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Why are black currant leaves useful?
Why are black currant leaves useful?

Video: Why are black currant leaves useful?

Video: Why are black currant leaves useful?
Video: Ферментация листьев смородины - отзыв. Fermentation of black currant leaves. 2024, March
Anonim

Black currant has special medicinal properties. 100 g of berries covers almost 260% of the daily requirement for vitamin C.

In official and folk medicine, berries and leaves are used for respiratory tract infections, arthritis and rheumatism. They can also be used as a hair loss aid and even as compresses after insect bites.

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Beneficial features

The leaves of black currant (Latin Ribes nigrum) have a large list of useful properties. There are almost no contraindications. In folk medicine, berries are used for angina and other upper respiratory tract infections, arthritis and rheumatism. At the same time, black currant juice helps in the treatment of migraines, gastrointestinal diseases and general exhaustion.

With a minimum of contraindications, there are plenty of useful properties in the leaves and berries of black currant. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it supports the immune system, digestion and cellular health. They receive effective protection. Thus, their aging is delayed.

Black currant is the richest variety in vitamins and minerals, a source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). A handful of these berries is enough to easily cover your daily need. They help with indigestion and constipation, because, thanks to the pectin content, they regulate intestinal motility.

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It is also recommended for those who are losing weight, since currants heals the digestive system, cleanses the body of toxins and supports liver function. Berries are eaten on an empty stomach, because it stimulates the appetite. You can eat it an hour after eating, in this case digestion improves.

The fruits contain tannins and ferrous iron, which is better absorbed. This is good information for those looking to naturally strengthen their heart and circulatory system. Currants are diuretic, so they can help prevent kidney stones.

Traditionally, French herbalists have used both the roots and leaves of black currant to relieve inflammation associated with rheumatic diseases. For various rashes and skin diseases, baths are used based on a decoction of currant leaves. This procedure stimulates the adrenal cortex.

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Rich source of antioxidants

Allergy is the only contraindication to admission. Blackcurrant leaves have much more useful properties. They, like fruits, contain a large group of flavonoids that inhibit the formation of toxic compounds leading to cancer and slow down the aging process.

In addition, they lower blood cholesterol levels, inhibit the development of atherosclerosis, and stabilize blood pressure.

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Flavonoids also have a cleansing effect, as they are able to form compounds with heavy metals. Thus, they facilitate their excretion from the body. The flavonoids found in black currants are catechins, epicatechins, procyanidins, kaempferol, and myricetin.

However, the specific health promoting properties are provided by three other compounds, namely:

  1. Anthocyanins. Found in blackcurrant skins, they are antibacterial agents that effectively fight the E. coli strain. Its presence is the cause of stomach problems.
  2. Routine - facilitates the assimilation of vitamin C, has strengthening properties in relation to the vascular endothelium. Thus, it prevents bleeding (petechiae) and varicose veins.
  3. Quercetinwhich has diuretic properties. This substance also works as an anti-allergic agent.

The second group of compounds responsible for the antioxidant properties of black currant are phenolic acids. They have anticoagulant, anti-infarction and anti-inflammatory properties and inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.

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Cooking applications

People who suffer from excessive appetite should be careful: currants can further stimulate it. Try not to serve currants with cream and sugar - this way you will provide yourself with a lot of empty calories.

The leaves are used to decorate desserts and cakes. The berries are eaten raw or canned. You can make juices, jams, jellies, syrups, compotes, wines from them.

In Scandinavia, currants are used to make fruit soups and puddings, while in Germany they are often added to meringues or tart. Currant-based syrup is also very popular here, which, when combined with soda water, provides a refreshing drink.

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Reducing cholesterol and blood sugar

Antioxidants aren't the only ones that normalize cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Currants contain a lot of soluble fiber - pectins, which prevent hypercholesterolemia (increased cholesterol levels) and hyperglycemia (excessive blood glucose). This is due to the fact that pectins reduce the absorption of "harmful" fats and sugars by the body.

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Benefits for the eyes

If you have no contraindications to use, you can use the beneficial properties of black currant leaves "to the fullest". Moreover, this plant is a rich source of vitamin A.

100 g of fresh berries contain 230 IU of this compound, which helps to stop the development of many eye diseases, such as cataracts. There are no less of them in the foliage.

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Black currant leaves: beneficial effects

According to the recipes of traditional medicine, black currant leaves are applied to hard-to-heal wounds. They are also a natural remedy for insect bites such as mosquitoes. It is enough to crush the black currant leaves and rub the affected area.

The leaves contain phytoncides, which have bactericidal, antiviral and fungicidal activity, as well as tannins, which have anti-inflammatory and astringent effects on the skin. In addition, flavonoids, small amounts of essential oils, organic acids and vitamin C can be found in the leaves of these berries, which also speeds up the healing process of the skin.

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It is worth noting the ban on the use of the product for people with gastrointestinal tract pathologies in the acute stage, speaking of contraindications. The beneficial properties of black currant leaves can be actively used after the onset of remission.

The tannins in the plant have an astringent effect on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and inhibit the development of gastrointestinal microbes (for example, E. coli bacteria), therefore they can be used, for example, for diarrhea, as well as for a nervous stomach, gastrointestinal diseases path and liver problems. In turn, the phytoncides contained in currant leaves prevent urinary tract infections.

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Infusion of black currant leaves - recipe

The recipe for infusion of black currant leaves for diseases of the urinary tract is as follows:

  1. Pour a large teaspoon of currant leaves into a glass and cover with boiling water.
  2. Leave covered for 10 minutes. Then strain.
  3. Drink the infusion 2-3 times a day, 1 glass.

In official medicine, dried black currant leaves are used. They are often mixed with other diuretic herbs such as horsetail, nettle, birch leaves, lingonberry, and calamus root. Then it is brewed at the rate of 1 cup of boiling water per 1 tablespoon of the mixture.

Bonus

Based on the above, we can state the following:

  1. Blackcurrant leaves, like berries, are a rich source of antioxidants.
  2. They have antibacterial activity and are effective against the E. coli variety.

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