Blackberries: health benefits and harms. Blackberry: beneficial properties and contraindications, health benefits and harms

Blackberry is considered a royal berry. In our country, it is grown extremely rarely. Did you know that blackberries, the benefits of which have long been proven, are one step higher in health-improving qualities than raspberries?

General characteristics of the plant

The blackberry is a perennial shrub. It has a strong root system and dense stems covered with thorns. Blackberries, the health benefits and harms of which will be discussed in the article, belong to the Rose family and are a subgenus of the Rubus genus. This plant is relatively small. Grows up to one and a half meters. The main charm of this shrub are berries.

Externally, blackberry fruits are very similar to raspberries. Her characteristic color is black. The taste of ripe blackberries is very sweet. She begins to sing in June, and you can observe ripe berries already in mid-July.

Where are you from

The blackberry was first mentioned in 1829 as a garden plant. Despite the fact that he was domesticated not so long ago, oh his healing properties known before our era. Paracelsus wrote about how to get rid of diseases with a decoction of berries and blackberry leaves.

Where can you find blackberry bushes? They grow in Central Asia, Siberia, Crimea, Europe and western Russia. In North America, it is bred commercially as a market crop.

Today, experienced gardeners grow blackberries not only as a berry bush, but also as an ornamental plant. During flowering, it has large white flowers. By planting this plant near the fence, you can create a beautiful thorny fence.

Composition of blackberries

Blackberries, the benefits of which are indisputable, are a source of vitamins and micro and macro elements necessary for the body. It is considered a healthy and low-calorie food. The composition of the berries includes such vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E. Vitamins P, PP and K are also present.

It contains a lot of calcium, sodium, phosphorus and iron. The great benefit of blackberries for the body, including for the cardiovascular system, is due to the fact that it contains potassium, magnesium and zinc in sufficient quantities. Chromium, copper, manganese, cobalt, titanium, molybdenum, strontium, barium, vanadium are also found in it, in general, half of the periodic table!

Blackberries are rich in fiber, pectin, fructose and sucrose.

One hundred grams of blackberries contain about 34 kilocalories.

The benefits of blackberries for the body

Blackberry cleanses the blood, improves its composition, removes excess cholesterol. Berries will help cure atherosclerosis if consumed regularly.

The benefits of blackberry leaves, from which tea is brewed, are known for neuroses. Blackberries are also useful in the treatment of diabetes.

If you need to cure bronchitis, pharyngitis or tonsillitis, then it will be useful to make juice from fresh fruits. It enhances the body's defense against disease and has sedative properties. Berries improve metabolism. Blackberries, whose benefits are so great, are a good substitute for an antipyretic for colds.

It has a positive effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Prevents the formation of dangerous neoplasms and cancer cells. Blackberries improve memory.

In the old days, they knew how great the health benefits of blackberries are. By adding it to your diet, you can normalize sleep, reduce nervousness and aggressiveness, increase immunity, and restore health to the body.

How can you use blackberry leaves. Decoctions

What else is interesting about blackberries? Its benefits are known not only from berries, but also from leaves. They contain a lot of tannins, so they are good for washing wounds and rinsing the mouth with stomatitis and gingivitis. It only takes a few times to thoroughly rinse your mouth with a decoction of blackberry leaves, and inflammation of the gums is removed.

Blackberry leaves will come in handy, the benefits and harms of which are due to their composition, in the fight against colds, acute respiratory infections and flu. They contain a large amount of vitamin C, so tea from them improves immunity and promotes a speedy recovery.

A decoction of blackberry leaves improves the functioning of the human digestive system. Also, such a decoction can cure skin diseases.

In what cases does tincture help?

Blackberry leaf tincture has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, so it helps to heal wounds, including purulent ones. If you need to get rid of a wound, ulcer or bruise, it is enough to apply blackberry leaves, ground to a soft state, to the injured area. Blackberry leaves are used to treat lichen.

An infusion of the leaves is also used as a mild diuretic and for heart disease.

Infusions and decoctions help with menopause and gastritis.

Recipes for health

Recipe number 1. With diarrhea and pain in the abdomen: pour one tablespoon of grated blackberry leaves with a glass of boiling water and let stand warm. Take every 3-4 hours before meals.

Recipe number 2. For pulmonary abscesses and bleeding: grate 15-25 grams of blackberry leaves and pour a glass of water. Boil all this and let it brew. Drink in small quantities, but often. Approximately two teaspoons every two hours.

Recipe number 3. With angina: grind blackberry leaves in a volume of 30 g and boil, adding one glass of water. Take three times a day after meals.

Recipe number 4. For kidney diseases: grate 25 grams of blackberry leaves and add one glass of water. Boil and let it brew. Take two teaspoons three times a day.

Recipe number 5. Blackberry jam. The benefits of this recipe are very great, since not only blackberry fruits and leaves, but also lemon are used for jam. First you need to boil the leaves with the addition of 0.5 liters of water. After preparing this decoction, we collect one glass and add 800-1000 grams of sugar to it. Next, you need to grind the lemon and add it, along with the peel, to the decoction with sugar. Be sure to scroll through the meat grinder blackberries. Now all this needs to be put on fire and cook for 15 minutes.

Recipe number 6. Blackberry jelly. A special advantage of this dessert is that it will not harm people with diabetes. It will also help relieve joint pain. First you need to prepare the gelatin itself, or rather, just pour it with water. Grind the blackberry and extract the juice from it. Now you need to add gelatin, half a glass of water and 100 g of sugar (or fructose) to this juice. Mix the contents and pour into moulds. Jelly will be ready in 6 hours.

Recipe number 7. Blackberry compote. It can be prepared for both summer and winter. You need to take 2.5 kilograms of berries, add 400 g of sugar and 1.5-2 liters of water to them. Boil water and add the above ingredients to it. Cook for 15 minutes. If the compote was prepared for the winter, then, of course, you need to pour it into sterilized jars and close it. If you want to enjoy compote on a hot summer day, then pour it into glasses and leave to cool in a cold place.

Blackberry for pregnant women

Blackberries have a very good effect on the body of women during pregnancy and on the child in the womb. After all, this plant has in its composition a huge amount of elements, vitamins of various groups, useful minerals and other substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body. Blackberries, the benefits of which are undoubted, perfectly help in the recovery of a woman after childbirth: hemoglobin levels are restored, metabolism is restored, skin color and hair condition improve, strength and vigor return, immunity is strengthened.

Blackberry harm

If a person has any chronic diseases of the stomach, then raw berries should not be eaten. It is better to cook compote or jam from berries and blackberry leaves. If the acidity of the stomach is higher than normal, then berries should also not be carried away. They will not bring harm if you eat them 2 times a week maximum and in small quantities. One dose of berries can be replaced with a glass of juice diluted 1:1 with water.

If there are problems with the kidneys, then the use of blackberries is contraindicated. Sometimes there is individual intolerance, which is expressed by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Excessive consumption of bright blue fruits threatens with intestinal diseases.

In special cases, this berry can cause an allergic reaction as a skin rash.

How to care for a blackberry bush

If you have your own garden, and you have acquired such a beautiful plant, then you definitely need to know how to properly care for it. You will have to be patient, because in the first year the shrub will not bloom and will not bear fruit. When the blackberry grows to 130 centimeters, you need to cut the tops by 15 centimeters. When the branches become thicker, they also need to be shortened by 50 centimeters. You need to tie up branches and cut off unnecessary ones. If your plant has bloomed, now you need to apply fertilizer. Be sure to water the shrubs and keep them healthy. Sick branches are immediately removed and burned. Pull out the weeds and loosen the soil. Use fertilizer at least once a year. In the autumn, when sharp cold snaps begin, cover the plants. If you take good care of them and nurture your shrubs, they can live in your garden for about 12-15 years.

Blackberries, the health benefits and harms of which are covered in the article, are a welcome berry on every garden plot. Its healing properties are incredibly strong, traditional healers do not remain indifferent to it. If you eat these wonderful berries in time and in moderation, you can get rid of many different diseases and restore health to the body.

The blackberry is a well-known plant rich in vitamins and antioxidants and has not only wonderful taste, but also many useful and healing properties. While it is best known for its berries, the roots and leaves of the plant also have medicinal properties and can be used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and other ailments.

Where does the blackberry grow and what does it look like?

Blackberry is perennial plant, but, unfortunately, in the gardens it can be found quite rarely. The plant is forgotten, and not deserved, because this product has an incredible amount of really positive properties. Today we will no longer talk about garden blackberries, but forest ones.

Blackberry belongs to the subgenus of the genus "Rubus" from the family "Pink". This family includes raspberries, kumanika, cloudberries and other berry plants. In Ukraine, it is often called ozhina, and in the Caucasus - azhina.

Blackberry is a semi-shrub up to 3 meters high. It has straight, curved to the bottom, branches that, when in contact with the ground, easily take root. This property of a berry plant makes it easy to multiply and form thickets. In horticulture, this is often used to create green hedges.

The stems are rough, knotty and with coarse thorns, which become woody as the shrub ages. After fruiting, two-year-old branches die off.

The leaves are green, have 5 or 7 lobes, serrated. There are spines on the back of the leaf.

Blackberries bloom from June to August with white or pink flowers that have outstretched petals that are longer than the sepals. The berries ripen at the end of June, in July.

Fruits are shiny blue-black to black-red when ripe. The taste of the berries is sweet, fragrant and slightly astringent. They make various preparations for the winter: jam, twisted with sugar, jam, jelly. You can freeze the berries.

Blackberries grow on many continents. The main regions of its growth are considered northern. But it also does well in warmer climates. It can be found both in forest clearings, and on hills, meadows, along the banks of rivers.

Composition of blackberry berries and leaves

Blackberries contain a lot useful substances, which give them not only a pleasant taste, but also endow them with healing properties. They are a good source:

Vitamins: groups B, E, A, K, C and others;

Minerals: potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, nickel, phosphorus, manganese, calcium, chromium, titanium;

dietary fiber;

Sugars: fructose, glucose;

Organic acids: malic, citric, ellagic and others;

Flavonoids;

Antioxidants;

carbohydrates;

Anthocyanins;

Mucous compounds.

All these compounds have a beneficial effect on immune system, digestion, metabolism.

Blackberry leaves are not much inferior in composition. They contain:

vitamins;

Essential oil;

Amino acids;

Minerals;

Flavonoids;

organic acids;

Saponins.

Tannins, which have astringent properties, are also found in the roots of the plant. That is why the leaves and roots are often used for diarrhea, in case of poisoning, with ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, dysentery.

Blackberry medicinal properties

Delicious juicy blackberries are eaten raw, squeezed out of them, dried and frozen. Its healing properties have been known since ancient times. Even the doctors of ancient Greece recommended it to patients suffering from gout and arthritis.

Blackberry, due to the presence of many useful substances, has the following medicinal properties:

Anti-inflammatory;

Antioxidant;

Antiscorbutic;

Astringents;

Diuretic;

Anti-cancer;

Hemostatic;

Tonic.

The root has the strongest astringent properties. Preparations from it are used for:

dysentery;

hemorrhoids;

Inflammation of the gums and mouth.

For medicinal purposes, roots and leaves are most often used, and berries are more common in cooking.

A decoction of the leaves is prescribed for thrush in the form of baths or washings, gastroenteritis.

Berry syrup with honey is an excellent cough remedy. A glass of berries 3-4 times a week will normalize arterial pressure, will help cleanse the walls of blood vessels from cholesterol deposits, improving their elasticity, improve blood circulation and strengthen the immune system.

Anti-inflammatory properties will be useful in diseases of the kidneys, urinary system, intestines, gallbladder.

Antioxidant properties are useful not only as a means of preventing aging of the body, but also as a prevention of cancer.

The use of berries helps to rejuvenate the body, neutralizes free radicals, and has a positive effect on the blood and brain.

Blackberries contribute to the normalization of sleep, relieve stress, help to relax and get rid of chronic fatigue.

Blackberry preparations, especially roots and leaves, are known as good hemostatic agents, they are able to leave blood not only outside, but also internal hemorrhages. They are effective for hemophilia, rectal bleeding, uterine bleeding, heavy periods, bleeding gums.

Fresh leaves and poultices can be applied for insect bites, wounds, and to reduce blistering from burns.

Blackberry application

With shortness of breath, nervousness, a decoction of the twigs of the plant helps. They take decoctions of the leaves for anemia, heart disease, and menopause.

A fragrant and fragrant tea is brewed from the leaves. It can also be used for washing wounds, as a lotion for skin care, especially oily.

A tea or infusion of the leaves can be used to treat venous ulcers, dermatitis, eczema, arthritis, rheumatism, osteoarthritis.

Fresh leaves discourage the desire to snack and reduce appetite, which is useful for weight loss. In addition, chewing fresh leaves improves gum health and freshens breath.

Decoctions and infusions are used for neurosis, menopause, for gargling and mouthwash. Drink them for colds, flu, infections, as a mild diuretic. These drugs have pronounced diaphoretic properties.

Fresh juice can gargle with hoarseness, pharyngitis, tonsillitis.

Blackberry leaf tea

To make tea, you need to pour 1-2 tablespoons of fresh or dried leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave for 5-10 minutes.

Tea can be drunk throughout the day, preferably between meals.

Tea can be brewed with fresh or dried berries.

Infusion of blackberry leaves

For infusion, take 2 tablespoons of leaves (fresh or dried) and brew with a glass of boiling water. Wrap and insist for an hour.

Blackberry Root Infusion

Pour 2 tablespoons of crushed plant roots with 0.5 liters of boiling water and insist for 6-8 hours. After insisting, put on the stove and boil for another 3 minutes.

Filter and take as directed. A decoction of blackberry roots helps with diarrhea, flu, respiratory diseases, it is used for gargling and diseases of the oral cavity.

Infusion for hypertension

Blackberry leaves (3 parts) are brewed together with a shepherd's purse (1 part), sunflower petals (2 parts) and hop cones (0.5 parts). Brew a tablespoon of the collection with a glass of boiling water. Infuse and drink throughout the day.

Blackberry decoction for neurosis

2 tablespoons of young twigs and blackberry leaves pour 0.5 liters hot water and boil over low heat or a water bath for 20 minutes. Let cool slightly and strain. Drink 50 ml 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Blackberry juice for diarrhea

Squeeze 100 ml of juice from the berries. Put on the stove and add 5-6 pieces of clove buds. Boil on low heat for 4-5 minutes and cool. Take 1 tablespoon every 2 hours.

Root decoction for bleeding

Pour 100 grams of roots with 500 ml of hot water and boil at a low boil until half of the liquid remains from the original volume.

Filter and cool to room temperature. Top up the decoction to 500 ml with red wine. Divide into several equal parts and drink them throughout the day.

Infusion for diabetes

Prepare a collection of equal parts of blackberries, horsetail grass, ash leaves, valerian root and stinging nettle. Take 2 tablespoons of chopped collection and brew with 1 liter of boiling water. Insist for 3 hours and filter. Take 100 ml every 4 times a day after meals.

Decoction of berries for urinary incontinence

Take blackberries and blueberries in equal proportions. Pour a tablespoon of the collection with 500 ml of hot water and boil over low heat for a quarter of an hour. Drink a decoction of 1 cup 4 times a day.

Contraindications and side effects

Despite the fact that blackberries are food products, they still have a number of contraindications. First of all, it is an allergy to these berries, which can manifest itself in various allergic reactions.

Preparations from the roots and leaves should not be used for a long time. The optimal course of treatment is no more than one week, since they have powerful astringent properties.

A large amount of tannins can cause nausea and vomiting in some people.

It is not recommended to give medicinal preparations with blackberries to children under 2 years of age. For young children and the elderly over 65 years of age, prepare drugs at a lower concentration and increase if well tolerated.

Collection and preparation

Blackberries are harvested at full ripeness. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Since useful substances are preserved during drying, they can be dried in the sun, in an oven or an electric dryer at a temperature of at first no higher than 70 degrees, then lowering to 50 degrees and with air ventilation. Dried berries can be stored up to 2 years.

You can freeze fresh berries. In this form, they are stored until the next harvest. Only ripe fruits are selected for freezing. They need to be sorted out, cleaned of adhering leaves and other debris, rinsed with cold water and dried on a paper towel. Then put into small bags or containers with a lid.

Harvesting of roots is carried out at the end of the growing season. The dug roots are cleaned from the ground, washed and cut into small pieces. Dry them in the shade in a ventilated room, oven or electric dryer at a temperature not exceeding 50 degrees.

leaves for therapeutic use collected during the flowering period. You can collect them throughout the summer. Dry the leaves also in the shade in a ventilated area.

Store prepared raw materials in paper or cloth bags, bags or cardboard boxes.

What is useful blackberry berry, see the program "Live Healthy"

Blackberry is a perennial subshrub of the Rose family, which gives a person delicious black fruits that resemble raspberries in shape.

How and where blackberries grow is well known by lovers of this delicacy and supporters of alternative medicine.

The article tells what are the benefits of blackberries for the body, how to be treated with this plant and cultivate it on the site, recipes for preparing blackberries for the winter.

The composition and calorie content of blackberries

In black berries there is a whole range of substances that are most beneficial to health. Among them are mono-, disaccharides, aromatic substances and anthocyanins, pigments and tannins, fiber, pectin compounds, bioflavonoids.

Lots of fruit organic acids:

  1. salicylic;
  2. block;
  3. wine;
  4. lemon;

vitamins blackberries, as well as minerals, are very diverse:

  • carotene;
  • alpha-tocopherol;
  • vitamins P, K;
  • vitamin C;
  • B vitamins;
  • vitamin RR.

Main macronutrients:

  1. nickel;
  2. iron;
  3. molybdenum;
  4. chromium;
  5. barium;
  6. titanium;
  7. vanadium;
  8. copper (only about 20).

When wondering what is more useful - blackberries or raspberries, it should be noted: there are much more vitamins P (rutin, catechins, etc.) in black berries.

It also contains a number of antioxidants and is considered a much stronger anti-cancer agent than raspberries.

Caloric content of the product - 31 kcal, but in a frozen berry, the indicator increases (64 kcal).

Blackberry - useful properties and contraindications

Why is blackberry useful for a person? Even healers of antiquity used it for medicinal purposes, and modern scientists support them. For example, regular consumption of treats can prevent and stop the growth of cancer cells.

Phenolic compounds of berries strengthen capillaries, tone up veins. Flavanols, anthocyanins have an anti-inflammatory effect, so they help with joint pain, SARS, flu, colds.
A blackberry-like berry, the raspberry, contains salicylates and can bring down a fever. The black "relative" has the same property, it can also be treated at elevated body temperature.

Unripe fruits are used for diarrhea, intestinal disorders, ripe, on the contrary, will be needed for constipation.

Other beneficial features blackberries:

  1. eliminate insomnia, neuroses;
  2. get rid of atherosclerotic plaques;
  3. remove salts with gout;
  4. treat bleeding gums;
  5. help with ulcers, abscesses;

Like other plants, the health benefits and harms of blackberries combine and coexist together. There are some contraindications to the use of these fruits, which you need to remember and know:

  • severe forms of diabetes;
  • exacerbation of gastritis, colitis, ulcers;
  • acute pancreatitis;
  • acute diseases of the excretory system.

What is blackberry good for women

Not everyone knows about valuable properties fruits and their ability to reduce skin greasiness, nourish it, reduce the severity of pores, rejuvenate the face, restore hair.

The beneficial properties of garden and forest blackberries for women also lie in the ability to normalize hormonal balance and reduce symptoms during menopause. Also, the plant and its fruits can treat kidney diseases, Bladder which are common in women.

Blackberry mask

Grind the berries (spoon), add a teaspoon of sour cream, honey to the gruel. Apply to face, leave for 15 minutes.

Infusion with menopause

Mix 1 part hawthorn flowers and berries, 2 parts woodruff leaf, motherwort herb. To a spoonful of raw materials, add the same amount of crushed blackberries, pour a glass of boiling water. Infuse for an hour, drink 100 ml three times a day.

Blackberries during pregnancy

A natural forest product or a berry from your site will be desirable for future mother. The product almost does not cause allergic reactions, therefore, experts in a voice say about its great benefits for women.

Blackberries for pregnant women will be valuable because of the ability to eliminate constipation - this property is due to the presence of a large amount of dietary fiber.

The berry contains folate, a natural substance, a derivative of folic acid, which reduces the frequency of miscarriages and congenital malformations of the fetus. Thanks to vitamins C, A, E, the development of the baby will proceed optimally, and the mother's body will protect itself from free radicals and heavy metals.

Blackberries while breastfeeding

As with other berries and fruits, certain restrictions are imposed on the consumption of blackberries during lactation. Is it possible for a nursing mother to have a blackberry, you need to determine by the age of the baby.

If he is 4 months old, you should try this product in the amount of 2-3 berries. In the absence of pathological reactions, blackberries can be eaten 2 times a week for 100 g.

Allergy to the product is rare, but due to biological active substances and fiber, it can provoke intestinal disorders in infants.

But for older babies (from 6-9 months), the benefits of fruits can already serve perfectly: iron, potassium are urgently needed by an actively developing organism, as are B vitamins and carotenoids.

Blackberry leaves - medicinal properties and contraindications

The leaves of the plant are rich in flavonoids, tannins, leucoanthocyanins, ascorbic acid, minerals, amino acids.

They are widely used in alternative medicine. The healing properties of the blackberry leaf are used for disorders of the digestive system, menstrual irregularities and painful periods.

Leaf infusions are useful for beriberi and anemia, metabolic disorders. Apply means with a blackberry leaf and from viral infections, to strengthen immunity, from varicose veins.

Contraindicated folk remedies based on a plant leaf with:

  • acute inflammatory diseases of the kidneys;
  • kidney stones.

Contraindications are associated with a strong diuretic effect of the leaf, but as part of the fees, it can help with chronic cystitis, pyelonephritis.

Why blackberries are good for the body: health recipes

Below are recipes for the treatment of various pathologies, which include berries and blackberry plant materials:
  1. From diarrhea. Squeeze the juice of berries (100 ml), put it on fire. Throw in juice 5, cook in a bath for 5 minutes. Drink a spoonful every 2 hours for diarrhea.
  2. From diabetes. Prepare a collection of equal parts of a blackberry leaf, ash, horsetail, valerian root. Brew 2 tablespoons of the collection with a liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink every 4 hours, 100 ml. The course is 14 days.
  3. From neurosis. Pick up young leaves and branches of the plant, grind the raw materials well. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mass into 500 ml of boiling water, cook in a bath for 20 minutes. Take after filtration and complete cooling, 50 ml three times / day for a course of 14 days.
  4. From SARS. Add a few berries, crush, let cool. Put, drink 2-3 cups of tea a day until recovery.
  5. From angina. Squeeze the juice of berries, dilute with water twice. Gargle with sore throat, as well as with acute pharyngitis.
  6. To strengthen the immune system. Eat 100 g of berries daily or drink 50 ml of fresh blackberry juice a month.

The difference between black raspberries and blackberries

Outwardly, both berries are very similar, and it is easy to confuse them. But there are a number of signs that distinguish black raspberries from blackberries:

  1. When harvesting raspberries, the drupe is removed from the receptacle so that it remains hollow inside. When picking a blackberry, the receptacle remains inside the berry, and a white center will be visible in the center.
  2. Raspberries ripen by July, blackberries - by August-September.
  3. Black raspberries have low, squat, bluish shoots, while blackberries have tall, green, with large thorns.

Planting and care of garden blackberries

Now the plant can be successfully grown in the garden, in the country. Plant bushes are divided into 2 groups - sundews (creeping) and blackberries (erect).

The first fruits are tastier, larger, but it is more difficult to grow them at home. The most commonly cultivated varieties of blackberries are thornless (Ruben, Loch Ness, Waldo and others).

The yield of the plant is higher than that of. For planting a good variety is best purchased in a special nursery. It is necessary to plant a plant in the spring, by the beginning of May, when the soil warms up well.

The place should be well lit, protected from the wind. Organic and mineral fertilizers are applied to the depleted soil before planting.

Blackberries are planted 2-3 seedlings in a hole, the distance between the bushes should be 1.8 meters in length and width. Plants should be watered regularly, the soil loosened, if necessary, fertilized and treated for pests and diseases.

During the ripening of the crop, the bushes should be shaded from the sun. If in winter frosts reach more than -10 degrees, the bushes need to be covered for wintering.

When the blackberry ripens

AT middle lane the ripening time of black berries falls on the beginning of autumn. Indeed, later blackberries are harvested in forests only, in swamps -.

But modern plant varieties are adapted to the standard berry harvest, so they can produce tasty berries a little later than raspberries (end of July - August).

Still, blackberries need a longer growing season than other berries in the garden. In late varieties, this time is 2 months, in early varieties - one and a half.

In addition, the berry blooms late, so the tasty delicacy ripens more slowly. On one branch of a blackberry, you can find both green and ripe fruits, so you can use them for a long time.

Blackberry jam for the winter - five minutes

There are many ways to harvest berries. For example, blackberry compote for the winter, jellies, tinctures and syrups with the product are delicious. It is good frozen, in the form of jam. Products:

  • blackberry - kilogram;
  • sugar - kilogram.

Rinse the berries, let the water drain. Pour sugar in layers in a saucepan, leave for 2 hours.

Then gently mix the mass, put on fire (slow). Boil after boiling for 5 minutes, then pour into sterile jars, roll up.

And here's another yummy:

Today I want to talk a little about one wonderful berry - the blackberry. I think that many of us have at least a few garden blackberry bushes growing in our garden plot. For its successful cultivation, you need to know how to plant it and when and with what is right in order to get a good harvest. And then we eat fresh berries with pleasure and prepare them for the winter in the form of jam or preserves, freeze them and prepare blackberry syrup.

Let's discuss not only its taste, but also all the benefits that this fragrant berry shares with us. We will learn something new and interesting and just once again make sure that we do not love her in vain.

Blackberry can be safely called the most useful berry, its vitamin composition it surpasses even our favorite raspberry. Another of its advantages is the fact that blackberries bear fruit just when other berries have already ended, so to speak - August-September is the time for blackberries.

The benefits of this berry are not only in the fruits themselves, but also in each of its leaves, from which they prepare a healing, restorative green tea. Blackberry is a natural source, so necessary for our body.

It is the color of blackberries - from dark blue to almost black, that indicates that they contain high level antioxidants. But they are a significant part of the prevention of many diseases. To obtain maximum benefit Of course, it is better to use it fresh.

  • For many centuries, the juice obtained from ripe blackberries was used to dye fabrics in indigo, and things of this color could only be afforded by representatives of the nobility.
  • Today we use blackberry juice as natural food coloring, for the preparation of a variety of desserts, creams, yoghurts and pastries.
  • In folk medicine, ripe blackberries are used as a mild natural laxative and include them in, but unripe red berries, on the contrary, are drunk to combat diarrhea.
  • Just half a glass of fresh juice from a ripe blackberry almost provides us with the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.

What vitamins are in blackberries?

Blackberries are one of the richest berries in vitamins. Also in its fruits - a high level of fiber, which has a beneficial effect on digestion, antioxidants that support the youth of our body, and whole line macro- and microelements.

Vitamins in blackberries per 100 grams

  • Vitamin PP - 0.4 milligrams
  • Beta-carotene - 0.1 milligrams
  • Vitamin A - 17 milligrams
  • Vitamin B1 - 0.01 milligrams
  • Vitamin B2 - 0.05 milligrams
  • Vitamin C - 15 milligrams
  • Vitamin K - 0.02 milligrams
  • Vitamin E - 1.2 milligrams

Macro and microelements in blackberries per 100 grams

  • Calcium - 30 milligrams
  • Magnesium - 20 milligrams
  • Sodium - 1 milligram
  • Potassium - 162 milligrams
  • Zinc - 0.53 milligrams
  • Iron - 0.62 milligrams

The benefits and harms of blackberries

Eating fresh blackberries has a general strengthening effect on our health. They improve metabolic processes and stimulate proper metabolism, which means we can safely include it in the menu when. These berries help us maintain our immunity, especially in winter. The good news is that if you blackberry, then it will retain all its "usefulness" until the next harvest.

Thanks to his chemical composition- Namely, the bioflavonoids contained in it, blackberries are considered a good natural antipyretic. Also, it is worth mentioning that its berries have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

As we mentioned above, red - unripe berries and young blackberry leaves help to cope with diarrhea and intoxication. They are also used in the complex treatment of problems of the gastrointestinal tract and even with peptic ulcers.

The energy value of blackberries is 43 kilocalories per 100 grams of product. Also, 100 grams of fresh berries contain: proteins - 1.4 grams, fats - 0.5 grams, carbohydrates - 10 grams.

Fresh berries or blackberry juice also have a positive effect on our circulatory system, it is believed that regular eating of blackberries improves brain functions such as memory, mental alertness, so to speak, and normalizes sleep.

By and large, it is not easy to overestimate the benefits of this berry for the human body, so eat to your health! Separately, I would like to say that blackberries, which are quite sweet in their composition, unlike many other berries, can and even need to be eaten by those who are faced with such a problem as diabetes.

Blackberry harm

One of the most important rules for eating blackberries is the norm; you cannot overeat it, as in principle most other fruits. It is worth considering the high content of acids in it, and a large amount of fructose, in general, we adhere to the truth that everything is good in moderation! And of course, it can greatly harm health in case of individual intolerance or allergies.

You can praise the useful qualities, wonderful taste and magical aroma of blackberries for ages. We love her and for good reason. These berries have long been included in the recipes of our homemade pastries and all kinds of desserts, liqueurs and sauces for meat are prepared from it, so thanks to the blackberry for everything, and we only need to decide how we will eat it healthy 🙂

In terms of botanical classification, the blackberry is a subshrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. But much more interesting are the fruits of blackberries. Outwardly, they are very similar to raspberries, but differ in rich dark purple and sweet and sour taste. Berries are not only tasty, but also extremely healthy, and the culture itself has become widespread in folk medicine.

From this article you will learn what useful properties the fruits and leaves of blackberries have, what substances are part of the berries and how they are used in traditional medicine. We will also pay attention to contraindications, since blackberries, like other cultures, are not useful for everyone.

Harmful and beneficial properties of blackberries

A blackberry-based drink is a good antipyretic that brings down a strong temperature in the shortest possible time and eliminates the focus of inflammation.

Blackberries are very useful for women who have reached menopause, experiencing severe menstrual pain or frequent hormonal disruptions. Also, eating fruits fresh or as a tea can help stabilize blood pressure, improve blood composition, calm the nervous system and relieve increased excitability.

Note: The fruits have one characteristic feature in terms of the gastrointestinal tract. Ripe berries have a pronounced fixing effect, so they are often used to eliminate digestive disorders. However, if the berries are overripe, the effect will be completely opposite, since their use has a laxative effect.

Blackberry helps to speed up the metabolism in the body and is useful for obesity. Also, the use of berries effectively affects the reduction of cholesterol in the blood, and for this reason it is often prescribed for the treatment of the liver. The pectin contained in the fruits can remove pesticides and salts of heavy metals from the body.

Compound

The uniqueness of the plant lies in the rich vitamin and mineral complex, which is part of the berry (Figure 1).

  • Vitamin C
  • Provitamin A (carotene)
  • Vitamin E, K, P, PP
  • Almost all B vitamins

In addition to vitamins, fruits contain fiber, and a number of such minerals: potassium, sodium, cobalt, magnesium, calcium, copper, phosphorus, nickel, iron, vanadium, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, titanium, barium. Such a rich composition makes blackberries one of the most useful berries.


Figure 1. Useful properties of culture

Organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric, salicylic) in the composition of the berry occupy about 1%. It also contains up to 7% natural sugars and up to 1% pectin. Useful properties are not only berries, but also leaves that are rich in tannins (approximately 20%) - mainly flavonols, leukoanthocyanides, ascorbic acid, amino acids and minerals.

The calorie content of fruits is low and amounts to 36 kcal / 100 g. Due to this, fruits are often used in diet food. In addition, the ability of the culture to speed up the metabolism will be extremely useful for people who are struggling with being overweight: regular consumption of blackberries will help you lose weight quickly and maintain the result.

Health benefits of blackberries

Despite the fact that blackberries are considered one of the most useful crops, not everyone knows what benefits regular consumption of berries can bring.

Since the fruits of the culture contain many vitamins and microelements, the beneficial properties of the fruits are quite pronounced.

The main advantages of culture include:

  1. Blackberry helps to strengthen the immune system, saturates the body with useful substances and vitamins, has strong protective properties, helps to cure colds and lower the temperature.
  2. Daily consumption of fruits significantly reduces the likelihood of cancer and helps stop the formation of cancer cells.
  3. It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and improves blood composition.
  4. Berries are useful for the digestive system, help to cope with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and improve metabolism.
  5. Helps cleanse the body of toxins, radionuclides and salts of heavy metals.
  6. Overripe fruits have a laxative effect, and unripe berries have a fixing effect.
  7. It is used in folk medicine for the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
  8. Recommended for people who suffer from diabetes.
  9. People suffering from inflammation of the joints.
  10. Eating blackberries is good for work nervous system, improves sleep and has a calming effect, and also helps to cope with menopausal neuroses.
  11. It has a positive effect on brain activity, improves memory and activates thinking processes.
  12. Recommended by nutritionists for overweight people.

It is noteworthy that not only the berries themselves, but also the leaves of the culture have useful properties. Since the use of these parts of the plant has certain differences, we will consider the features of their use in more detail.

Leaves

The leaves of the shrub are rich in flavonoids, tannins, leucoanthocyanins, ascorbic acid, minerals and amino acids. Because of this, they are often used in folk medicine for the preparation of various decoctions, tinctures and medicinal teas (Figure 2).

The healing properties of the leaves are used in the event of disorders of the digestive system, menstrual irregularities and pain during menstruation. Also, the leaves have proven themselves in the treatment of external diseases - stomatitis, eczema, dermatitis, rashes. Made juice based on fresh plant materials will help heal any ulcer or wound.


Figure 2. Use of the leaves of the culture in traditional medicine

The use of infusions from the leaves is useful for anemia and beriberi, metabolic disorders. In the event of viral infections and to strengthen immunity, from varicose veins, products with this plant material are used.

Folk remedies based on the leaves of the plant are contraindicated in such cases:

  • In acute inflammatory diseases of the kidneys
  • For kidney stones

These contraindications are associated with a strong diuretic effect of the leaves, but as part of the fees it helps with chronic pyelonephritis and cystitis.

The leaves of the shrub have a remarkable antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic and wound-healing effect. Plant materials have a wide spectrum of action and for this reason experts recommend taking decoctions based on it for dysentery, diarrhea, ulcers, eczema, lichen, purulent tonsillitis, pulmonary and gastric bleeding.

If you finely chop the leaves and squeeze the juice out of them, then you get good medicine from such diseases:

  • Tracheitis
  • pneumonia
  • Anemia
  • Bronchitis
  • Pharyngitis
  • Angina
  • fevers
  • Gynecological diseases

Regular intake of blackberry juice has a tonic, restorative and calming effect on the human body.

A decoction of the leaves is taken in the event of gastric bleeding and gastritis, and the infusion is often used as a rinse for various gum diseases, stomatitis and caries.

Fresh plant material can be applied to the legs for several hours in case of varicose veins or old ulcers. The leaves will reduce pain and have a regenerating effect. When the leaves are completely dry, they must be replaced with fresh ones. This procedure must be performed until the ulcers are completely healed. With varicose veins, compresses should be done regularly and for a long time.

Using blackberries as a remedy, it should be borne in mind that any traditional medicine will have a positive result only with prolonged use. Therefore, it makes no sense to expect an effect after just a few procedures.

Berries

Even in ancient times, traditional healers used culture for medicinal purposes, and modern scientists have proven the correctness of their actions. For example, with regular consumption of this berry, it is possible to prevent and stop the growth of cancer cells (Figure 3).

Phenolic compounds of fruits help strengthen capillaries, tone up veins. Flavonols and anthocyanins have an anti-inflammatory effect, for this reason they can be used for ARVI, joint pain, flu and colds.


Figure 3. Useful properties of berries

Outwardly similar to blackberries, raspberries contain salicylates and can bring down a fever. Raspberries are the same medicinal property like the blackberry. However, unripe berries can be used for diarrhea and intestinal disorders, while ripe berries can be useful for constipation.

Berries also have the following health benefits:

  1. Get rid of atherosclerotic plaques
  2. Eliminate insomnia and neuroses
  3. Treat bleeding gums
  4. Removing salt from gout
  5. Help with ulcers and ulcers

In addition to beneficial properties, blackberries also have negative ones that coexist together. There are several contraindications to the use of this berry, which are:

  • Exacerbation of colitis, gastritis, ulcers
  • Severe forms of diabetes
  • Acute diseases of the excretory system
  • Acute pancreatitis

When planning to use berries for medicinal purposes, be sure to consult your doctor. It is not recommended to self-medicate with traditional medicine, as this can lead to a completely opposite result, and serious harm will be done to your health.

Boiled and frozen blackberries

Fruiting in blackberry bushes occurs only in the summer, and the desire to be healthy is always present. Useful properties of this type of berries are not lost in different states (fresh, processed).

From berries you can cook delicious jam, which will also have useful properties, and compote. No less tasty will be blackberry-based jelly or syrup, as well as a healing fruit-based tincture (Figure 4).

However, it should be noted that even the smallest heat treatment leads to the loss of most of the nutrients. Therefore, in order to save them maximum number Berries are best stored frozen.


Figure 4. Methods for storing boiled and frozen blackberries

The berries collected from the bushes remarkably tolerate the effects of low temperatures and can be safely stored in freezer. It is very simple to do this, for this you need to carefully lay out the berries on a flat dish so that they do not touch each other. After that, they need to be frozen and only then poured into a special container for storage. food products in the freezer.

Blackberry contraindications

Any healthy berry has positive and negative sides that you need to know and consider before eating it directly.

It is imperative to know the following blackberry contraindications:

  1. Serious kidney diseases that negatively affect the functioning of this organ.
  2. An allergic reaction in the form of nausea, intestinal upset as a reaction to the fruit. In rare cases, eating large amounts of blackberries can cause heart muscle malfunction.
  3. In the presence of high acidity, it is not recommended to take more than 1 glass of berries per day.
  4. In diseases of the small intestine and stomach, it is recommended to drink blackberry juice, and not to eat raw berries.

You will learn a lot from the video useful information and interesting facts about the healing properties of blackberries.