Cherry - useful properties and contraindications

Cherry, beloved by many berries, not only has a great taste, but also is a supplier of unique useful elements. At the same time, not only the fruits themselves are useful, but also other parts of the plant - leaves, branches, bark and even roots.

The collection of leaves and branches is usually engaged in May, when they are young, berries and seeds - in the second half of summer (July-August). To date, approximately 200 varieties of cherries are known. Their difference is in taste, ripening time and chemical components contained in the berries.

The beneficial properties of cherries

Cherry contains a huge amount of nutrients. The composition of the pulp of the fetus includes bactericidal elements. Anthocyanin - a special coloring substance contained in the plant, provides the filling of the pulp of the berries, so that they are perfectly absorbed by the human body.

Another useful component that is part of these delicious fruits is coumarin. Its benefit is to reduce blood coagulation. Due to this property, cherries can be used as a prophylactic of possible complications in arterial atherosclerosis.

In addition, in the fruits of cherries there are a lot of vitamins C and B, pigments and useful elements, such as cobalt, iron, magnesium, which makes it possible to use it for the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia.

Cherry helps to remove nitrogenous toxins from the human body. Cherry juice not only perfectly refreshes, quenches thirst, improves appetite, but is also used as a delicate laxative or expectorant, used to treat arthritis, as well as mental illness.

Scientists conducted many studies, the results of which showed that this berry contains ellagic acid. This substance helps to stop the spread of tumor cells, prevents the development of cancer.

In addition, the fruit contains anthocyanidins - substances that have the ability to lower the content of uric acid in the human body. Doctors advise regular use of cherries as a preventative measure against gout, since this berry significantly reduces the risk of the appearance and development of this disease.

Doctors often refer to cherries as “heart berries,” because they have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. The combination of coloring elements, ascorbic acid and tannins helps to strengthen blood capillaries, increase their tone, and bring blood pressure to normal. In addition, the body becomes more resistant to the negative effects of environmental factors, including increased levels of radiation.

Specialists in the field of medicine claim that patients who are prone to heart disease by regularly consuming cherries can significantly reduce the number of seizures, as well as their strength.

The leaves of the plant also have considerable benefits. Especially useful are the leaves that have fallen after flowering. They can be collected and dried under a canopy. Healing vitamin tea with hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effect is prepared from such raw materials.

A decoction of leaves is beneficial for bleeding and high blood pressure. A similar remedy will cope with nosebleeds, very heavy periods. The combination of cherry leaves and milk will help get rid of liver diseases, in particular hepatitis.

The nutritional value

One hundred grams of cherry berries contains 52 kcal.In the same amount - 0.5 grams of fat, 11.3 grams of carbohydrates, 0.8 grams of protein.

Contraindications and potential harm

The most dangerous part of the plant are its bones. They can lead to poisoning, as they contain a large amount of amygdalin glycoside. Under the influence of putrefactive bacteria, this substance decomposes in the intestine. The result of this phenomenon is the formation of hydrocyanic acid.

It is not recommended to include large quantities of berries in the diet for people whose acidity of the gastric juice is increased, as well as those suffering from stomach ulcers, overweight, and diabetes. Contraindications also include weakened intestines, chronic lung diseases.

The basic rule is not to use unlimited quantities of cherry berries, then they will not harm the body.

The use of cherries in folk medicine

Due to the large number of useful qualities of the berry, it is actively used as one of the components of traditional medicine. Cherry recipes help you get rid of many health problems. Below are some of them.

1. Hemostatic agent. It is necessary to take the stalks of cherries (2 dessert spoons), pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave for infusion for three to four hours. Drink a tablespoon 4 times a day. The tool has an astringent effect, it is allowed to be used for long and heavy menstruation.
2. A remedy for hepatitis. Preparing a decoction of cherry tree leaves in milk. Leaves are taken (2 tablespoons), 100 ml of milk is poured. Then the mixture is kept on low heat for about 10 minutes. Hot filtered and drunk in small doses throughout the day.
3. Remedy for joint diseases. To prepare a remedy for joint diseases, small branches of plants will be required. Healing tea is prepared from them. To do this, you need to put a handful of raw materials in a pan, pour 500 ml of water and boil for 15-20 minutes. Then the broth should be infused for two hours and drink like regular tea throughout the day.
4. Cold remedy. To combat colds, tea is used made from dried leaves and cherry fruits. To do this, take five pieces of both, pour 250 ml of boiling water. If desired, honey or sugar can be added. Drinking is not very hot.
5. A remedy for diseases of the urinary organs, a predisposition to edema. In this case, the benefit is a decoction of the stalk of cherry berries. To prepare the product, pour a glass of peduncle 500 ml of boiling water, put in a water bath and hold there under the lid for about 15 minutes. Then strain and cool. Throughout the day you need to eat in small portions.
6. Remedy for fibroids and endometriosis. With these diseases, a decoction of their cherry branches will help to cope. Harvesting of raw materials can be made in advance. To do this, young shoots are cut off, twisted into a bundle and stored in bags. If you are going to prepare a healing broth, you should take a bunch, put it in a pan, pour cold water and put on fire. After the water boils, hold on the fire for another 10 minutes. The broth can be drunk like regular tea. This should be done daily, throughout the year. If desired, sweeten with sugar, honey or jam.

The use of cherries in cosmetology

Cherry juice and fruit pulp are often included in cosmetic products, including those prepared at home. The most popular recipes are:

1. Nourishing mask. To prepare such a cosmetic product, you need to remove the seeds from the berries, grind them to a mushy state and apply to cleansed face skin. After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water.
2. Mask for problem skin. Potato flour is mixed with cherry juice to a creamy consistency.The mask is applied to the pre-cleaned face for 15-20 minutes, after which it is washed off with warm water. The tool allows you to get rid of acne, acne and other skin problems.
3. Mask for edema and circles under the eyes. To prepare the product, it is necessary to remove the seeds from the cherry, grind the flesh, add a little sour cream or cottage cheese, apply on the skin under the eyes, gently wash off after 15 minutes.
4. Cherry juice provides good hair and oily skin care. Squeeze the juice from the berries, soak them with a tissue napkin and attach it to the face. For oily hair, you can use a mask of their cherry juice and potato starch with the addition of a few drops of lemon juice. The product is applied to wet hair, after 40 minutes it is washed off with warm water.
5. Infusion for rinsing hair. A handful of cherry leaves is poured with 500 ml of hot water. The mixture must be insisted for an hour, cool, then rinse their hair after washing. The tool saturates the curls with nutrients, gives them shine and a pleasant aroma.

So, cherry is a plant in which berries, seeds and leaves have many useful qualities and have a healing effect. However, it cannot be called absolutely safe, because a berry can become a poison for a person suffering from certain diseases. For this reason, before including cherries in folk remedies, you should discuss this issue with the doctor. He will advise on contraindications, help you choose the treatment regimen and dosage at which the use of cherries does not harm health.

It must be remembered that the use of this berry in unlimited quantities is strictly prohibited and is not allowed even to people who have no particular health problems. But with a reasonable approach to the use of cherries and compliance with the doses agreed with the doctor, cherries will become an indispensable drug that brings invaluable benefits.

Video: useful and healing properties of the stalk of a cherry