The benefits and harms of lingonberry

Autumn is the best time to harvest lingonberries for the winter. This berry with a sour tart taste has a unique composition, is a source of vitamins, acids and minerals. For treatment, not only berries are suitable, but also twigs with leaves. Berries, infusions and decoctions have anti-inflammatory, diuretic and vitamin-enhancing effects.

The benefits of lingonberry

The forest berry has a dense skin, very juicy due to its content of almost 86% of water. The product has a low calorie content, only 46 kcal per 100 grams. Lingonberry contains:

• Vitamins of group B, PP, E, C and A. When using 100 g of berries, you can get almost 17% of the daily value of vitamin C.
• Acids necessary for the body: malic, benzoic, citric, oxalic.
• Trace elements: iron, manganese.
• Starch and dietary fiber.

Lingonberry leaves are rich in flavonoids, tannins, antioxidants, vitamins and arbutin, which has a strong antiseptic effect.

Lingonberry berries and remedies are used to treat:

• Urolithiasis and kidney inflammation.
• Liver dysfunction, gallbladder disease.
• Gout, rheumatic pains, salt deposits.
• Colds with high fever, pneumonia.
• Prevention and control of uterine bleeding.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• Dermatological problems, early wilting, skin fungi.
• Hair loss, dandruff, increased sebum secretion of the scalp.
• Defeat by helminths.
• Decreased visual acuity.

Regular consumption of berries reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, helps to remove from the body toxins, accumulated salts of heavy metals.

Lingonberry harm

The maximum benefit can be obtained from pure berries harvested away from highways. If the collection rules are not followed, then berries with accumulated salts of heavy metals will get into food. They are very harmful to the body, therefore, no benefit is obtained from the treatment with lingonberries, only harm.

Useful properties of lingonberry leaves

The harvested lingonberry is used for the preparation of infusions, decoctions. Twigs with leaves can be prepared and dried on their own or purchased at a pharmacy. Decoctions have anti-inflammatory, astringent, antimicrobial, choleretic effects. Regular consumption of decoctions actively stimulates the immune system.

The medicinal properties of lingonberry broths are explained by the high content of arbutin in the leaves. The substance is referred to as glycosides that have an antiseptic effect. Antioxidant lycopene and organic acids, tannins with an active astringent effect, tannins help in the treatment of various diseases:

• Chronic and acute pyelonephritis.
• Prostatitis, inflammation of the genitourinary system in men, cystitis.
• Diseases of the oral cavity, inflammation of the gums.
• Pneumonia, bronchitis.
• Benign and malignant formations.
• Gout, osteochondrosis, arthritis.

Tea brewed from dried lingonberry boosts immune forces and tones the body. If you take it in the morning, then the body's performance increases, fatigue decreases. Antioxidants in the composition of the infusion prevent early aging, prolong the youthfulness of the skin.

Lingonberry contraindications

The high content of organic acids in berries can negatively affect the activity of the gastrointestinal tract in people with increased secretory function. If a person has an ulcer, exacerbation of gastritis, then the product may harm him.

With regular use of lingonberry, blood pressure decreases. People prone to hypotension should not eat these berries. In rare cases, there may be an individual intolerance to the product or an allergic reaction when overeating.

Lingonberry during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the body needs more vitamins, trace elements. An increase in body weight leads to high loads on the motor apparatus. Therefore, it is important to consume foods rich in healthy ingredients. Lingonberry berries will help maintain vitality, satisfy the body's need for vitamins.

Carotene will help maintain visual acuity, which often decreases during pregnancy. The high content of vitamin C will help protect against colds and keep you young. An unstable emotional state is improved by eating foods containing B vitamins. Berries can help you cope with mood swings.

During gestation women often suffer from swelling, they become especially strong in the third trimester. It is possible to alleviate the condition by taking lingonberry infusion, which has diuretic properties.

It is known that a decoction of flowering lingonberry contributes to the easy course of pregnancy, and boiled berries help to quickly restore shape after the birth of a baby. Berries rarely cause allergies, therefore they are allowed at all stages of pregnancy.

It is necessary to limit the consumption of the product with low acidity or exacerbated gastritis. If a woman has stones or sand in her kidneys, then she should consult a doctor before using the product.

Is it possible for lingonberries for children

Beautiful berries will undoubtedly grab the baby's attention and interest him. Not all children will like the sour taste, then lingonberries can be poured with syrup or sprinkled with powdered sugar. The product stimulates appetite, which is important for children with low weight.

It is better to start introducing berries into the diet after consulting a pediatrician, upon reaching a child of 1 year old. You need to start eating berries a teaspoon a day, gradually increasing to 3-4 tablespoons. After the first days, it is worth observing the baby's reaction, whether he will have an allergic reaction. If a rash, red spots, itching appears, then the use of berries should be stopped.

The presence of a large amount of dietary fiber helps to improve digestion and regulate stool. If the child suffers from constipation, the berries will have a mild laxative effect.

Lingonberry decoction is effective for colds with high fever. The mild diuretic action activates the kidneys to remove toxins from the body. The sour berries are good for throat ailments.

Lingonberry treatment

Various means for the treatment and prevention of diseases are prepared from berries and dried lingonberry twigs.

The most popular drink made from juicy berries is fruit drink. For its preparation, washed berries are sorted out, placed in an enamel or glass container. Then the berries are kneaded with a wooden crush. It is better not to use metal devices, since some of the nutrients are lost upon contact with metal. Boiling water is poured into the container, 2 large tablespoons of honey or granulated sugar are added. In an hour, the fruit drink is ready for use. The drink is effective as an antipyretic agent, for the prevention of colds and infectious diseases. Morse drink during the day in a glass.

Healing broth is prepared from lingonberry leaves. For cooking, use crushed dried leaves. The proportions of the mixture is 1 tbsp. l. per 100 g of water. A glass container with the mixture is heated in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the infusion is cooled and filtered. The container is kept in a dark place for 2 days, then slightly diluted with water. The broth is taken for medicinal purposes after consultation with specialists. The daily allowance for an adult does not exceed 100-150 g per day. The broth is most effective when consumed 30-40 minutes before meals.

You can make a fortified drink from the harvested lingonberry juice. It helps with headaches, decreased tone and immunity, colds. Lingonberry juice is mixed with boiled water in a 1: 3 ratio. Sugar and honey are added to the mixture. Drink the drink after meals 2-4 times a day.

Women with urological problems, with frequent cystitis, are advised to drink tea from dried lingonberry leaves. For its preparation 1 tbsp. l. chopped dried lingonberry is poured with a glass of water. The mixture is boiled in an enamel container for 15-20 minutes. Strain the broth, take 100 g 2-3 times a day as an independent drink or mixed with tea. The recommended course of drinking the drink is at least 2 weeks. After that, a lasting positive effect will appear.

Sweet tooths will appreciate the recipe for a medicinal mixture of lingonberries with the addition of honey... Clean berries are put in a saucepan and smeared with honey at the rate of 100 g per 300 g of berries. The mixture is boiled for 5-7 minutes, cooled. The finished product is stored in the refrigerator and eaten with tea or as a dessert. In winter, it is an excellent source of vitamins and organic acids.

Powdered berries with granulated sugar perfectly retain their nutritional value throughout the winter. Dry berries are crushed in a meat grinder or blender, covered with sugar at a rate of 1: 1 or 1: 2. The mixture is left at room temperature until the sugar is completely dissolved. Next, the mass is laid out in clean jars and stored at a temperature of 7-15 degrees. From grated lingonberries, you can stir fruit drinks for colds, use for filling pies, use it as a dessert.

Our grandparents were treated with soaked lingonberries. The product retains vitamins and has a tonic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effect. First of all, a syrup is prepared from a liter of cold water with 2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar, 0.5 tsp. salt. Herbs are added to the syrup: cinnamon, cloves. The mixture is brought to a boil and cooked for 10-15 minutes. The berries are cleaned of debris, washed with running water and poured into glass jars. Lingonberries are poured with syrup and the jars are closed with parchment. Soaked berry can be stored in any cool place. Eat it 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day. The product can be an excellent addition to hot and cold meat dishes.

Another option for saving berries for future use is drying. Clean berries are laid out on a baking sheet in the oven at a temperature of 50-60 ° C. When drying, it is recommended to stir the lingonberries. Then the product is stored in linen bags or closed glass containers.

Do not neglect natural gifts for the treatment of various diseases. Delicious and juicy lingonberry berries fill the body with vitamins, acids, help increase hemoglobin and immunity.