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The health benefits and harms of red currants are quite great - the berry helps to cope with ailments and has a cosmetic effect. To evaluate its properties, you need to carefully study the composition of currants and how to use them.
Composition of red currant berries
The chemical composition of small red fruits is very rich - they contain a lot of substances necessary for health. Namely:
- ascorbic acid;
- vitamins B and A;
- magnesium and potassium;
- iodine;
- vitamin E;
- biotin and folic acid;
- phosphorus and calcium;
- cellulose;
- vitamin PP;
- tannins.
Currants are also rich in antioxidants; they contain many organic acids, pectins and coumarins.
What are the benefits of red currants for the human body?
The benefits of small red currant berries are that the fruits of the plant:
- supply the body with potassium and thereby improve the functioning of blood vessels and the heart;
- have a mild analgesic effect during inflammatory processes;
- help improve metabolism and effectively remove toxins and toxic substances from the digestive system;
- help strengthen blood vessels and protect against the development of atherosclerosis;
- increase immune resistance and help avoid colds even in the cold season;
- improve kidney function, as they serve as a natural diuretic and remove excess fluid from tissues;
- regulate blood pressure, improve blood supply to the brain and prevent the development of strokes;
- have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gallbladder;
- protect against vitamin deficiency and promote recovery after serious illnesses and operations;
- strengthens skin, hair and nails, and also triggers cell renewal processes;
- improve the absorption of nutrients supplied with food.
Eating red currants is useful for the prevention of cancer. Antioxidants in fruits prevent the development of cancerous tumors and can slow down the course of existing cancer.
What are the benefits of red currants for women?
The beneficial properties of red currants for women include the beneficial effects of the berries on the reproductive system. Eating fruits is useful for painful and irregular periods - currants help regulate the cycle and relieve discomfort. The iron in the product helps replenish blood loss during heavy menstruation, and during menopause, the berries even out the emotional background.
Eating red currants is useful during pregnancy; first of all, it helps to cope with attacks of toxicosis. Folic acid in the product has a positive effect on the fetus.Thanks to red currants, pregnant women suffer less from edema - the berry removes excess fluid from the tissues.
Beneficial properties of red currants for men
For men, red currants also bring many benefits. Due to the fact that red berries improve blood circulation, consuming the product has a positive effect on potency and libido. The anti-inflammatory properties of the fruits help prevent prostatitis and reduce unpleasant manifestations of the existing disease.
It is useful for athletes to consume red currants. The product improves tissue metabolism, strengthens the heart muscle and increases endurance, which means it makes training more effective and safe.
The benefits of red currant berries for children
Red currants will be very useful for children; they will help improve blood composition, strengthen the immune system and help avoid vitamin deficiency. The fruits contain a large amount of vitamin B - currants are useful for the development of the muscular and nervous system, for improving concentration and memory. Eating berries has a beneficial effect on intestinal function and helps avoid constipation.
It is allowed to give red currants to children after 7 months of life - in small quantities and in the form of a soft puree. If the child does not develop a food allergy, then the dosage can subsequently be increased.
Medicinal properties of red currants and contraindications
The benefits of red currants for the human body are especially pronounced in certain diseases.Using berries fresh or as part of fruit drinks and decoctions is useful for the following ailments.
- Colds and coughs. Red currant quickly reduces high fever, has a mucolytic effect and removes phlegm, eliminates nasal congestion and general malaise.
- Cystitis. Red currant infusions help relieve inflammation and reduce pain.
- Weakened immunity. The product contains a huge amount of vitamins, especially a lot of vitamin C, so when consumed against a background of reduced immunity, the red berry brings great benefits.
- Myopia, farsightedness and inflammatory eye diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties of berries help get rid of irritation and pain in the eyes due to infectious diseases and microtraumas. And the large amount of carotenoids in berries helps strengthen the visual system and protects against decreased visual acuity.
- Gastritis with low acidity, flatulence and nausea. Currants speed up digestive processes and improve the absorption of nutrients, therefore they are beneficial for the listed ailments. The digestive system begins to work faster.
- Insomnia and anxiety. Red currants are rich in magnesium and are therefore a good remedy for stress and sleep problems.
- Urolithiasis disease. The diuretic properties of the product are beneficial in the presence of small stones - the red berry not only relieves swelling, but also helps get rid of sand and small stones in the kidneys.
- Weakened blood vessels and heart ailments. Due to the high potassium content, currants are very useful in preventing atherosclerosis and heart attacks.Eating red berries helps lower cholesterol levels, equalizes blood pressure and heart rate.
- Constipation. Red currant stimulates peristalsis due to the presence of fiber in its composition and also has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora. With regular consumption of the berry, stool normalizes.
- Bile flow disorders. The red berry acts as a natural choleretic agent and helps prevent the formation of gallstones.
- Slagging in the body. Eating red currants helps remove accumulated toxins, salts, urea and waste from tissues.
- Thyroid diseases. Red currants contain iodine, so consuming them with the permission of a doctor is useful for problems with the thyroid gland.
- Excess weight. It is useful to use red berries on a diet - currants help get rid of unnecessary pounds, but at the same time maintain a healthy balance of vitamins and microelements in the body.
The benefits and harms of red currants for the body largely depend on the dosage. To prevent the product from causing harm, you need to consume the fruit in an amount of no more than 50 g per day.
For all their benefits, red fruits have a number of serious contraindications. You need to refuse them:
- for pancreatitis and gastric ulcers in the acute stage - red berries contain a large amount of organic acids and irritate the mucous membranes;
- with exacerbation of colitis and gastritis with high acidity, in these cases currants will also cause harm;
- if you are prone to allergies - any red berries in this case pose an increased danger, and red currants should be consumed in small quantities;
- with absolute intolerance to the product;
- if you have large stones in the kidneys and gall bladder, the properties of red currants can cause the stones to move out of place and cause severe pain.
You should use red fruits with caution if you have sensitive tooth enamel - organic acids in the composition of the healthy product can cause pain. If there is a problem after eating currant fruits, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with clean water.
Use of red currant
The beneficial properties and contraindications of red currant are in great demand in several areas at once. The berries of the plant are eaten, they are used to treat chronic ailments and take care of the external beauty of the skin and hair.
In folk medicine
Even just eating fresh currants as a light snack is good for your health. But the best effect for some ailments is provided by medicinal products prepared from ripe red fruits.
- Infusion for constipation. In case of intestinal dysfunction, pour 3 large spoons of berries into a glass of hot water and leave for 6 hours. The finished infusion is filtered, and then drunk 1 glass daily until the stool returns to normal.
- Diuretic juice. For swelling and sand in the kidneys, fresh currant juice diluted with water helps well. Red berries must be squeezed through cheesecloth to obtain about 100 ml of juice, and then diluted with the same amount of water. You need to drink the product for a month, 200 ml per day, the daily portion can be divided into 2-3 doses.
- Anti-inflammatory decoction. For cystitis and other inflammatory processes in the body, a decoction based on berries and red currant leaves is beneficial.Raw materials in the amount of 20 g are poured into a glass of boiling water and left under the lid for 3 hours, and then filtered. You need to drink the product three times a day for a week, 50 ml.
In cooking
The health benefits of red currants also extend to culinary uses. Many delicious and valuable dishes are prepared based on the berries. For example, from currants they make:
- juices, fruit drinks and compotes;
- preserves, jams and homemade marmalade;
- sauces;
- filling for pies and pies;
- alcoholic homemade liqueurs and liqueurs.
Red berries are also added to ice cream and light fruit and berry salads.
A recipe for jam based on red currants is popular - it has a pleasant aroma and sweet taste with a slight sourness. Prepare jam as follows:
- about 1.5 kg of red currants are washed and dried for several minutes on a thin towel;
- then the berries are mashed in a large colander using a wooden masher and the resulting puree is pressed through tightly folded cheesecloth into a pan;
- fresh currant juice in a saucepan is thoroughly mixed with 1.2 kg of granulated sugar, it is necessary to achieve complete homogeneity;
- The sweet syrup is boiled for 10 minutes and then immediately rolled into sterile jars while hot.
You can store the jam in the refrigerator, and eat it with sandwiches for breakfast or as a dessert for dinner. A healthy and tasty delicacy does not cause any harm to the figure.
Another famous recipe tells how to prepare a sweet and sour compote based on red currant berries.
- Red currants in the amount of 2 cups are washed, slightly dried, and then mashed to a puree in a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, place a large saucepan with 3 liters of water on the stove.
- After the water boils, place red berry puree into the pan and wait until it boils again.
- Immediately after this, remove the pan from the heat and wait until it cools to room temperature.
When the compote becomes slightly warm, you will need to add 3 large spoons of honey to it and mix thoroughly. A drink without sweeteners will taste too sour; honey will make it much more pleasant.
In cosmetology
Red currants are also actively used in home cosmetology. We can list several beneficial properties of currant berries.
- The valuable properties of red berries help improve the health of facial skin; currants relieve irritation and nourish the skin, even out wrinkles and eliminate acne.
- You can prepare homemade anti-cellulite scrubs based on currants; a healthy puree of mashed berries in combination with other ingredients helps get rid of the crust on the thighs and make the skin smoother.
- With the help of currants you can strengthen your hair and eliminate its increased fragility. It is enough to add red healthy berries to hair masks a couple of times a week so that the result becomes noticeable after just a few uses.
At home, you can prepare the following useful face masks based on currants.
- For wrinkles. Mashed red currants are mixed with natural honey and low-fat sour cream in a ratio of 2:1:1. Keep the mask on your face for about 20 minutes, then carefully wash off with warm water.
- For dry skin. Fresh currant juice in the amount of 2 small spoons is mixed with honey and full-fat cottage cheese in equal proportions and kept on the skin for only about 10 minutes. The mask has an excellent moisturizing effect.
- For oily skin. For enlarged pores and increased production of subcutaneous fat, it is recommended to mix equal amounts of fresh juice from healthy red berries and wheat flour, and then spread the mask over the face and wait for it to harden. Then the product is washed off. Red currants in combination with flour help narrow pores and normalize fat production.
- Whitening. Currant berry puree and milk must be mixed in equal quantities - half a glass each. After this, you need to moisten a thin clean cloth or gauze in the resulting product and put a homemade mask on your face for 5-7 minutes.
It is recommended to use any of the masks at least twice a week, then the effect will come very quickly.
Calorie content of berries
100 g of healthy currant fruit contains about 39 calories. This makes it possible to consume red currants without fear - the berries are a very dietary product and never lead to excess weight.
Conclusion
The health benefits and harms of red currants appear in a wide variety of areas. You should eat small red berries with caution, having first read the contraindications. But if currants do not pose a threat to health, then the beneficial effect from it will be very high.
