The content of the article
Mulberry is considered one of the oldest trees on the planet. It is mentioned in biblical texts, all parts of plants, including berries, leaves, wood, are appreciated. It is on the mulberry that the silkworm is grown, which gives a thread that is surprising in its properties. Berries contain many useful substances, and regular consumption of berries can save you from stress and depression.
Mulberry Description
A tree cannot boast the height or volume of a trunk. But its longevity inspires respect, because a tree planted in the courtyard of the house will give coolness and shadow to grandchildren and great-grandchildren, preserving a good memory of ancestors. The average age of mulberry is 200 years, long-livers live to 500. The tree rarely grows above 10-15 meters, the crown is sprawling, branches are flexible. More than 160 species of plants are known, all of them are deciduous. The fruits are small, very tender, not subject to transportation and long-term storage. Completely ripened berries can be enjoyed only from the branches or within a few hours after their collection. The reason is that they contain a large number of fruit sugars, which very quickly begin to ferment and make the berries unfit for fresh consumption. The first fruits ripen on the 20th of July, the time of the mass harvest falls in mid-August. Part of the berries is picked by hand, the bulk is simply shaken off the branches on a spread canvas or canvas. After collecting, you need to process the berries during the day, otherwise they will go to make mulberry wine or mash. We’ll have to work hard, because in the harvest year from 1 tree get up to 200 kg. berries. The color of the fruit varies from white-pink to almost black with a purple tint. There are also red and cream berries. Their taste is of varying degrees of sweetness, the number of seeds is also different, almost seedless varieties are bred by selection.
Wood is appreciated by masters of musical instruments. It is easy to process, but at the same time weighty, elastic, durable. It is also used in construction and for the manufacture of decorative interior items. In Russia, the felling of these trees on an industrial scale is prohibited.
The main places for growing mulberries are considered southern countries:
- Asia;
- Africa;
- China;
- Palestine;
- Romania.
Some hybrids perfectly adapted to life in central Russia up to the northern regions. White varieties tolerate frosts well up to -30 degrees. The mulberry tree prefers well-lit places and space.
Composition and properties of mulberry
From the moment the first berries ripen, you should definitely pay due attention to them. They are so tasty that in the pursuit of delicacies it is not difficult to forget about common sense. Moreover, there is no need to go far, just stand under any branch and just reach out.
Important: too many berries provoke an upset stomach, nausea and can cause allergies.
The plant has a very interesting element - resveratrol. It protects against pests and at the same time is a powerful antioxidant. It reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack, has a relaxing effect on blood vessels, increasing their elasticity and reducing the likelihood of spasms. The berries also contain:
- vitamins A, PP, C, E, B;
- potassium;
- copper;
- phosphorus;
- zinc;
- iron;
- organic acids;
- flavonoids;
- biotin;
- trace elements;
- tannins;
- carotene;
- essential oil;
- anthocyanins;
- fructose;
- starch.
Very important is the high content of vitamin C, enhancing immunity, creating a natural barrier against fungal and viral diseases. For the beauty of the skin and preservation of youth, silicon is needed, which is plentiful in berries. Therefore, women are recommended to include fruits in the diet as a dessert. There is no reason to fear for the condition of the waist, in 100 gr. The product contains only 50 kcal.
It is worth considering: most useful is fresh fruit, recently removed from the branch. Heat treatment and freezing several times reduces the level of vitamins and mineral elements.
Dark varieties contain more organic acids, and white ones contain carbohydrates.
Berries have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant effects. The degree of maturity affects the properties of berries, so if you have an upset stomach, you need to take the ripened fruits, with constipation - fully ripened.
The benefits of mulberry
Berries are recommended to be introduced into the diet when:
- sluggish intestinal motility;
- risk of stroke and heart attack;
- vitamin deficiency;
- reduced immunity;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- hemoglobin deficiency;
- swelling, general slagging of the body;
- delayed regeneration;
- frequent colds;
- high sugar and cholesterol;
- lack of appetite;
- decreased visual acuity;
- chronic fatigue and loss of strength.
Mulberry is useful for pregnant women. It very rarely causes allergies, is quickly absorbed by the body and is a source of vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain a woman's health and the correct formation of the fetus.
During menopause, the ability of the mulberry tree to relieve emotional stress, improve mood, reduce pain symptoms, vasospasms, improve cerebral circulation comes to the fore. The anti-aging effect is to stimulate the production of collagen, which maintains skin elasticity, its even color, which prevents the appearance of age spots. A complex of vitamins improves the condition of hair, nails, tooth enamel, bone density, prevents the development of osteoporosis.
For men, the benefit lies in enhancing sexual function, increasing stamina and physical capabilities, maintaining a healthy heart muscle.
Contraindications
The main factor remains individual intolerance. The next reason for limiting the number of treats is diabetes mellitus, and mulberry need to be eaten with caution in case of flatulence, bloating, stomach ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcers. It is not recommended to drink berries with cold water, the combination provokes diarrhea.
Use in traditional medicine
Some recipes based on berries, leaves and mulberry bark have been preserved from the Middle Ages, attributed to Avicenna. Over time, folk methods using parts of the mulberry tree have not changed much, which proves their effectiveness.
- Juice with water in a ratio of 1: 1 is used to gargle, which relieves inflammation and eliminates the hoarseness of the voice.
- With hypertension and edema, an infusion of bark and leaves is effective. On 1 tbsp. 1 cup boiling water is taken in a spoonful of raw materials, infused for 30 minutes, taken at 50 g. before meals during the day.
- Powder from bark, mixed with olive oil, quickly heals small wounds and cuts.
- To improve an erection, the berries are ground into gruel, mixed with honey and taken 1 teaspoon 2 times a day.
- An aqueous decoction of berries is mixed with honey at the rate of 1 glass per 1 teaspoon. Take 1 sip before meals. The tool relieves the severity of menopausal symptoms, stabilizes the emotional state.
The use of mulberry in cosmetics
Only white varieties are suitable for this purpose. The most valuable is the whitening effect, as well as moisturizing and cleansing the skin.Masks for oily skin are prepared on the basis of berries, they perfectly cleanse and narrow the pores, eliminate inflammation and shine, give a dull glow, and relieve irritation. The regular use of funds based on an extract of mulberry leaves brightens pigment spots, whitens, normalizes metabolic processes, and provides protection from external factors.
Mulberry Storage
The peculiarity of berries in their delicate structure. They can not be transported, it is not possible to save for a long time after removal from the tree. There is only one way out - to quickly process the crop by all means, preventing the spoiling of a valuable product.
Freezing
The berries are sorted, eliminated damaged and ripened, remove the stalk. Then they are carefully transferred to packages, leveled and placed in the freezer. It is more convenient to freeze berries in portions so that they do not crumple under their own weight. Supplies are stored in this form for up to 6 months.
Drying
Despite the fact that berries contain almost 85% of water, they quickly dry in an electric dryer. With the natural method, you will have to clean up the supplies at night in the house so that they do not get dew. An accelerated method is to sow fruits for 1-2 days, and then dry in the oven. Shelf life is 12 months.
Winter blanks
From the mulberry tree aromatic and very beautiful jam, jam, jam is obtained. When cooking, the ratio of sugar to berries is classic 1: 1. The mixture is pre-incubated for 3-4 hours to isolate the juice. You can not stand longer, the fermentation process begins. It is advisable to roll up jars with the finished product hermetically, the stability of mulberry jam is low, it is also better to store it in a cool dark place. You can make juice, it needs to be boiled, with a little sugar.
Beckmes from the mulberry tree is considered a popular oriental sweet. By consistency, it resembles fresh honey. It is prepared only from the juice of fully ripened berries without the addition of third-party ingredients. From washed and carefully selected berries, juice is squeezed, poured into a saucepan, heated on very low heat with continuous stirring. You can not boil, when boiling, remove from heat, cool and filter. The second approach is to boil the juice 2 times from the original volume. Then the finished product is poured into small sterilized jars and rolled hermetically.
Mulberry tea is recommended as an alternative to purchased varieties, as well as for edema, pressure surges and weight control programs. Fruits and leaves are brewed together. If desired, a little honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice are added. Tea perfectly quenches thirst, increases working capacity, increases the level of attention.
Mulberry enjoys well-deserved respect for taste and benefit, you should definitely stock up on a healthy product for the winter and not miss the opportunity to enjoy plenty of fresh berries in the season.
Video: the beneficial properties of mulberry
Submit