Gooseberry: useful properties and contraindications, calorie content of berries, composition

Where does gooseberry grow?

A shrub with amazing taste sweet and sour, tart fruits grows in almost all corners of Eurasia, USA, South America, Australia, northern African countries, etc. In addition to the fact that you can make amazing jelly, light and low-alcohol drinks, wonderful jam from gooseberries, it is useful to eat it raw in regions with high radiation levels.

The homeland of the gooseberry is considered to be northern Europe, where it is also called "northern grapes". History has preserved information about how, in ancient times, Scottish knights, Scandinavian Vikings and Dutch peasants enjoyed wine and other intoxicating gooseberry drinks.

The first mentions of gooseberries in Russia date back to the 11th century; they were mainly used to plant them in the large gardens of monasteries. Thanks to the painstaking work of executive monks, fruits of large sizes ripened on the branches of the bush, for which they were called a truly royal berry. Since then, they began to make a lot of drinks, fruit drinks, jams and preserves, which have become the favorite dessert of the Russian aristocracy.

The royal name was given due to the fact that in the transparent thick of the syrup, each fruit looked like a precious stone.

In European countries, berries began to be used a little later, around the 13th century. Not only delicious juices were prepared from it, but also sauces, soups, using green fruits for this. There is a great recipe for roasted goose with gooseberry sauce. A little later, we will definitely share the secret of making delicious mashed potatoes. The Germans went further with regard to thorny bushes and used dense thickets as a hedge through which neither man nor animal could pass.

Chemical composition, calorie content of gooseberry

First of all, the false berry is low-calorie. 100 grams of gooseberries contains only 45 kcal, making it an excellent dietary supplement. In addition, the fruits contain:

• flavans;
• anthocyanins;
• vitamins of groups A, C, E, D, B, PP;
• proteins - 0.7 g.;
• fats - 0.2 g.;
• carbohydrates - 9.1 g.;
• water - 84%.

Due to its low calorie content, gooseberries are a good means of resisting excess weight of a person and one of the important components of dietary nutrition. The vitamin complex of the plant, included in the menu of the prescribed diet, eliminates the natural stress from lack of nutrients.

Fiber, which is saturated with gooseberry dietary fiber, cleanses the body of toxic substances in a natural way. And the sweet and sour taste of the berries of the plant allows them to be eaten in large quantities.

Freshly picked and dried berries retain their useful features for a long time.

In addition, gooseberry produces excellent tonic infusions of compotes and decoctions. To obtain the infusion, take two hundred grams of dried berries, pour 500 ml of water. This infusion is used as a prophylactic agent, cleansing and filling with the required components to increase immunity. They also use the infusion when undergoing a dietary course of nutrition.

Low-calorie desserts are made from gooseberries, which are well suited as a snack.

Healing properties

In addition to those listed, gooseberries contain a lot of useful trace elements, minerals, organic acids. For this reason, gooseberries are used to treat:

1. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - eliminates bloating, cramps, nausea, heartburn. Also, the fruits are beneficial for persons suffering from low acidity, gastritis.

2. Due to the content of potassium, berries help to cope with edema, heart rhythm disturbances, vascular diseases.

3. It also contains copper, phosphorus, magnesium, which helps to strengthen nerve fibers, relieve irritability, insomnia, anxiety, fear, etc.

4. Diuretic, choleretic and laxative properties can cleanse the body of toxins, cleanse the liver, biliary tract, urinary system.

5. Juice from berries, preferably red, due to the content of anthocyanins, folic acid, iron is used in the treatment and prevention of anemia, hemorrhages, anemia.

6. Ascorbic acid has an excellent effect on the condition of the skin: eliminates acne, abscesses, swelling, eliminates fine wrinkles.

7. Regular drinking of freshly squeezed juice helps the body get rid of heavy metals, salts, radionucleides.

8. Serotonin, contained in ripe gooseberries, has anti-tumor properties.

9. Magnesium, potassium strengthen the walls of blood vessels, normalize the work of the cardiac and vascular systems.

10. Vitamin C, A, B and other useful elements of gooseberry reduce the intensity of inflammatory processes, strengthen the immune system.

11. The content of coarse fibers, that is, natural fiber, contributes to the prevention of obesity, regulates metabolic processes.,

12. Due to pectin, fruits are included in the composition of a healthy diet. Useful jelly, compotes, light jams to get rid of visceral fat in men.

13. Include in the diet for chronic constipation, colitis.

14. The tanning components of the plant have a wound-healing, hemostatic effect.

15. Carotene and vitamin A strengthen eyesight.

16. The rich composition of the fruits described by us, the content of antioxidants, tannins, carotene promotes rejuvenation, does not allow the aging processes of the body to develop.

17. Unique components eliminate pain during menstrual cycles, minimize hot flashes, hormonal imbalance during menopause.

18. False berry juice with regular application to the skin eliminates dryness, peeling of the skin, makes it velvety, whitens age spots.

The fruits of agrus are indicated for patients with diabetes mellitus, since the components increase the production of the hormone insulin and normalize the level of sugar in the human blood.

What are the benefits for women

The elements that make up the composition have antispasmodic and analgesic properties, have a beneficial effect on the endocrine and nervous systems.

• During menstruation, during menopause, it is necessary to include berries in the diet both in ice cream, dried, and fresh to eliminate bleeding, with severe pain in the lower abdomen.
• A decoction of the stems and leaves helps stop uterine bleeding, which is beneficial for a pregnant woman.
• Regular drinking of infused decoctions from leaves and stems, a cosmetic mask made from fruit gruel help to improve the condition of the skin, hair, improve sleep, eliminate anxiety and irritability, which is also useful for a pregnant woman.

  

Who can eat gooseberry and its derivatives?

Can children eat gooseberries? Yes, of course you can. From 1 year old, you can give children ground gooseberries along with applesauce, but in small portions. Thanks to vitamin C, the child's body is strengthened, fights viral infections, and inflammatory processes are inhibited. Also, a small amount of juice eliminates colic, bloating and cramps in the baby.

Is gooseberry suitable for pregnant women? It is not only possible, but also desirable. The fact is that gooseberries are the leader among fruits in terms of iron content.There is even more of it in berries than in apples. This trace element is responsible for blood formation in the body. During pregnancy, the volume of blood in women doubles. At the same time, the level of hemoglobin decreases. Iron helps to increase blood hemoglobin, protect a woman from toxicosis, anemia and the threat of miscarriage.

It is better for expectant mothers to use green berries, red ones can cause an allergic reaction.

What is the use of gooseberries for men? It is known that the mortality rate of men from cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, stroke) is higher than that of women. Gooseberries are useful in preventing these diseases.

The pectin contained in the berry helps to remove salts of heavy metals and toxic substances from the body. This is useful for purely male workers in metallurgy, chemical industry, coal mining, nuclear scientists.

What are the beneficial properties of frozen gooseberries?

This type of harvesting brings the same benefits to the body as fresh berries. Minerals, pectins and organic acids are retained in fruits that have been deep frozen. They also contain more than half of vitamin C, which is completely lost during cooking. Gooseberries are thawed and eaten fresh, or fruit drinks, compote, jelly are prepared. Berries with all the rich set of trace elements and vitamins are especially useful in the cold season.

Application in cosmetology

The fruits of the shrub, taking into account the obvious benefits, are used in cosmetology in the preparation of various masks. For example, when whitening the skin of the face, removing freckles and pigmentation on the skin, green gooseberries are used. It is recommended to wash your face with fresh juice of green gooseberries several times a day.

Moisturize and nourish the skin using ground green fruits. Gooseberry gruel is applied for thirty minutes with a thin layer on the face. After the specified time, the mass is washed off with lukewarm water.

It is noted that gooseberry removes dark circles under the eyes well. Gruel from the berries is applied for a few minutes at the bottom of the eyes, and then gently, with slightly warm water, is removed. Then, slices of green cucumber, previously soaked in milk, are also imposed for a few minutes. This is done until the dark circles under the eyes disappear.

Contraindications for the use of gooseberries

Gooseberry has no special contraindications.

The use of large quantities of gooseberries in food is harmful to health. As a result, uncontrolled use leads to hypervitaminosis, which requires medical attention.

Due to the acid content, it is not recommended to include it in the diet in large quantities for peptic ulcer disease, exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract - pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastroduodenitis, enterocolitis, peptic ulcer disease, etc. You can not eat berries with diarrhea of ​​various origins and colitis. An obstacle to the use of gooseberry berries is the presence of allergies and individual intolerance.

When eating gooseberry berries within acceptable limits, you can forget about diseases for a long time and strengthen your own health.

It is better for diabetics to give preference to varieties with a sour taste, which contain a minimum amount of sugar.

The benefits of gooseberries for the human body

The healing qualities are due to the incoming ingredients. You can harm if you do not pay attention to the prohibitions for use. The value of a gooseberry is determined by:

• serotonin - improves mood, mental abilities, inhibits the formation of tumors, normalizes blood pressure;
• manganese - improves the functioning of the reproductive system, bone conditions;
• copper - helps to provide tissues with oxygen, stimulate the absorption of proteins;
• iron - is the prevention of anemia;
• magnesium, potassium - support the heart.

The fruits have medicinal properties - hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and diuretic. Gooseberries have been called the "vitamin bomb" due to their vitamin-rich composition. The benefits for the body are achieved due to the beneficial ingredients:

• B vitamins - strengthen blood vessels, promote fluid excretion;
• PP - strengthens the walls of the capillaries, prevents bleeding;
• C - serves to enhance immunity, improves the absorption of iron, fights against vitamin deficiency.

Berries

Shrub fruits are used in folk medicine in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. Benefits from use - gooseberry berries have a diuretic effect, laxative properties, and normalize metabolism. The fruits and fresh juice are used in the treatment of diseases:

• diabetes;
• hypertension;
• venous insufficiency;
• atherosclerosis;
• inflammation of the stomach;
• constipation.

Health harm can be caused in the presence of colitis, peptic ulcer disease due to the high acidity of the product. It is useful to drink tea with berries added. The drink, like fresh juice, is used:

• in the treatment of obesity;
• to normalize the emotional state;
• with heart failure;
• to restore hormonal levels;
• in kidney disease as a diuretic;
• to slow down the aging process;
• in order to strengthen the immune system.

Leaves

Gooseberry - the health benefits and harms of which are approved by medicine, it is recommended to use it as an infusion of leaves to counteract tuberculosis, to cope with fatigue. In dried form, they are part of the collection, have healing properties due to the presence of tannins, salts, acids, vitamins. Use a decoction of the leaves to:

• remove kidney stones;
• relieve inflammation;
• eliminate sclerotic plaques;
• break down fat;
• stop bleeding.

Jam

You can stock up on vitamins for the winter by making delicious jam. The health benefits are obvious, and the harm comes only when consumed in large quantities. Experienced chefs add nuts, cherry leaves, and oranges to the recipe. You can make jam so that more nutrients remain. The recipe requires:

• take unripe fruits - 5 glasses;
• cut off the tails, prick with a toothpick;
• fall asleep in the evening with sugar - 1 kg;
• boil for 5 minutes in the morning;
• repeat the operation in the evening and the next morning;
• while hot, spread over pasteurized jars;
• roll up the lids.

Planting and leaving

Gooseberry is the fruit of a shrub of the Gooseberry family. This is a plant with thorny branches, small in height (up to 1.5 meters). Today in the world there are up to 1500 varieties of this berry, some of them are of natural origin, but the lion's share is bred by experienced breeders. In Russia, the following varieties have become widespread: "English yellow", "Moscow", "Russian".

A plant for a temperate climate, frost-hardy, loving abundant watering and moist soil.

The shrub is planted with small cuttings, seedlings in autumn or early spring, along the perimeter of the garden plot at a distance of 1-1.5 meters from each other. The plant bears fruit 2 years after planting and requires constant care: pruning branches, regular watering. Young bushes are watered with 10 liters of water at the root, without touching the berries and leaves. Adult shrubs need up to 30 liters of water, water as often as possible.

Gardeners successfully grow gooseberries in the southern regions of Russia, where the sun is hot and a special attitude to watering is required. With good care, you can collect 4 - 6 kilograms of berries from a bush

When to pick gooseberries

The gooseberry bush blooms in May, and the fruits ripen in late June - July. The harvest time depends on what the crop will be used for. If you are going to eat fresh berries, it is better to pick them from the bush when they are fully ripe, when they acquire a normal color and size. It is better to collect them in small containers (no more than 2.5 liters) so as not to transfer them. The harvest is stored for no more than 2 days.

If the gooseberry is intended for processing, it must be harvested at the stage of technical maturity (it comes about 10 days earlier than full). The berries still retain their firmness, but they are already acquiring their normal size and color. They can be stored for up to 1 month - provided that the storage site maintains a temperature of 0 ° C. Please note that the harvested fruits do not ripen well.

How to choose the right gooseberry

Gooseberries can be green to purple in color. Taste ranges from sour to sugary sweet. It's all about the grade. The most basic principle of choice is the strength of the berry. It should not be overripe and too soft to the touch.

A very important issue is how to store gooseberries. The berry itself is not stored for a long time. But, the best way of storage is that strong, without damage, berries are washed, dried and placed in a container with a closed lid. Thus, berries can be stored for up to 2 months.

The best gooseberry recipes

The royal berry is widely used in cooking. Jams, preserves are made from it, compotes are closed for the winter. The pectin contained in it contributes to better gelling. The fruits are used to make excellent jelly, confiture, marmalade. Homemade wines, liqueurs, liqueurs are also good.

Due to its low calorie content and the presence of dietary fiber, gooseberries have found a place in dietetics. Due to its high fiber content and sufficient water intake, it affects metabolism and reduces weight. There are gooseberry diets, where it is eaten up to 500 grams. a day along with fermented milk products.

Slimming recipe

Ingredients:

• Gooseberry - 200 gr.;
• Carrots - 150 gr.;
• yogurt (without sugar) - 20 gr.;
• salt - a fine pinch.

1. Rinse the gooseberries and cut the berries in half. 2. Peel the carrots, rinse and grate. 3. Mix carrots and gooseberries in a bowl, add a little salt and season with yogurt. Yogurt can be replaced with 10% sour cream.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the many useful qualities, there are several nuances that you need to know. Gooseberries are prohibited when:

• individual intolerance: there are cases of allergy to the fruits of the plant;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: erosive gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, enterocolitis. Organic acids contained in berries irritate the inflamed mucous membrane and can cause exacerbation;
• with cholecystitis, pancreatitis, liver diseases in the acute stage, gooseberries are strictly prohibited: berries contain a large amount of fiber and glucose. These substances create an unwanted load on the gastrointestinal tract and can cause bloating, upset stools, and intestinal colic.
• urolithiasis: gooseberry has mild diuretic properties and can cause renal colic.
• When asked whether gooseberries can be used for diabetes, doctors do not give a definite answer. If the disease is compensated and blood sugar is kept at the level of 8-10 mmol / l, then a tasty berry can be useful. It contains a relatively small amount of carbohydrates with a sufficient concentration of chromium, which affects carbohydrate metabolism and is able to lower blood glucose levels. If diabetes has a severe course and is poorly compensated for, that is, gooseberries are not recommended, since even a small amount of it can provoke a deterioration in the condition.
• The leaves of the plant have an unpleasant side effect - they reduce blood clotting and promote bleeding. Therefore, it is impossible to carry out treatment with such folk remedies 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after any operation.

Sauces for meat with gooseberries

As we promised, we offer our readers an amazing-tasting gooseberry sauce, served with baked, fried poultry, veal, beef, pork and other meats.

Rinse thoroughly, tear off the tails and dry the gooseberries, you need to take enough to make half a liter of puree in a blender. Pour a teaspoon of coriander, 3 chopped garlic cloves, and an incomplete tablespoon of vinegar into the resulting volume. Season with pepper and salt to taste, add finely chopped basil leaves, mix and serve!

Spicy sauce

It is necessary:

• 500 grams of gooseberries - chop in a meat grinder or blender;
• 200 grams of hot pepper (chili), chop in the same way;
• 50 grams of herbs: basil, mint, oregano, grind;
• Garlic - 200 grams, chop;
• 50 grams of crushed nuts (walnuts);
• Salt to taste. Mix everything thoroughly and serve with meat dishes.

The famous Zvenigorod sauce

Rinse, peel and dry a kilogram of gooseberries, chop, add washed, dried and chopped dill (200 grams), 300 grams of garlic squeezed through a press. Mix and serve with kebabs, roast, fried chicken legs, veal, etc.

If you have not tried the gooseberry sauces, you will be pleasantly surprised. They acquire a beautiful color and amazing aroma. Mixed with a unique sweet and sour, piquant taste, any type of meat will acquire amazing notes.

For the winter, among all the gooseberry preparations, pickled gooseberries are a particularly tasty roll. In winter, you can serve it as part of a complex garnish for meat dishes or separately in a salad bowl. To prepare it, we need:

• fruits on a half liter jar;
• pepper (allspice) - 2 pcs.;
• pepper (black) - 2 pcs.;
• garlic - 8 teeth;
• cloves - 2 pcs.;
• lavrushka - 1 pc.;
• vinegar (9%) - 2 tablespoons. spoons;
• salt - 1 table. the spoon;
• sugar (sand) - 3 tablespoons. spoons;
• half a liter of water.

Mix water with vinegar and pour the listed ingredients into a half liter jar, close the lid tightly, store in a dark, cool place.

Berry gruel removes dark circles under the eyes. To do this, apply mashed potatoes under the eyes for 10 minutes, then replace with mugs of fresh cucumbers, previously soaked in milk.

The absence of side effects, a minimum of contraindications really justifies one of the names of the gooseberry - the royal berry. Regular consumption will bring not only physical but also mental health. The composition of the berries contains components that activate the brain, enhance the production of hormones of joy and pleasure. Eat gooseberries and be healthy!

Making gooseberry juice

It can be used as a medicine and simply drunk for pleasure. To get the maximum amount of gooseberry juice, the berries must be heated. They are washed, cut into small pieces, put in a bowl and put on the fire, bringing them almost to a boil.

To prepare natural juice, washed berries are passed through a meat grinder with a fine grate, placed in an enamel bowl, water (100 ml per 1 kg of berries) is added, put on low heat, kept at a temperature of 70 C for 20-25 minutes. Then the juice is squeezed out, defended for 2-3 hours, filtered, heated to a boil and poured into hot sterilized jars, sealed, turned over and slowly cooled.

If you have a juicer, you can get gooseberry juice without any problems. With its help, sand is removed from the kidneys and bladder quite successfully. If you dilute the juice with honey, you get an excellent remedy for a sore throat.

To obtain five liters of juice, ten kilograms of berries are required.

Gooseberry decoction (a tablespoon of ripe soft berries in a glass of boiling water, hold on a low heat for 10 minutes) is used as a laxative. You need to drink such a decoction of 100 ml 4 times a day.

Outwardly, with this decoction, which relieves pain, itching and inflammatory reaction, you can make lotions for erysipelas, burns of poisonous plants.