Content
The beneficial properties and contraindications of blueberries will be interesting to know for all lovers of delicious berries. Blueberries are valued not only for their taste, but also for their beneficial effects on the body.
Composition and nutritional value of blueberries
Blueberries are very small, but they contain a lot of useful substances necessary for the healthy functioning of the body. In particular, the product contains:
- iron and phosphorus;
- malic and benzoic acids;
- magnesium and calcium;
- oxalic and acetic acids;
- a full range of essential and more than a dozen non-essential amino acids;
- fiber;
- sodium and potassium;
- copper;
- tannins;
- essential oils beneficial to the body.
Blueberries also contain natural flavonoids and antioxidants, which have a powerful restorative and renewing effect.
Vitamin content in blueberries
The vitamin composition of the product deserves special consideration. It contains:
- vitamins from subgroup B - from B1 to B6;
- vitamins A and E, important for skin health;
- nicotinic acid PP;
- quite rare vitamins H and K.
Contains the product and ascorbic acid, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, eating berries is especially useful for strengthening the immune system.
How many calories are in blueberries
Juicy berries have very low nutritional value. 100 g of fresh fruit contains only 40 kcal, and it is absolutely impossible to gain weight from berries.
Glycemic index and BJU content in blueberries
KBJU blueberries are distributed rather unevenly. Most of the total volume of berries is occupied by carbohydrates; the fruits contain about 6.6 g of them. The berries also contain 1 g of proteins and 0.5 fats, and over 85 g of the fruit contains water, which gives blueberries juiciness.
As for the glycemic index of berries, it is equal to 36 units.The use of the product does not lead to sharp fluctuations in blood glucose and is completely safe even for people with high sugar levels.
What does blueberry taste like?
In taste, as well as in appearance, blueberries are very similar to blueberries - they are also sweet and with pronounced sourness. But there are also differences between the berries - blueberries are characterized by greater wateriness, and at the same time the sweetness in them is felt much more than in blueberries.
The benefits and harms of blueberries for the body
Using the product is not only pleasant, but also very useful. Small sweet berries:
- increase immune resistance and protect the body from the development of viruses and bacterial infections;
- fight inflammation in the body and symptoms of fever;
- improve digestive processes and eliminate constipation;
- accelerate metabolism and improve the functioning of the pancreas;
- removes not only toxins and toxic substances from the body, but also traces of heavy metals;
- reduce glucose levels and help maintain healthy functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
- promote hematopoietic processes;
- help kidney function and relieve swelling;
- improve the condition of the skin and hair.
The product has anti-cancer properties and is useful for preventing the development of malignant tumors.
Benefits of blueberries for men
For men, eating berries is useful for preventing diseases of the genitourinary system. The product prevents the development of prostatitis and prostate adenoma, helps cope with inflammation. In addition, berries increase libido and help restore healthy sexual activity, which is especially important for men older than middle age.
The benefits of blueberries for a woman’s body
Blueberries are especially beneficial for women; first of all, they help eliminate irregularities in the monthly cycle and improve hormonal balance. Berries also have a beneficial effect on a woman’s appearance - with the help of the fruits you can get rid of acne and bruises under the eyes, regulate the production of subcutaneous fat and rejuvenate the skin of the face.
The beneficial properties and contraindications of blueberries for women also affect the nervous system. With regular use of the product, your mood improves, your sleep becomes stronger and emotional instability goes away.
Can you eat blueberries during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, blueberries are allowed to be added to the diet, but in limited quantities so as not to cause digestive problems. The benefit of blueberries for pregnant women is that the berries contain a lot of calcium, valuable for the formation of the skeleton in the fetus, and vitamins that both the baby and the woman herself need.
Can blueberries be consumed while breastfeeding?
But during lactation it is better to avoid eating berries, at least in the first six months after birth. The product often causes allergies in infants, so it is too risky to return blueberries to the diet soon after the birth of the child.
At what age can children eat blueberries?
Blue-colored berries are very useful for young children; first of all, they strengthen the immune system and saturate the body with vitamins. The beneficial properties of blueberries for children are that the fruits protect children's vision from diseases and strengthen tooth enamel, and promote good concentration.
For the first time, blueberries can be offered to children when they reach 2-3 years old and in small portions, at first just a few berries.The product often causes allergies, so you need to make sure that the child does not have an intolerance to berries. In addition, in large quantities, the berries can cause diarrhea and other digestive disorders.
What are the benefits of blueberries for the elderly?
It is especially recommended to include bluish berries in the diet of older people. The product contains a lot of valuable vitamins and mineral salts and has several beneficial effects:
- strengthens the heart and blood vessels;
- serves as a choleretic and diuretic;
- has antisclerotic properties;
- regulates blood pressure and sugar levels.
Also, in old age, people are especially prone to constipation and metabolic disorders. Blueberries help solve these problems because they promote healthy digestion and the rapid removal of toxins from tissues.
Beneficial properties of garden and forest blueberries for the body
The product benefits the entire body, but some of its properties deserve special consideration. It is because of them that the berry is so valued in the diet of adults and children.
How blueberries are good for vision
The product contains a large amount of vitamin A, so consuming it is very useful for the prevention of cataracts, glaucoma and myopia. The berry protects the eyes from the development of diseases, helps maintain good vision, and prevents the development of irritation and inflammation of the eyes. Eating fruits is especially recommended when reading frequently and spending many hours at the computer.
Blueberry strengthens or weakens
The effect of the product on digestion depends on the form in which the berry is consumed.Dried blueberries and decoctions based on them contain an increased amount of tannins, so with the help of the berries you can stop diarrhea and cope with stomach disorders.
At the same time, fresh berries contain less tannins, their astringent properties are much lower, but they contain many organic acids. Unprocessed fruits can be taken for constipation, in which case they will have a laxative effect.
Blueberries raise or lower blood pressure
The product lowers blood pressure, so it is especially useful for people suffering from hypertension. True, the berry cannot serve as a full-fledged strong medicine; if the pressure jumps frequently and very high, it would be wiser to resort to pharmacological drugs. But with minor fluctuations, blueberries help with blood pressure very well; you can eat them both to alleviate the condition and for preventive purposes.
Can you eat blueberries if you have diabetes?
Since the berry has a low glycemic index, it can be consumed for diabetes. The product will help prevent the development of complications associated with the disease - it will protect the pancreas from illnesses, strengthen the heart and blood vessels, and prevent obesity.
In this case, it is necessary to observe the correct dosages of the product. The daily dose of berries should not exceed 300 g. And it is best to consume blueberries in fresh, unprocessed form, this is how they retain the maximum amount of nutrients in their composition.
For pancreatitis
The beneficial properties and contraindications of wild blueberries turn out to be negative during the period of exacerbation of the disease. Eating the product is prohibited; blue berries, like any other, contain too many organic acids, which only irritate the diseased organ.Consuming the product for acute inflammation of the pancreas will only lead to nausea, pain, diarrhea and severe complications.
But during the period of remission, eating blue berries is very useful; they will improve the production of digestive enzymes and help prevent another exacerbation. It is best to cook blueberry-based jelly, compotes and jellies. You can also eat fresh berries - no more than 3 small spoons per day, so as not to harm the body.
For bronchitis
Juicy blueberries contain a large amount of ascorbic acid and are therefore a good cold remedy. Taking berries is useful for reducing fever and activating the immune system. It is also recommended to use the product for coughs and bronchitis - the berries act as a natural mucolytic and help to liquefy and remove mucus from the bronchi.
For medicinal purposes, you can eat fresh berries, or you can prepare decoctions and compotes based on them.
For oncology
Blueberries contain the most important vitamins, as well as flavonoids and natural antioxidants. When consumed regularly, berries promote tissue renewal at the cellular level, they rejuvenate the body, improve its protective resistance, and help fight negative processes.
In case of oncology, berries are able to suppress the growth of malignant cells and prevent the development of tumors. Both fresh berries and blueberry compotes will be of great benefit.
Applications of blueberries
Delicious juicy blueberries are used not only for the treatment and prevention of diseases. It is used in cooking and home cosmetology, as well as in weight loss diets; the berry helps maintain slimness.
In cooking
Many people eat blueberries as they are, as fresh berries, and enjoy their sweet, slightly sour flavor. But in cooking, the product is used much more widely; many healthy and tasty delicacies are prepared on its basis. For example, berries are used in cooking:
- fruit drinks, compotes and jelly;
- smoothie;
- dumplings and cottage cheese;
- berry puddings and tartlets;
- cheesecakes and muffins;
- pies and pies;
- jelly and jam.
Blue-colored berries can be added to ice cream - this will give the delicacy an unusual and very pleasant taste. Baking with blueberries and berry jam are very suitable for consumption with weak tea; the berries go well with most fruits and other berries. Blue berries on the table not only delight with their fresh taste, but also improve your mood and also help improve your health in the autumn-winter period.
In cosmetology
Blueberries are often used for cosmetic purposes; thanks to their vitamin composition, they have a very positive effect on the skin when applied externally. Masks and scrubs based on berries:
- rejuvenate the skin due to the presence of antioxidants in the composition;
- have a cleansing effect and help fight pimples, blackheads and blackheads;
- relieve facial swelling and improve color, as they remove waste and toxins from skin cells;
- increase the elasticity of the epidermis and deeply nourish the skin;
- normalize the production of subcutaneous fat and help fight rapid pore contamination.
Blueberries in homemade cosmetic masks go well with fermented milk products and cereals; they can be used in most popular face masks.
When losing weight
The calorie content of blueberries is not high at all, so the berry is often included in dietary dishes. Eating fruits does not lead to excess weight gain, but at the same time it triggers active fat burning processes.
For example, during a diet, you can replace breakfast or dinner with the following dish - mix 150 g of low-fat cottage cheese with a handful of blueberries and a teaspoon of honey. A healthy dish will help satisfy your hunger, but will not provoke fat deposits. Blueberries on a diet help maintain the necessary balance of vitamins and microelements in the body and not suffer from a deficiency of nutrients.
Restrictions and contraindications
Beneficial bluish-blue berries can cause harm in certain diseases. Contraindications for the product include:
- stomach ulcer and pancreatitis in acute stages;
- gastritis with high acidity in a state of exacerbation;
- tendency to gas and bloating;
- individual allergy to berries;
- lactation - you should not eat blueberries while breastfeeding, it can harm the baby.
It is also recommended to follow small daily dosages of berries - if you eat too many tasty berries, it will lead to diarrhea.Fresh berries are not recommended for consumption with coffee and strong black tea, since the benefits and harms of blueberries in this case become ambiguous, and the combination can cause nausea.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties and contraindications of blueberries are very diverse. Although this berry cannot be considered very common, it has a beneficial effect on the human body and, if consumed regularly, can improve the condition even with chronic ailments.
