What is the use of blueberries for the human body

Discover the wonderful properties of blueberries - find out why you need to include it in your daily diet!

Blueberries: nutritional value

This berry is full of valuable nutrients that affect the functioning of our body. Blueberries contain many vitamins, minerals and trace elements. The berry also contains many antioxidants.

The nutritional value of blueberries is, first of all, vitamin A, B, C, E and vitamin PP. And also minerals: zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and selenium.

Useful properties of blueberries

1. Normalization of the state of the body in case of poisoning. Blueberries help in the fight against diarrhea. All thanks to substances that seal the gastric mucosa and slow intestinal motility. This natural medicine also neutralizes all toxins that cause food poisoning. For gastrointestinal problems, it is best to give the patient berry juice or dried fruit infusion.
2. Lowers bad cholesterol. The substances contained in blueberries strengthen blood vessels, which, after receiving such support, become impervious to bad cholesterol. In addition, it is worth noting that berries are abundant with elements such as zinc, selenium, copper and vitamins (for example, vitamin C), which also play an important role in sealing the blood vessels and mucous membranes of the body.
3. Normalization of blood sugar. Many people call this berry plant insulin! Blueberry extract is one of the elements of herbal mixtures that diabetics buy in pharmacies. It helps maintain blood sugar.
4. Antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent. All thanks to the high content of tannins, which are strong antioxidants. They destroy free radicals that cause inflammation in the body.
5. Improves eyesight. Anthocyanins contained in blueberries have a beneficial effect on the capillaries in the eyes, which, in turn, improves the quality of vision.
6. Blueberries as a way to counteract anemia. The antioxidant myrtillin not only affects the flexibility of blood vessels, but also participates in the production of red blood cells.
7. Cancer counteraction. Blueberries are an excellent source of phytoestrogens (also known as plant hormones) that inhibit the growth of hormone-dependent cancers (mammary and thyroid glands). The antitumor activity is manifested with the help of folic acid contained in berries, which is a kind of counteraction to the disease in the development of uterine cancer.

Blueberries should be consumed in large quantities, as they have many beneficial properties. They are characterized by the highest antioxidant activity, due to which they prevent cancer. Blueberries also have a positive effect on complexion, vision, or the urinary system.

Dietary use

Among other things, blueberries are a berry that also has dietary properties. Let's look at some blueberry diet recipes.

Blueberry smoothie:

• half a liter of milk with low fat content;
• a spoon of honey;
• 150 g of fresh blueberries.

You need to mix all the ingredients together and the cocktail is ready. It can also be thickened with a spoon of natural yogurt.

Fruit dessert:

• 2 tablespoons of blueberries;
• 2 bananas;
• a handful of strawberries;
• 200 ml of natural yogurt;
• 2 tablespoons of bran or muesli.

Combine yogurt and bananas until smooth.Cut strawberries and bananas into several small pieces, add blueberries to them, put all this in a bowl (for example, in a cup), pour yogurt there, sprinkle with bran and decorate with the remaining fruit.

Wholemeal wafers with blueberry sourdough:
Ingredients for waffles (6 pieces):

• 2 eggs;
• 2 tablespoons of sourdough;
• a glass of milk;
• 1 spoon of honey (tea);
• dry yeast (half a teaspoon);
• 1 spoon of rapeseed oil;
• 3/4 cup coarse flour.

Beat the eggs and salt, then add honey, sourdough, rapeseed oil and yeast flour. Next, mix it all together. Set aside for half an hour, then start baking in a waffle iron.

Blueberry cottage cheese (addition to wholemeal wafers):

• a glass of blueberries;
• 200 g low-fat cottage cheese;
• 1.5 teaspoons of honey;
• 4 tablespoons of natural yogurt.

Curd must be mixed with all the ingredients. Combine at your discretion. Put the mass on warm waffles and garnish with blueberries.

The use of berries for medical purposes

Blueberries were the basis of our grandmothers home pharmacy kit. This berry has been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times. At a time when antibiotics were unknown, blueberries were used as them. Dried fruits were used for diarrhea, for parasitic diseases such as pinworms or ascariasis, for heavy metal poisoning.

Also, the leaves of plants were used in the treatment, which, like dried fruits, were useful for suppressing diarrhea and alleviating inflammation of the urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract. Thus, blueberries have a relaxing effect on the intestines with constipation and at the same time is an antidiarrheal agent. Dried fruits have antidiarrheal, antiseptic, antipyretic properties.

Leaves are used for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. As well as an adjuvant in the treatment of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, prostatitis. Infusions and decoctions of dried berries have a calming and analgesic effect, and syrups help to cure cough and respiratory infections.

With diarrhea, it is good to take a decoction of berries (dried) or berry juice. The high content of tannins helps to condense the gastric mucosa, neutralize the effects of toxic products, and improve bowel function. Blueberry juice is considered to be an antidote to poisoning, because it destroys all toxins in the body.

The pharmaceutical industry uses the beneficial properties of berries for the manufacture of medicines. Dried leaves are one of the ingredients in diabetosan, an herbal blend for people with diabetes. Berry extract is contained in ophthalmic preparations. They are used both for violations of the microcirculatory system of the eye, and in the treatment of retinal diseases. They can also help after several hours of work at the computer.

Blueberry leaves

Usually, when they begin to talk about the usefulness of blueberries, then it is mostly about berries, and the leaves of this plant are relegated to the background. Few people know that decoctions and infusions of blueberry leaves are used as a rather effective diuretic. They also act as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, especially in the treatment of the oral cavity. The hypoglycemic effect of blueberry leaves is also widely used for medicinal purposes. But he is too small to compete with the drugs used to treat diabetes. Therefore, leaves are recommended only as an alternative, in prediabetic states or in the early stages of diabetes, especially in the elderly.

The healing properties of blueberry leaves are mainly due to the high content of hydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic and coffee) and flavonoids (natural antioxidants).Studies have shown that in high doses (more than 1.5 g / kg body weight per day), leaves can cause symptoms of poisoning. However, these are so large doses that poisoning for adults is unlikely.

Application in cosmetics

Blueberries have also found application in the production of moisturizing and nourishing cosmetics. Preparations containing berry extract have a firming and astringent effect, smooth the skin, moisturize, soften and strengthen blood vessels. They are recommended for people with acne, oily skin and poor complexion. Due to its antioxidant content, blueberries slow down the aging process.

Blueberries in cooking

The simplest use of blueberries is to rinse the berries, sprinkle with sugar and enjoy the taste. It’s best to eat raw berries, but they are also a good addition to cakes and desserts of all kinds.

Blueberries can be used while cooking soups, sauces, juices, compotes, jams, canned food. You can also decorate them with ice cream, muffins, waffles and pancakes. Berries can be frozen to enjoy them all year and use their healing properties that enhance health.

Cakes, desserts and blueberry jam

Blueberries are not only very tasty, but also very healthy, therefore, let's look at those dishes that, in addition to their excellent taste, will also benefit our body.

Blueberries are the most healthy fresh. The recommended intake is at least half a standard cup of fresh fruit every day. Blueberries have a particularly pleasant taste if they act as an addition to ice cream, desserts with whipped cream, cereals or yoghurts. When it is not possible to consume fresh berries, you can consume them in processed form. Very often jellies, juices, jams or meat sauces are prepared from them.

Here are some interesting recipes with blueberries in the title role.

Blueberry Pancakes
Ingredients:

• 2 cups of milk;
• 1 cup of sparkling water;
• half a glass of wheat flour;
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of sugar;
• 300 g blueberries;
• 4 teaspoons of powdered sugar;
• oil.

Cooking method: Flour, egg, sugar, water and milk must be mixed together and salt. The consistency of the dough should resemble a thick cream. You need to fry in a small amount of oil. Sprinkle icing sugar with blueberries. Grease every pancake and roll it up. Each pancake can be filled with whipped cream and sprinkled with blueberries.

Blueberry muffins
Ingredients:

• up to 1 cup flour;
• baking powder (2 teaspoons);
• half a glass of powdered sugar;
• vanilla sugar;
• half a cube of oil;
• 2 eggs;
• a glass of milk;
• 1/2 cup blueberries.

Blueberry Meat Sauce
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fried blueberries;
• 2 tablespoons of grated horseradish;
• 1/2 cup broth or broth;
• 1 teaspoon of mustard;
• Salt.

Cooking method. First you need to rub the blueberries through a sieve, then mix with horseradish and mustard, add the broth. All this is salt or pepper (to taste). Serve as a complement to pastes and sausages or meat.

Video: blueberries against pressure