Forest berries (photos are presented in the article) are useful, tasty, and therefore are in demand even by inveterate citizens. When going to the forest, do not forget to grab a basket, and representatives of the “berry fraternity” will certainly share with you the natural vitality.
Garden or forest?
Which berries are better: those that grow in the wild, or those that we grow in our dachas? Of course, forest fruits are healthier - they are not polluted by civilization and consist entirely of natural nutritional components. However, all this is true provided that you collected them not on the road or in the vicinity of any industrial facility. The wild berry is not processed in the process of development and growth by any chemicals designed to protect against diseases and pests, since nature itself solves all problems. That is why wild fruits give us the whole spectrum of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial elements.
Next, we talk about which edible forest berries should be paid special attention to.
Raspberries
Everyone remembers from childhood the taste of these delicious fruits. And to whom did mother or grandmother carefully not bring tea with raspberry jam to bed during colds? And now, recalling the carefree childhood, we are happy to eat this berry directly from the bush. Forest raspberries are distributed practically throughout Russia, with the exception of the Far North. They collect it everywhere, but many do not even imagine how useful these fruits are for us.
The healing qualities of raspberries
Berry is mainly used in the treatment of colds and acute respiratory ailments. It contains salicylic acid, which allows you to reduce heat much more effectively than many medicines. Forest raspberries will also help with neuralgia, radiculitis, joint pain. People who cannot consume fruits due to an allergic reaction can be invited to brew the stems and leaves of the plant, and then take the resulting broth - this way you can quickly remove the manifestations of fever. To strengthen the immune system in the summer it is worth eating fresh raspberries, and in the winter use berries in the form of preserves, liquors, decoctions. There is a modern way to preserve the fruits - freezing.
Blueberries
If we consider all the black forest berries, then, of course, blueberries are the most famous. Why is it called so, because its fresh fruits are more likely saturated blue rather than black? The name was given to the berry by the Russian people because it paints the mouth and teeth black, that is, it “blackens”. The plant itself is a small tree or small bush. Blueberries are a berry that people have known and loved since a very long time. Collect it, from July to the first frost. Many residents of central Russia will be interested to know that there is still a special “red blueberry” - krasnik. It grows in Kamchatka and in the Primorsky Territory.
The composition and benefits of blueberries
Everyone knows that this wild berry improves vision, but what other beneficial properties does it have? From time immemorial, with the help of blueberries, they treated housing and communal services diseases: for mild disorders, a decoction of dried berries or blueberry jelly was taken, with chronic constipation they ate fresh fruits. In addition, blueberries help to heal rheumatism, gout, and all kinds of inflammations. If you suffer from nocturnal enuresis, heartburn, stomach ailments, enteritis, drink tea or a decoction of these berries. Fresh fruits, among other things, increase the level of iron in the body. Blueberries can also be used externally: apply mashed berries to the affected areas in the presence of eczema, acne, non-healing wounds, burns, ulcers.
Strawberries
According to archaeological excavations, the fruits of this perennial plant were used by our distant ancestors. Strawberries - wild berries, which is an overgrown receptacle with juicy small "nuts" covering its surface. Fruits the plant from late May to late June, that is, for three to four weeks. Wild berry is found in both Europe and America. Traditionally, strawberries inhabit glades in forests - in these places you can find the largest and sweetest fruits. In general, the plant feels good on the slopes of the mountains, only marshes are unsuitable for it - a large amount of moisture is destructive for this culture.
The healing properties of strawberries
This wild berry contains organic acids, sugar, catechins, tannins, pectic, coloring matter. The fruits are rich in minerals and vitamins, due to which strawberries are actively used in cosmetology and medicine. In addition, the beneficial properties of the plant served to the fact that it is used in nutrition. It is recommended to use this berry with kidney stones, anemia, gout. The juice and pulp of strawberries can restore salt metabolism, facilitate the condition of eczema (in this case, the rubbed fruit must be applied to the affected area). In the fight against high blood pressure, experts advise using the leaves of the plant. In general, strawberries have diaphoretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and hemostatic properties. In cosmetology, masks, tonics, lotions and scrubs based on this berry are popular.
Blueberry
This is a low shrub that grows mainly in the northern regions, where a temperate and cold climate prevails. The diameter of the fruit is a little more than a centimeter, the color is blue with a gray coating. Blueberry berry is a real long-liver, sometimes the bush is up to one hundred years old. Fruits include up to eight percent of healthy sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose) and a sufficient amount of organic acids (malic, citric, acetic). Blueberries are rich in fiber, pectins, and vitamins. One undoubted advantage is the presence of anthocyanin in it (it is a plant pigment that acts as a strong antioxidant).
Despite such an abundance of useful components, it is a rather low-calorie berry, which has made it a popular dietary product. Its antioxidants increase the body's resistance to disease, and also free it from free radicals. Flavonoids provide protection against pathologies of the cardiovascular system and cancer, and organic acids improve the activity of the pancreas. Fiber and pectin substances, in turn, normalize the intestines. In addition to all of the above, blueberries are an excellent anti-zingotic agent, an assistant in the treatment of anemia. The berry has choleretic, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic properties. Fruit juice increases concentration and improves memory.
Blackberry
The berry looks like raspberries, but it is worth recognizing that in many ways it surpasses its "relative". Blackberry fruits are incredibly fragrant and tasty, filled with healing juice. The plant brings a good harvest at the time when the main summer berries have already departed (in August-September). But there is a drawback: the culture is very susceptible to cold weather, so it can not tolerate a harsh winter. Sugar, glucose and fructose give sweetness to fruits. Blackberries are one of the few berries that people with diabetes can safely eat. It should also be noted that in terms of vitamin content this crop is superior to almost all others. Fruits are saturated with nitrous, mineral, pectic, tannins and organic acids.
In folk medicine, there is an application to the whole plant: both the leaves and the berries themselves, and even the roots. Unripe fruits have a firming effect on the intestines with diarrhea, and mature ones, on the contrary, can be used as a mild laxative. Blackberry has anti-inflammatory and anti-sclerotic properties, strengthens the walls of capillaries. This wild berry removes radioactive elements from the body. Healers advise using a decoction of the roots to rinse the mouth and throat with acute respiratory infections, angina. It will also provide a diuretic effect and restore normal liver function. The leaves of the plant have a pronounced astringent effect and can stop not only diarrhea, but also bleeding.
Stone berry
Many people underestimate this berry, considering that its taste is not good enough, and constantly falling bones beat off appetite. However, it is simply necessary to eat bones, because the benefits that it brings to the body are enormous. Its fruits are prefabricated drupe berries, which consist of four or more parts, including sufficiently large bones. To taste, they are somewhat reminiscent of pomegranates, and ripen in July-August (in some places you can harvest in September).
The low popularity of bones explains the gaps in information about what its chemical composition is. It is only known for certain that this berry is superior to many others in terms of vitamin C. In addition, it contains vitamin P, which is so needed by humans, since it is not produced independently in the body, as well as phytoncides, organic acids, tannins and pectin, flavonoids.
For a long time, bone has been used in the treatment of scurvy, anemia, anemia, colds. Fruit juice, saturated with useful elements, normalizes metabolic processes in the body, removes toxins, toxins, strengthens the vascular walls. The broth prepared from the stems and leaves of the plant is effective in pathologies of the heart muscle, gastrointestinal diseases. Such juice will bring relief in gout, prevent the formation of tumors, relieve insomnia, headaches, hemorrhoids, strengthen hair and eliminate dandruff. Using fresh bone leaves externally will quickly remove redness of the eyes.
Lingonberry
This wild berry is small and nondescript in appearance, but it contains a real storehouse of useful substances. Lingonberry cures for many diseases, not for nothing that it was called the berry of immortality before.
The plant is a stunted perennial shrub. It is quite unpretentious, can grow in mixed and coniferous forests, in peat bogs. Lingonberry is common in temperate regions, tundra and forest-tundra of Eastern Siberia. The fruits ripen in August-September, they are usually rounded, red, sweet and sour taste, with a tart, astringent flavor. This wild berry is rich in carbohydrates, tannins, vitamins, organic acids, pectins, minerals. Lingonberries can be stored for a long time due to the presence of benzoic acid in its composition . The plant is widely used in medicine as an anti-zingotic, antiseptic, antipyretic, diuretic.
Cranberry
This useful berry has long been used by healers to alleviate the condition of patients with angina. It is also advised to use for colds, diseases of the genitourinary system, atherosclerosis, rheumatism.
Blooming with pink-red flowers in May-July, cranberries already in September yield crops. Its fruits are juicy, sour in taste, red in color, spherical in shape. In the swamps, berries are picked from late autumn to spring. Cold cranberries are not terrible - they only improve the taste of the fruit.
The wild berries described in this article are concentrates of taste and good. Follow them into the forest with the whole family. Do not doubt: nature will generously share its wealth with you!