Is it possible to eat raw cranberries? Are cranberries good for you? Composition and calorie content of cranberries

Cranberry berries are one of the few products that can retain their healing properties and vitamin value for about six months. Of course, it is not “winter”, because at this time the berries do not seem to grow, with the “exception of the red viburnum”, which sometimes “burns in the garden”, but it is during this cold period that we are so lacking in these very vitamins, so In the article we will look at some myths about this berry, what health benefits and harms of cranberries should make us “prettier”:

• Additional source vitamins with microelements, a small amount of these berries acts as this source of vitamins, these are carotenoids (provitamin A), like a rare vitamin PP called nicotinic acid, the classics - vitamin C, E, vitamins of the classical group B1, 2, 5, 6, vitamin Well, there is no less of it in cranberries than in cabbage. In addition to all this, the northern berry contains trace elements - iron, molybdenum, copper, manganese, iodine, magnesium, without which the most important body functions do not work well, as well as zinc, nickel, cobalt.

• Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. The consumption of cranberries will be quite useful for some inflammatory diseases, since it contains many biologically active compounds, these are organic acids (citric, malic, benzoic, quinic, ursulic, etc.); bioflavonoids (polyphenols, catechins, proanthocyanidins). Cranberries by themselves do not contain that much vitamin C, but in combination with the action of flavonoids, the effect of this natural ascorbic acid with the flavonoids themselves will be greatly enhanced due to the onset of the so-called synergistic effect. And the proantacids contained in cranberries give this berry antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which determines its use for infections or some inflammatory diseases of our urinary tract. Drinking various fruit drinks, infusions based on cranberry juice for viral infections, acute respiratory infections, of course, in combination with the prescribed treatment, will also be useful. It is also believed that cranberry juice has some immunomodulatory effects.

• Antioxidant properties cranberries The anthocyanins, cahetins, and betanins contained in cranberries, when included in the diet, help remove free radicals from the body, have a positive effect on the body’s metabolism as a whole, and these substances also fight cell aging. There are also opinions that cranberries also have hepatoprotective properties, that is, they can “greatly” help the liver perform its most important functions, improve cholesterol metabolism, and it also seems to have an anti-carcinogenic effect.

• Counteracts radiation and heavy metal poisoning. The substance pectin, contained specifically in cranberries, is very useful for people in environments contaminated with radionuclides, as well as those in contact with heavy metals and their salts.

• Long term storage Cranberries, unlike other berries and fruits, retain all the beneficial substances until the end of winter and beyond, due to the presence of a natural preservative that has a high concentration - benzoic acid. Freezing will also be an excellent way to preserve cranberry properties, because it is no coincidence that they are picked when the first frost occurs. Previously, cranberries were stored in water, in barrels, preserving all their taste and beneficial properties until spring.

Cranberries inside and out. How can you use cranberries?

• Morse. For the drink to be healthy, it must be prepared correctly. First, we rub the berries to obtain juice, then we need to boil the cake, which remains after squeezing the juice, then we strain the broth, add honey or sugar to taste, after the broth has cooled, it needs to be mixed with cranberry juice. In the absence of contraindications, in the fall and winter, freshly prepared cranberry juice, 2 glasses each, will be an excellent prevention of acute respiratory infections, and even to some extent a tonic. Do not forget that sugary drinks are contraindicated for “diabetics” and overweight individuals. Also, existing problems in the gastrointestinal tract (high acidity, classics of the genre - gastritis, also ulcers) require careful use of fresh cranberry juice so as not to provoke any exacerbations.

• Dessert. You need to chop cranberries with walnuts, here you need to experiment, start with 50x50, add sugar or honey, mix, the resulting mixture will be an excellent alternative to regular sweets.

• Masks. Using pure cranberry juice can have a healing effect on the skin; cranberries are used in cosmetology, as masks, for example. Mix cranberry juice with oatmeal and apply to your face only if your skin is oily, and since the mask has some antibacterial properties, it can also be used for acne or inflammatory manifestations.

By the way, in addition to the usual “forest-grown” cranberries, there are also garden cranberries on sale – a berry that is larger than a forest cranberry and has slightly different properties. Many experts recommend eating wild cranberries, which grow in small bushes and have mycorrhizal mycelium on the roots, through which the berry receives nutrients. It is generally accepted that wild berries have a richer content of vitamins and biologically active substances.

Myth about the harm and benefits of cranberries. Is it always useful?

With the beginning of autumn, the time begins for probably the most famous berry in Rus' - cranberry, and absolutely fantastic properties are attributed to it. Well, we learned about the reasons to eat cranberries every day, but what myths are there about the dangers and benefits of cranberries? If the benefits of a product are talked about, then they refer to some Scientific research and tests.

From experience

Actually, according to food products natural origin, as a rule, serious scientific research is not carried out due to their high cost and, secondly, due to the lack of interest in them among the interested “characters”, because they are usually pharmaceutical companies, which are not at all “camilleaux” of promotion to the market of “cranberry drugs”, and cranberry is unlikely to have such “lobbyists” among drug manufacturers.

Therefore, all kinds of healing properties of cranberry are described on the basis of laboratory studies and analyzes of its composition, and, of course, from personal experience. Cranberries are unique in that, as mentioned above, they contain “too much” vitamins and microelements, organic acids, sugars, fructose, tannins, pectins, etc. So it turns out that cranberries do not save you from ulcers, gastritis or caries, as promised by some learned minds. Regarding treatment, until recently, cranberry was actually used for the treatment of existing gastritis with high acidity, when the therapeutic effects of the berry are based on increasing the pH of gastric juice “in accordance” with the organic acids it contains.

But today, “gastritis sufferers” are no longer prescribed strict diets, which imply the complete exclusion of anything spicy or sour foods, because now the treatment tactic is to detect the classic bacterium Chylcobacter pylori and prescribe medications to destroy it. This, of course, does not mean that such patients can calmly and freely drink alcohol and consume it with fat, and in order to prescribe treatment now, data on the existing acidity (Ph) of gastric juice in principle are not required and cranberry fruit drinks are not prohibited, but treatment with their help is also not prohibited is also not carried out.

To “treat” gastric ulcer with the notorious duodenal ulcer, cranberries are not used because of the same factor – the property of increasing the acidity of gastric juice, which provokes an exacerbation of the disease. As for caries, the situation is the same; brushing teeth is, in principle, recommended after every meal, since today the most effective prevention of caries is mechanical cleaning of our oral cavities.

Not an antibiotic but maybe…

If the body has a high resistance to infection, and the number of microbes in food is small, then by consuming cranberries it is quite possible to prevent the development of an intestinal infection, this possibility is explained by the high content of the mentioned organic acids– benzoin, citric, malic and tannins. It is also very good to take cranberries as an antipyretic for colds, since vitamin C contributes to this reduction in temperature with an increase in the body’s protective reactions. Added to this is the fact that cranberry is a diuretic, in the form of an addition to uroseptics, but not instead of them.

Some American researchers claim that 2-3 glasses of cranberry juice daily can increase good cholesterol levels in the blood. That's kind of it. With regular consumption of cranberry juice, the probability of preventing the notorious atherosclerosis is actually quite high, and this is exactly what we are talking about if we are talking about increasing the level of so-called good cholesterol. Just to fulfill this recommendation of 2 – 3 glasses, you would need to have an “iron stomach” in stock.

After all, people, for the most part, consuming cranberry juice will quickly develop problems with the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, etc. To benefit, it will be enough to drink cranberry juice 2-3 times a week and 1 glass each, 180 milliliters, this is when there is no availability chronic diseases in this very gastrointestinal tract.

Swamp Doctor cranberry - berry

Well, we found out that cranberry juice is a wonderful antiviral remedy because: 1 - cranberries have an unknown antipyretic effect, 2 - cranberries quench thirst well, 3 - with the help of this berry they are removed from the body toxins that accumulate in abundance during colds. Cranberry juice mixed with honey has long been used to help cough up sore throats and boost immunity in order to “save” from the next flu or cold.

Even those who rarely miss work due to a cough or runny nose should drink more cranberry juice, because a couple of glasses a day will return a good mood and reduce fatigue, even if the day was the most stressful. It will also contribute to your career, because drinking cranberry juice increases brain activity and increases your ability to work.

"People" who are inclined to high blood pressure, “must” be sure to use cranberries in your menu. As was said above, cranberries with their diuretic effect can reduce blood pressure, the most important thing here is that, unlike diuretic drugs, it does not wash away beneficial potassium from our body, which greatly helps strengthen our blood vessels. Considering that cranberries also lower “bad” cholesterol, the gifts of autumn are an absolutely indispensable berry for heart patients, and they also successfully replace table salt, which is limited in cases of heart disease, vascular diseases, and excess weight problems.

In general, not only heart patients with hypertension should “fall in love” with cranberries, this sour berry can protect yourself from the notorious cystitis, which is the most unpleasant companion of cold weather, because the properties contained in cranberries prevent bacteria from attaching to the internal surfaces of the urinary tract, so it turns out – no bacteria – no infection either, which means that if someone often suffers from cystitis, a daily glass of cranberry juice should be consumed to eliminate the above problems.

Often the cause of cystitis with other urological diseases is E. coli, which is also a cause of infection, but fortunately it is the one “in the whole wide world” that is most afraid of cranberries, so this berry is often recommended in the treatment of some intestinal disorders in the stomach.

When our stomach, for some reason, goes on strike, we need to pour a couple or three tablespoons of cranberries into two glasses of water, hot of course, and boil for 10 minutes over low heat, cool, filter and drink ½ glass a day, 4 times One limitation, as was said, cranberries are not very suitable for people with elevated stomach pH, ​​cranberry juice may well cause an exacerbation of peptic ulcers, gastritis with increased gastric secretions. For skin diseases, cranberry juice, as a compress, can also help in getting rid of skin inflammation, rashes, itching, eczema, etc. and cranberry juice also helps in healing wounds.

This is interesting. The Latin name for cranberry is a berry of Greek origin, “oxis” in translation means sour and “cocus”, that is, spherical, literally translated like sour ball. Cranberries differ from other berry bushes in their longevity; some “cranberries” can live up to 100 years or more.

Which cranberries are healthier – small or large-fruited ones, or maybe frozen cranberries? How to store them correctly, see the video below.

Cranberries are rightfully considered one of the healthiest berries. Despite its small size, it has a lot of substances essential for humans. The berry has a sour taste, so not everyone can consume it in its pure form. It is best to make delicious cranberry juice from it.

This drink will perfectly quench your thirst and improve your health. But do not forget that it can be not only beneficial, but also harmful, so before using it you need to familiarize yourself with all its properties.

Chemical composition This berry contains more than 25 valuable elements. Among them are manganese, iodine, nickel, copper, boron, cobalt, zinc, iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamins A, C, B and other useful substances. Their benefits to human health are invaluable.

For example, a sufficiently high concentration of manganese supports immune system body, normalizes the digestive process, promotes the absorption of vitamins C, B, E, improves memory and brain function. Cobalt is involved in the digestion process, is responsible for the proper functioning of the endocrine and nervous system.

Mors will help cleanse the body of heavy metal salts accumulated in it. This property is due to its fairly high pectin content. In addition, this substance has an excellent bactericidal effect.

The small berry contains triterpene acids (ursolic and oleanolic) and organic (oxalic and quinic, citric, benzoic, malic).

Beneficial features

Regular consumption of cranberry drink increases vitality and helps cope with the following diseases:

• Hypertension. Cranberries contain a fairly large amount of flavonoids, which give a good diuretic effect. Thanks to this, blood pressure decreases and swelling decreases. It is worth noting that the diuretic effect of cranberries is not accompanied by the leaching of potassium from the body, which is so beneficial for blood vessels.
• Viral infections. Cranberry decoction is useful for elevated body temperature. It helps to cope with pathogenic bacteria that contribute to the development of otitis media, sore throat and respiratory diseases. In addition, cranberries have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect. And the vitamin C it contains boosts immunity and helps the body cope with the disease faster.
• Various heart diseases. In this case, the benefits of the decoction are due to the polyphenols it contains. These substances can bring cholesterol levels in the blood back to normal and stimulate the proper functioning of the heart muscle. The composition of the berry has a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels, increases the strength and elasticity of the walls of blood capillaries. Drinking the drink helps prevent the occurrence of coronary disease, atherosclerosis, and stroke.
• Some diseases of the digestive organs. This decoction allows you to increase the production of gastric juice. It effectively fights inflammatory processes and bacteria that cause destruction of the gastric mucosa, diseases of the pancreas, and helps increase appetite. The berry is used exclusively for preventive purposes.
• The sour berry will protect you from cystitis - a constant companion of cold weather. Antioxidants prevent bacteria from gaining a foothold on the walls of the urinary tract and quickly remove them from the body. In case of hypothermia, a glass of warm cranberry juice will prevent the development of the inflammatory process.

In addition, cranberry juice lifts your mood, relieves fatigue after a busy day, improves sleep, increases brain activity and productivity.

Why is cranberry juice dangerous?

• Gastritis, stomach ulcers and duodenum, increased acidity of the body. Eating cranberries can only aggravate the course of diseases.
• Reduced blood pressure. Since cranberry juice can lower blood pressure, it is not recommended for people suffering from hypotension.
• Individual intolerance. Drinking cranberry infusion can cause a severe allergic reaction. People with acute liver diseases and a tendency to heartburn should not consume cranberries. Cranberries are contraindicated during lactation, as well as for children under three years of age.
• The presence of guipuric acid in the berry enhances the effect of medications. Therefore, before taking cranberry juice in medicinal purposes You should consult your doctor.

How to drink fruit juice correctly

In order to get the maximum benefit from this drink and not cause harm to your health, you need to drink it correctly. To do this, you should follow simple recommendations:

• Do not drink cranberry juice on an empty stomach. The organic acids contained in the berry can cause problems.
• In order to preserve tooth enamel after drinking cranberry broth, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean water.
• Do not exceed the daily allowance. You can drink no more than three glasses of fruit drink per day. IN otherwise you can cause diarrhea and digestive problems.
• You should not use packaged fruit drinks from the store. As a rule, they contain a large amount of sweeteners. They not only increase the calorie content of the drink, but can also provoke an allergic reaction. Choose products only from trusted manufacturers.

Properly prepared cranberry juice is extremely tasty and healthy drink. Consuming it will help you recharge your batteries and get rid of many health problems.

Methods for storing cranberries

Benzoic acid is an excellent natural antiseptic and preservative. Its presence allows you to store berries for a long time without adding preservatives and heat treatment, it is she who stops the development of bacteria in fruits.

To treat colds in winter time and preparing cranberry juice without losing its beneficial properties, you can store the berries fresh, soaked, grated and frozen.

• Fresh berries are sorted, twigs, leaves, and spoiled fruits are removed. Do not wash, place in wooden boxes in a well-ventilated, dark and cool place. The shelf life in this form is no more than 3 months.
• Soaked berries become somewhat watery, but this does not affect their beneficial properties. Rinse the berries and place in glass jars, bottles or enamel dishes, boil water, cool at room temperature and then pour into containers. Store in the refrigerator until the next harvest.
• The simplest and most common way to store berries is freezing. Sort the fruits, wash and dry. Pack dry berries into freezer bags in portions for one-time use. Re-freezing is excluded.
• Those with a sweet tooth will love the method of grinding with sugar. Washed ripe fruits are mixed with granulated sugar in a 1:1 ratio and crushed in a blender, food processor or passed through a meat grinder. Place the resulting mixture in a glass container, cover with plastic lids and store in the refrigerator.

It is not recommended to store the berries of the last harvest after the snow melts, but to use them immediately, as they quickly lose their beneficial features.

Cranberry is a valuable natural pantry product, which, along with its beneficial properties, also has contraindications. Therefore, before consuming cranberry juice and other products containing it, it is worth considering what benefits and harm it can bring.

photo: depositphotos.com/bhofack2, Is992007

Why the familiar cranberry is useful and how it can be used for health benefits, recalled dietitian of the Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Candidate of Medical Sciences Tatyana Solntseva.

An additional source of many vitamins and microelements. A small amount of berries serves as an additional source of vitamins - carotenoids (provitamin A), vitamin C, PP (nicotinic acid), E, ​​group B (namely B1, B2, B5, B6), vitamin K, which is present in cranberries in no less quantity than in green cabbage. In addition, the northern berry contains important trace elements such as iron, manganese, molybdenum, copper, it contains iodine, magnesium, which takes part in ensuring the most important functions of the body, as well as cobalt, nickel, zinc.

Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. Eating cranberries for inflammatory diseases will be beneficial. Cranberries contain many biologically active compounds - organic acids (benzoic, quinic, citric, ursulic, malic and others), bioflavonoids: proanthocyanidins, catechins, polyphenols. And although cranberry itself is not the richest source of vitamin C, when combined with flavonoids, the effect of natural “ascorbic acid” and the flavonoids themselves on the body is enhanced, as a result of the so-called synergistic effect. Due to the content of proanthocyanidins, cranberries have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, which led to their use for infections and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. It is useful to consume fruit drinks and drinks based on cranberry juice for viral infections and respiratory diseases in combination with the prescribed treatment. Along with this, it is believed that cranberry juice has some immunostimulating effects.

Antioxidant properties of cranberries. Due to the content of substances such as anthocyanins, betaine, catechins, the inclusion of cranberries in the diet can help remove free radicals, have a positive effect on metabolism in general, and fight cell aging. It is believed that cranberries have hepatoprotective properties, that is, they promote the performance of essential liver functions, improve cholesterol metabolism, and also have an anti-carcinogenic effect.

Counteracting radiation and heavy metal poisoning. Cranberry pectins are very useful for people who are in an environment contaminated with radionuclides and have contact with heavy metals.

Long shelf life. Cranberries, unlike other domestic berries and fruits, retain all their beneficial substances during storage until the end of winter due to the presence of a natural preservative - benzoic acid in a fairly high concentration. Cranberries keep well frozen. It is no coincidence that cranberries are harvested even during the first frost. Previously, this berry was stored in barrels of water, perfectly preserving all the flavors and useful qualities until spring.

Both inside and outside

How can you eat cranberries?

Morse. To make the drink healthier, it needs to be prepared correctly. First, puree the cranberries to extract the juice. Then boil the cake remaining after squeezing the juice. Strain, add sugar or honey to taste. And when the broth has cooled, mix it with cranberry juice.

If there are no contraindications, then 2 glasses of freshly prepared cranberry juice per day in autumn and winter is an excellent prevention of respiratory diseases and viral infections that are transmitted by airborne droplets. By the way, it is even a tonic to some extent.

It should be remembered that drinks with added sugar are contraindicated for people with diabetes and overweight bodies. It is also necessary to drink drinks based on fresh cranberry juice with caution if you have diseases. gastrointestinal tract(ulcer, gastritis with increased acidity), so as not to provoke exacerbations.

Dessert. Take cranberries and walnuts, chop, add a little sugar or honey, mix. It will be a great alternative to regular sweets for tea or coffee.

Masks. Pure cranberry juice has a healing effect on the skin. Therefore, cranberries are used in cosmetology in the form of masks, for example. You can mix cranberry juice with oatmeal and apply to oily skin faces. Since it has antibacterial properties, it can be usefully used for inflammatory skin conditions and acne.

Nowadays, in stores and markets, along with ordinary forest cranberries, you can find garden cranberries. The latter is larger. In properties they are very close to each other. And yet, many experts recommend eating wild berries. Wild cranberries grow as small bushes. In its roots there is a mycorrhiza mycelium, thanks to this mycelium the cranberry receives nutrients. It is believed that wild berries are richer in vitamins and biologically active substances.

Good afternoon, my dear readers! There are interesting corners of nature in central Russia or Belarus. They can be called reserved.

If you talk, for example, with the Vyatichi living in the cities of Kirov and Kotelnich, with the Mari and Mordvins who live side by side with their fellow villagers in the Vyatka villages, they will proudly tell you what rich forests, fields, and lakes they have.

And they will certainly tell you what rich crops of cranberries have grown on the local peat bogs. This unusually healthy and aromatic berry has always helped people both in times of peace and in times of war.

And not only in the Russian outback, residents were so smart that they chose cranberries as the queen of berries. Suffice it to remember that in the 19th century, Poland, Canada, snow-covered Scandinavia and Belarus began for the first time to grow an excellent savior from thousands of diseases, and to plant special plantations with cranberries.

Note to enthusiasts: Any city resident can grow cranberries on their balcony in peat pots! You just need to create for the plant not just a damp, but a very humid environment.

How many calories are in cranberries?

If you are watching your weight, then you should definitely include this berry in your diet. Since in 100 gr. cranberries contain only 30 calories.

How many cranberries can you eat per day?

Cranberries are a very sour berry, you can’t eat a lot of them, but according to doctors, the daily norm per day is a glass of fresh cranberries or 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries, or one glass of fresh cranberry juice.

On a note! Cranberries are digested in the human body for two hours and thirty minutes.

Cranberries: composition

The world-famous berry is undoubtedly a treasure trove of a large number of vitamin complexes and minerals necessary for health. The main thing is that it contains an infinite amount of vitamin C, and this is already a big plus. It also contains: vitamins K, A, B vitamins, iron, manganese, iodine, calcium, sodium, zinc, potassium.

Cranberries for the human body

Beneficial properties of cranberries for the human body

The results of scientific laboratory tests conducted both in our country and in other countries make it possible to assert: the cranberry, which has a well-deserved reputation as a universal healer, performs many functions in the body:

1. Corrects the acid-base balance of the blood.

2. Eliminates muscle pain caused by vascular spasms.

3. Strengthens weakened intestinal activity, that is, the berry has a mild cleansing property.

4. Maintains normal blood pressure levels, which is useful for hypertensive patients.

5. If the body is polluted, cranberries will help eliminate excess toxins from it.

6. Prevents anemia as it contains quite a lot of natural iron.

7. Increases the body's hardening.

8. Improves the service of the central and peripheral nervous system.

9. Vitamin C has always been considered a guarantor wellness, allowed tired skin and body cells to regenerate, helped reduce cholesterol, and eliminated the lack of vitamins.

10. The amino acids found in this berry provide tissues with energy, help absorb vitamins and minerals necessary for health, assist in the coordinated functioning of the brain, speed up the synthesis of protein compounds by stimulating the secretion of the hormone insulin, and burn fat.

11. Tyrosine, which belongs to the class of non-essential protein compositions, takes a fairly active part in regulating good mood.

Morse and cranberry jam

Medicinal properties of cranberries

The most useful berries are those picked in September. Cranberry is a natural antioxidant.

1. Cranberries contain many vitamins and organic acids that successfully fight germs, viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it helps in the treatment of many diseases, especially during flu epidemics.

2. Cranberries contain beneficial substances that nourish the brain, nervous system and muscle tissue.

3. Northern berry regulates the composition of cholesterol in the blood, so it prevents heart attacks, strokes and atherosclerosis.

4. Cranberry strengthens the immune system and blood vessels, and can resolve swelling.

5. Berries are useful for diabetics, kidney and bladder diseases.

6. The healthy berry is used when gums or joints become ill. Eating cranberries prevents tooth decay. Cranberries will improve the health of adults and children. It will strengthen the immune system for a healthy person, and help a sick person get better.

Benefits of cranberries for women's health

1. Vitamins A and E are used to eliminate signs of premature aging, to lighten the skin, and for various cosmetic masks.

2. Alanine provides the brain and body and muscles with strength, enhances muscle strength, will help women during menopause fight hot flashes, and relieves symptoms of lethargy.

3. Sour berries can delay the onset of skin aging. They prevent the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Masks for facial skin care are prepared from fresh berries. They smooth out wrinkles, remove pimples, and lighten age spots.

4. Fresh cranberry juice contains substances that kill pathogenic microorganisms faster than antibiotics. Thus, the sour berry prevents the development of urinary tract diseases. It cleanses the lining of the bladder from bacteria. Drinking ¼ glass of juice daily is enough.

Cranberry for pregnant women

Can pregnant women eat cranberries?

Pregnant women are not only allowed to give cranberries, but even necessary.

1. Folic acid, which is part of cranberries, prevents the development of defects in the baby.

2. Eating cranberries alleviates the troubles of toxicosis in a woman.

3. A pregnant woman often has problems with the stomach and intestines. Northern berry helps to cope with them too.

4. Cranberry acts as a diuretic; it gently cleanses the kidneys, thereby eliminating swelling.

5. The sour berry strengthens the membranes of blood vessels. Nutrients are supplied to the fetus through the umbilical cord. If the vessels are healthy, then the baby will receive enough nutrition. This contributes to its proper development.

6. Cranberries contain a large amount of useful substances and vitamins, they have a beneficial effect on the immune system. This is very necessary for a pregnant woman, because she needs to protect herself from diseases for two.

7. Northern berry lowers the amount of cholesterol and prevents the appearance of cholesterol plaques.

8. Eating cranberries serves as a prevention against heart attack and stroke.

9. For a woman carrying a child, cranberries will benefit her and her baby, but she should consult a doctor. A pregnant woman can eat about 15 berries daily.

Recipe for cranberry juice for pregnant women

Preparing fruit juice for a pregnant woman. You will have to squeeze the juice out of fresh berries, dilute the cake with water and put it on the stove. When the water boils, remove the container from the stove, cool the liquid and filter. Then add the squeezed juice to the broth. You can improve the quality of fruit drink with sugar or honey. You are allowed to drink a couple of glasses throughout the day, no more.

To prepare fruit juice you need 1 liter of water, a little more than half a glass of berries and less than half a glass of sugar. Mors will help cope with colds, strengthen the body, and should be drunk warm.

However, if a woman is diagnosed with gastritis, enterocolitis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, then cranberries should not be consumed. If your blood pressure is low, cranberries should be consumed with caution. This happens in the first 3 months of pregnancy.

An allergic reaction to sour berries is also an obstacle to its consumption. The allergy manifests itself in the form of a minor rash. In severe cases, the woman experiences difficulty breathing. Then cranberries should be urgently excluded from her diet.

Cranberry: beneficial properties for men

Men often suffer from prostatitis and prostate adenoma. Thanks to the content of useful substances, the northern berry will help him cope with these diseases.

1. Vitamin K, penetrating into the cell, reduces inflammation, resolves swelling, so urination is normalized and libido in men increases.

2. Sodium and potassium relieve inflammation in the prostate gland and bladder. These two elements cleanse the genitourinary system of toxins and waste.

3. B vitamins reduce anxiety and stressful state, improve sleep.

Cranberries for children, from what age?

1. If the baby is being fed breast milk, then cranberries are allowed to be consumed from 8 months, after he has tried cereals and vegetables.

2. When formula is used to feed a baby, cranberries are included in the baby’s menu a month earlier.

3. But cranberry syrups and fresh berries can be fed after 3 years. For the first intake of sour berries, half a dessert spoon of cranberry puree or fruit juice is enough.

Cranberry juice recipe for children

Squeeze juice from half a kilogram of cranberries. Dilute the cake in one and a half liters of water and cook for 10 minutes. Filter the broth, cool and mix with squeezed juice. You can drink 10 ml daily. per 1 kg of baby's weight.

Cranberries with honey

Cranberries with honey: beneficial properties and contraindications

Method 1. The ground berries are mixed with beet juice and heated honey in equal proportions. The composition is left for 3-5 days in a dark, cool room in a tightly sealed container, which must be shaken daily.

Then the drink is filtered and drunk in 50-60 ml. at least 3 times daily. The drink helps in the treatment of throat and colds.

Method 2. You can simply crush the berries with a wooden mortar and add honey to taste. The mixture is thoroughly mixed. To treat the throat, a spoonful of the mixture is placed in the mouth, first dissolved, then swallowed.

This medicine should not be consumed if you are allergic to honey.

Dried cranberries: benefits

1. Dried berries neutralize damage from free radicals.

2. Increases physical endurance and increases appetite.

3. Cranberry normalizes blood clotting and is useful for mental activity.

4. Improves the function of the digestive organs.

5. Normalizes stomach acidity if it is low.

6. Cleanses the body of harmful viruses and microbes.

7. Dried cranberries are used to prevent dandruff and soften hair.

Cranberry: contraindications

Eating cranberries is good for your health, but not everyone can eat them.

1. People with gastritis, ulcers, high acidity of the stomach and liver disease should not eat it.

2. Sour cranberry juice has a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. You should drink cranberry juice through a straw or rinse your mouth with water.

But after heat treatment, everyone can eat cranberries.

During the winter cold weather the body needs vitamin support. A lack of vitamin C causes fatigue, nervousness, and decreased immunity. Everyone makes up for the lack of vitamin C in the body in their own way: with vitamin complexes or fruits.

But it is enough to include it in your daily diet cranberries, and you will forget this constant craving for sour things, your body will be glad to receive a full vitamin replenishment in a living natural way. In addition, cranberries have a number of invaluable medicinal properties and are simply unique in their composition.

Composition and properties of cranberries

In addition to vitamin C cranberries contains vitamins PP, K, E, A, group B. Cranberries are rich in microelements: calcium, iodine, iron, phosphorus, manganese. The high potassium content in cranberries is beneficial for the functioning of the heart muscle and the normal functioning of the nervous system. The northern berry contains many antioxidants that remove radionuclides from the body, promote wound healing, reduce cholesterol levels, and prevent the formation of malignant tumors.

Organic acids, which cranberries are rich in, work real miracles. Benzoic acid is a natural preservative and prevents pathogenic bacteria from multiplying. Ursolic acid fights kidney stones, malic acid improves digestion.

Cranberry helps with sore throat, rheumatism, tuberculosis, caries, purulent wounds and genitourinary infections. No matter how you break the cranberry into its components, it is useful from all sides due to its unique composition and combination of natural elements. A real berry of life.

Recipes for strengthening the immune system and treating diseases with cranberries

cranberries easy to buy at any supermarket or market. In the fall, fresh berries appear on sale, but frozen ones are also suitable for consumption. Stock up for the winter - put one or two kilograms of cranberries in the freezer, and you will be provided with a natural and reliable remedy for strengthening the immune system.

Before consumption you need to get as many frozen berries as you can eat in two or three days, put them in a colander, quickly rinse under running cold (not hot!) water, and put them in a bowl. The berries should defrost naturally, and the juice that drains during the defrosting process should not be washed off with water. Add sugar to the defrosted berries to taste, and crush the cranberries with a wooden masher, or mash them with a spoon.

They will turn out fresh berries in its own juice, which can be eaten in this form to strengthen the immune system daily. You should eat very little crushed cranberries per day: three to four tablespoons to saturate the body daily norm vitamins You can prepare a fruit drink from the resulting crushed berries. Pour the mixture with water, let it stand for several hours, and then rub through a sieve. The concentration of the juice will depend on the amount of water added. It turns out a delicious tonic drink with living vitamins. Excellent invigorates and gives strength.

If you have a cold, drink from cranberries warm with honey should be taken regularly until complete recovery. For genitourinary infections, it is useful to drink one or two glasses of concentrated cranberry juice. For stomach ulcers and gastritis with low acidity cranberry juice is diluted 1:1 with beet juice and taken 3 times a day, 14 glasses each. For gum disease, it is useful to chew cranberries several times a day. To treat wounds, use pure cranberry juice (no sugar), diluted 1:1 with water, it will significantly speed up the healing process.

Don't forget that thanks to high Due to the acid content, cranberries are contraindicated for people with high stomach acidity, and after eating or chewing the berries, you should rinse your mouth to avoid damage to tooth enamel.

Cranberries can not only be used to treat or save from vitamin deficiency. This berry is successfully used in cooking due to its rich sour taste. It makes delicious sauces for meat, or sweet and sour desserts.

Bake regular sour cream cake Without removing the cake from the mold, place frozen cranberries on it. Cover the cranberries with the egg whites and sugar whipped into a strong foam and place in the oven for 10 minutes until the meringue appears golden brown. This amazing homemade pie will delight your family with a combination of sweet cake layers and meringue with the contrasting sour taste of cranberries.

The use of cranberries in cosmetology

High content And wide range vitamins and organic acids allows us to successfully use cranberries in cosmetology. Acid peeling with cranberries involves simply applying cranberry juice to cleansed facial skin. To reduce the active effects of acids on the skin and soften it, add a drop of honey. After twenty minutes, the mask can be washed off. The skin becomes velvety, sebaceous plugs and comedones dissolve, and complexion improves.

So, the unique northern berry will heal, invigorate, feed, and bestow beauty!

Cranberries are not our favorite type of berry because they are quite bitter and sour at the same time. And it becomes unclear whether cranberries are actually healthy? But it’s not for nothing that they call it “the lemon from the north,” because in terms of the amount of vitamin C it ranks high among other fruits and berries. Thanks to its unique composition, this berry helps to heal and prevent the development of a large number of diseases.

Medicinal properties of cranberries

In addition to vitamin C, cranberries also contain quinic, citric and benzoic acids (the latter of which allows you to keep cranberries fresh and healthy for a long time), vitamins from groups PP, B, K, sugars, carotene, pectin and tannins, essential oil, calcium, iodine, cobalt, copper, boron, magnesium, manganese, etc.

Cranberry

Berries are consumed not only fresh, but also frozen, dried, and soaked. Cranberries make very tasty fruit drinks and juices, jellies and preserves, cocktails and jelly, as well as cranberry kvass. Salads with cranberries are very tasty; they are often added to meat pies.

Nutrients in cranberries

• vitamins of group B, C, K, PP;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• iron;
• manganese;
• magnesium;
• copper;
• molybdenum;
• cobalt;
• tin;
• copper;
• chromium;
• titanium;
• zinc.

Cranberry is considered a natural organic antibiotic. Scientists have found that infections in the kidneys, inflammation of the stomach, as well as the large and small intestines most often begin with the entry of E.Coli bacteria into the human body. It is quite difficult to fight them with medications, but fresh cranberry juice contains substances that can destroy harmful bacteria. Drinking cranberry juice is also an excellent prevention of peptic ulcers, which often occurs due to bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori entering the body.

Today, cranberries grow in almost all corners of Russia, as well as in the Far East. The berry is abundant in Ukraine and much of Europe, and is found in the northern United States, Canada and Alaska. According to the legend of the Delaware Indians, cranberries grow on the ground where the blood of warriors who fought giants was shed.

Who is cranberry harmful for?

• for stomach ulcers;
• diseases of the duodenum;
• for gastritis with high acidity;
• with liver disease;
• with weakened tooth enamel.

How many cranberries to eat per day

According to doctors, just 250-500 ml of fresh cranberry juice daily will help every person avoid most unpleasant diseases from viruses and infections. However, you should not abuse or exceed this norm, because cranberry acid in large quantities can have a bad effect on your health.

How to cook cranberries without losing their beneficial properties

To retain maximum benefits from cranberries, it is advisable to eat them at fresh. As is known, when heated, most natural products lose most of their beneficial microelements. So eat cranberries raw, but don't forget to rinse them thoroughly!

Healthy cosmetic recipes with cranberries

Many people know how to use cranberries internally, but masks with this berry are also incredibly beneficial for our beauty and youth.

Anti-oily cranberry mask

1 tsp mix cranberry juice with 1 tsp. potato flour or ground in a blender oatmeal. Apply all over your face for 20 minutes, then rinse with plenty of water and do not forget to moisturize your skin with cream. This mask not only reduces oily skin, but also cleanses and tightens pores.

Cranberry mask for problem skin

1 tsp mix cranberry juice with the same amount of natural grape juice, add 1/2 grated apple, 1 tbsp. honey and a pinch of baby powder. Apply to face for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

A compress with cranberry juice will also help against acne:

Soak cotton pads in cranberry juice and place on face for 10 minutes. It is advisable to completely relax and lie down while the compress works. After this, rinse off the remaining juice with cool water and apply face cream.

This small and cute berry has great benefits for the body. Despite its miniature size, it contains a whole storehouse of vitamins! Today we’ll talk about cranberries - how much should you eat per day, can it be given to children, what are its contraindications and much more.

Benefits of cranberries

Cranberries contain a whole complex of vitamins and minerals. At the same time, benefits can be obtained not only from fresh, but also from dry and frozen berries. So, what exactly is this product useful for?

Regular consumption of berries helps improve bowel function. In general, cranberries are rightfully considered one of the most useful wild berries. It also affects other ailments of an infectious nature. It contains a lot of vitamin C, thanks to which it gives a quick and lasting effect. Even medical experts admit the fact that it is much easier to list what the berry does not cure than what it helps with. This gift of nature prevents the development and proliferation of cancer cells, especially in cases where the tumor is localized in the prostate, breast and colon.

For those who didn’t know, the second name for cranberries is a rejuvenating berry. It contains a huge amount of antioxidants that prevent skin aging, prolonging youth. For this property, it is very popular in cosmetology, however, taking it internally will allow you to “freeze” age.

Chewing cranberries thoroughly can prevent this. The berry kills all harmful bacteria and prevents their reproduction. But you have to rinse every time oral cavity, since its juice with prolonged exposure can corrode the enamel, making teeth sensitive.

Cranberry can suppress headaches, relieve coughs, and lower fever. In men, the berry helps increase potency and helps the stronger half of humanity avoid diseases of the reproductive system. To feel the full power of nature, they only need to drink 300 ml of nectar daily.

By the way, with the help of cranberries you can bring your weight back to normal. It helps control appetite and normalizes metabolism.

The berry promotes high-quality formation of muscles and bones, normalizes appetite and has a positive effect on the skin. These qualities will be very useful not only for adults, but also for children, whose immunity often leaves much to be desired.

By the way, the positive effect of cranberries on diabetics is already known for certain. The experiments showed that in patients with the first type, when consuming the berry, the sugar level stopped increasing, and in patients with the second type, a significant decrease in blood sugar was observed. This effect is due to the fact that the berry stimulates the pancreas, which in turn begins to independently produce insulin. To treat diabetes, you need to drink 240 ml of freshly squeezed berry juice every day for three months.

Cranberry is an excellent prevention of the appearance of plaques and blood clots. Regular consumption of the berry helps prevent stomach cancer and prevent the occurrence of ulcers (just under no circumstances should you eat the berry on an empty stomach). Normalizes blood clotting. Has a positive effect on the condition of nails, hair and skin.

Harm of cranberries

The harm of this berry can only appear in cases where it was taken by a person with contraindications. We will talk about who should not take it orally, as well as about precautions a little later. Otherwise, it can only bring benefits. However, you can’t overeat it either. In this matter, the main thing is regularity.

Uses of cranberries

Cranberries are used in many areas, from medicine to cosmetology. With its help, they organize the prevention of many diseases, since it contains a lot of antioxidants. Lovers of natural cosmetics add berries to masks and lotions. Cranberries have also found their calling in cooking; delicious pies, compotes and healthy fruit drinks are prepared with them.

Below we will look at different healthy recipes, in which this berry is applicable.

Where do cranberries grow?

Cranberries have three main types: large, small and ordinary. By the way, the first one is sometimes also called the American variety. In Russia, for the most part, ordinary and medium-sized berries grow. The habitat of small-fruited plants is usually tundra, forest-tundra, northern swamps and areas near the Arctic Circle. Common cranberries grow throughout Russia where there are swamps and wet hollows, with the exception of the Caucasus, Kuban and Volga region. The berry is very fond of places with high humidity, served from humans.

Cranberry contraindications

As is already clear, cranberries are very useful product, however, even with it you need to handle it very carefully and keep in mind the contraindications. Firstly, everything needs moderation - don’t overeat. It is always better to have too few vitamins than too many. In the first case, it is easier for the body to cope, but in the second, medical intervention will be needed.

It is better to replace cranberries with another one healthy berries people with liver disease and high stomach acidity. You should use berries with extreme caution if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract; avoid dried, frozen and raw cranberries. It is much better to cook compotes from it, and consume the berry itself boiled. This is due to the fact that if it enters the stomach and intestines in its original form, it can cause irritation of these organs.

During the period of a cold, do not under any circumstances consume cranberries and products made from them in tandem with sulfa drugs, this can lead to the formation of kidney stones. For the same reason, those suffering from gout and those who already have urolithiasis should not eat the berry.

Cranberry is also contraindicated for people with hypotension, as it greatly reduces blood pressure. Be careful if you have sensitive teeth, as this is an indicator of weakened enamel, and sour cranberries can make the situation worse. It’s stupid, of course, to say that in this case the berry is contraindicated, but only after consuming it you must rinse your mouth to reduce acidity.

To prevent cranberries from causing harm, you must follow some rules when eating them:

• never eat cranberries on an empty stomach;
• even if dental problems do not bother you, always try to rinse your mouth after taking it;
• to save full vitamin complex, there is no need to boil the berries; it is better to simply pour hot water over them.

Can children have cranberries?

Just imagine, just 100 g of the product can nourish a child’s body with the daily norm of vitamins K, A, C and E, a third of the norm with B vitamins. The berry contains a lot of vitamin PP, which takes an active part in the absorption of vitamin C. Considering its rich vitamin composition the question is brewing, is it possible for her children? Of course it is possible, provided that the child has no contraindications and is not allergic to the berry.

It is highly advisable to adhere to the following standards.

• For children from 0 to one year. If you follow the instructions of the World Health Organization, then newborn babies should not introduce brightly colored foods into their diet earlier than the main food. Those. no earlier than six months. If the child is on breastfeeding, then cranberries can be given no earlier than 7.5 months. Babies under one year old can eat cranberries only after processing. For example, pre-steam the berries for about three minutes. You can grind cranberries and add them to porridge or other purees. It is also acceptable to give juice or make a fruit drink after diluting it with water in a 1:1 ratio. Frequency of administration - no more than twice a week. The risk, due to which it is undesirable to give cranberries to babies under one year of age, is the occurrence of an allergic reaction.
• From one to three years. You can introduce crumbs of berries into the diet in the amount of 10-20 g per day (this is about a couple of tablespoons). However, there is also a restriction on the intake of fresh berries. It is better if you give it in the form of prepared fruit drink, jelly or compote, after scalding the berries with boiling water. During the period of colds, it is permissible to increase the dosage four times.
• Children over three years old. Starting at this age, you can give cranberries raw. Here you can eat it as an independent dish, as well as in compotes, purees and other forms. It is worth understanding that all vitamins are preserved in the berry in its pure form, without heat treatment; unfortunately, not all children are passionate about its specific taste. If the child resists it, then you can resort to compotes and fruit drinks.

Cranberries during pregnancy

Cranberries during pregnancy are a real boon for expectant mother. In addition to its general strengthening properties, which is very important not only for the woman, but also for the fetus, the berry helps, it dulls it very well. Regular consumption of the berry will help avoid swelling, maintain the level of immunity at the proper level, and protect against many other ailments that can arise out of nowhere in a weakened body. We can talk endlessly about the benefits of cranberries during pregnancy; they affect absolutely the entire body. But it is at this moment that ladies are susceptible to allergic reactions, so you need to eat it carefully and after consulting with your supervising doctor.

What can you make from cranberries?

You can make a lot of delicious things out of cranberries, both fresh and frozen. At the same time, in addition to satisfying taste, it becomes possible to saturate your body with useful substances. We bring to your attention several cooking options with this berry.

• Cranberry jelly. You will need 400 g of berries, the same amount of sugar, 150 g of potato starch and about three liters of water. The berries need to be sorted and thoroughly mashed with a masher. After this, the juice is squeezed out from the resulting mass. The squeezed berries are poured with water (hot) and placed on the fire for about five minutes. Next, you need to add sugar and add squeezed juice with starch previously diluted in it. Without stopping stirring, bring the jelly to a boil, then remove from the stove.
• Cranberry cobbler. You will need a couple of tablespoons of cranberry juice, a third of a glass of lingonberry juice, about 50 g of creamy ice cream, ice and fruit to taste. A glass with an expansion upward is filled halfway with crushed ice, then all the ingredients are poured in, chopped pieces of fruit are thrown in and everything is mixed. The drink should be served with a straw and a small spoon.
• Cranberry kvass. Sort out a kilogram of berries, rinse thoroughly and crush. Pour in four liters of water and cook for ten minutes. After this, strain the mixture and cool. Dissolve the yeast and add to the mixture. Mix, pour into previously prepared bottles, seal and place in a cool place for three days.
• For this delicious drink you will need: a couple of glasses of milk, a glass of cranberries, half a glass of applesauce, a couple of tablespoons of sugar, half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Bring the milk to a boil, add sugar and cinnamon and wait for a while. Remove the mixture from the heat and cool. Rinse the cranberries thoroughly and rub through a sieve. Mix prepared cranberry puree with applesauce. Carefully pour in the milk and quickly beat the drink with a mixer so that the milk does not have time to curdle.

Recipes with cranberries

• For hypertension and atherosclerosis, you can prepare and use the following infusion. You will need 10 g of berries and a glass of boiling water. Fill the berry with water and place it in a thermos, then let it brew for at least four hours. Strain the finished infusion thoroughly and drink throughout the day, dividing the mixture three times before meals.
• You can use your own prepared ointment against skin sores. Take a couple of tablespoons of fresh berries (you can also use frozen ones if you can’t get fresh ones) and squeeze the juice out of them, passing the berries through cheesecloth. Combine “nectar” with 50 g of petroleum jelly and 50 g of lanolin. Mix everything thoroughly and place in a clean jar. Store the finished composition exclusively in the refrigerator. This drug is used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
• With the help of cranberries you can quickly and effectively cure periodontal disease. To do this, just take one berry and start rubbing its juice into your gums with your fingertips. You need to massage for about a minute and a half. This product not only restores gums, but also relieves inflammation and kills all germs.
• Long-lasting cough, hypertension, kidney problems, tuberculosis, cystitis, ascites - all this can be cured with regular cranberry juice. To prepare it, you just need to squeeze the juice of the berry and mix it with honey. Despite the fact that it is not advisable to drink cranberry juice if you have kidney stones, it is an excellent preventative against them. The same juice can be consumed to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots.
• You can prepare a delicious and very healthy cranberry preparation. To do this, take berries and sugar in a 1:1 ratio, grind everything, heat it to 90°C and put it in a jar. Next, the finished mixture can be used at your discretion. You can make a fruit drink from it by taking a couple of spoons of puree and pouring warm boiled water, or use it as a filling in pies.
• A delicious delicacy in the form of marshmallows can also be prepared from this wonderful berry. Rinse half a kilo of berries thoroughly and place in a saucepan with a thick bottom. Pour a glass of clean water and place on low heat. The berry should simmer until it becomes soft. After this, grind the composition to a puree and add 800 g of sugar (you can take a kilogram if you want it sweeter). Boil the mixture until most of the liquid comes out. After that, transfer it to parchment paper and put it in the oven to dry.