiency, burns, colds, fatigue, cystitis, diarrhea, dropsy, scurvy, scabies and many other serious diseases.
In order to stop the bleeding, take a tablespoon of dried leaves and pour a glass of boiling water. After cooling, you can take orally 70 milliliters 3 times a day.
In case of kidney stone disease, you should drink plenty of water, and take tincture 4 times a day, 100 milliliters each.
To get rid of pus, fresh leaves are lubricated with fish oil and applied to the affected area. Compress should be changed from 2 times a day.
To improve the appetite, water and (juice) cloudberries are mixed in a 1: 1 ratio. Reviews of relatives caring for their relatives with cancer testify that smearing the affected areas with gruel facilitated the patient's condition with tumors.
Very useful is tincture. It is taken for gout, kidney stones and metabolic disorders. It is prepared as follows. Take two teaspoons of leaves and pour a glass of boiling water. Then the tincture is left for several hours. Cloudberries in this form are distributed in equal parts and drunk in one day. This recipe will help with gastritis, if acidity is low, with tumors.
Cloudberry is also used for cough, colds and tuberculosis. An excellent effect is also exerted by leaf tea, prepared in the usual way. It can be added rose hips and honey instead of sugar.
Delicious recipes
There are many sweets loved by children, which are based on cloudberries. Recipes of some of them will be considered below.
To make jam, take a kilogram of berries, the same amount of sugar and a little water. First, water and sugar are mixed , the syrup is put on fire and stirred. The berries are added after boiling and boiled for 30 minutes. Then the mixture is passed, grinding, through a sieve and cooked for another 10 minutes. Ready jam will help with colds, infections, boosts immunity. It is used for prevention in the offseason, when there is a high risk of acute respiratory viral infections.
The pastille is prepared like this. Dried, put in the oven in a pan. Heated berries, wipe them through a sieve and add one part sugar to two parts cloudberries. Again put in the oven and dried. All minerals and vitamins are stored in this dish, so it is often used to treat infectious diseases.
Compote is very simple to make. After washing the fruits, they are placed in jars, combining with a layer of sugar. Then pour boiling water and clog.
For jelly, the berries are crushed, poured with water, brought to a boil and filtered. After that, gelatin and sugar are added to the resulting broth, boiled for 30 minutes and packaged in dishes.
Cloudberry for Pushkin
Legend has it that before his departure after the duel, the great poet asked for a soaked cloudberry. No one was surprised at such a request, since everyone knew that he really loved this berry, as well as lingonberries. It is believed that the Pushkin family bought it at the Round Market from a merchant named Gerasim Dmitriev.
About two centuries passed, and at this place a stylish restaurant was opened, which is called: "Cloudberries for Pushkin." Of course, the berry itself in it, unfortunately, is not. But Petersburgers are still grateful for the tribute to the memory of the Russian poet.