Content
The benefits of white currants for the human body are quite great; the berry helps improve well-being and strengthen the immune system. To evaluate the properties of the berries, you need to study their composition and find out exactly how white currants are used in various fields.
Composition of white currant berries
White currant fruits contain a huge amount of vitamins, organic acids and valuable minerals. In many qualities, the white variety of currant is even superior to red and black.
Contains:
- ascorbic acid, which has a powerful antimicrobial effect;
- vitamin P, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure;
- rutin is a substance that reduces the fragility of blood vessels and improves skin condition;
- tocopherol, responsible for good blood circulation and rapid rejuvenation of body cells;
- pectin is a substance that helps maintain normal intestinal function;
- vitamin B4, necessary for the healthy functioning of the nervous system;
- folic acid, which protects against the development of cancer;
- oxycoumarins are substances that thin the blood and protect the heart from disease.
White currants also contain fructose and other natural sugars, iron and potassium, phosphorus and sodium. Berries are rich in fiber, so eating them is good for speeding up digestion.
Beneficial properties of white currants
If you regularly consume white currants, at least in the summer, the benefits for the body will be enormous. Delicious light berries:
- eliminate inflammation and infections due to the high content of vitamin C - white currant helps fight colds and viruses, accelerates the healing of injured tissues;
- improve skin condition - white currants, when consumed, stimulate the production of collagen, which means it reduces the number of wrinkles, pimples, blackheads and other skin defects;
- promote rapid growth and strengthening of hair;
- improve blood composition - the berries contain a lot of iron, which is responsible for the production of red blood cells and saturation of tissues with oxygen; consuming white currants increases blood clotting;
- promote weight loss - white currant helps cleanse the body of toxic substances and accumulated toxins, normalizes metabolic processes and helps burn excess fat deposits;
- help get rid of allergies - since white currants do not contain pigments, they themselves rarely cause a negative reaction, and with frequent use they can have an antihistamine effect and alleviate allergies to other products.
White currant is known for its anti-cancer properties. It contains a large amount of antioxidants, anthocyanins and other substances that suppress the growth of malignant tumors.White currant reduces the likelihood of developing cancer, and therapy for an existing disease becomes more successful.
The benefits of white currants for women
White currant has particular benefits for women. First of all, it is actively used for cosmetic purposes. Scrubs and masks are prepared using fresh fruits, which significantly improve the condition of the skin and have a powerful rejuvenating effect. Also, white currants are often present in diets; they allow you to lose extra pounds and maintain a normal balance of vitamins and microelements in the body.
White currant is of great benefit during pregnancy; it will help the expectant mother avoid vitamin deficiency, and the folic acid in the composition will be very useful for the fetus. White currant also protects a pregnant woman from colds and helps get rid of swelling.
The benefits of white currants for men
For men, white currant fruits also provide significant benefits. They help fight all kinds of infections and inflammations of the genitourinary system, protect against the development of prostatitis and adenoma. Eating the fruits is useful in cases of kidney failure - currants serve as an effective natural diuretic.
Since white berries have a healing effect on the reproductive and urinary systems, male potency improves and normal libido returns. Eating white currants is also useful for preventing vascular and heart diseases.
The benefits of white currants for children
White currants can bring enormous benefits to children's bodies. First of all, it strengthens the child’s immune system and serves as a prevention of viruses and colds. Berries also protect intestinal function from disruptions, help regulate bowel movements, and prevent the baby from developing anemia and vitamin deficiency.
White currant is a unique berry that can be offered to babies under one year old. For the first time, currant fruits can be introduced into a child’s diet from the age of 7 months, since the white berry does not contain dyes and it almost never causes allergies.
What does white currant help with?
The beneficial properties and contraindications of white currants largely affect the area of health. It is recommended to consume this juicy berry for certain ailments; currant fruits can reduce the symptoms of diseases and promote recovery.
- Taking fruit drinks and compotes made from white currants is useful for colds, coughs and runny nose. After a slight heat treatment, the fruits retain valuable vitamins and acids that help relieve inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
- Fresh berries and marmalades or jams based on them are beneficial for anemia and anemia, as they improve blood composition and restore strength.
- It is useful to eat white currants for digestive ailments - the berries accelerate metabolic processes and remove toxins from the body, and also prevent the development of inflammation of the mucous membranes.
- Eating white currants is useful for nervous disorders and endocrine system disruptions - the berries have a beneficial effect on hormonal and emotional levels, improve sleep quality and increase vigor.
- Taking white currants is useful for high blood pressure; it has a positive effect on blood vessels and thins the blood, which helps normalize your health.
- White currants are beneficial for liver diseases and high cholesterol; you can eat them both to prevent illnesses and as a supplement to official treatment.
- White currant berries are useful for diseases of the cardiac system, as they normalize blood circulation and reduce the risk of heart attacks.
- You can eat berries if you have diabetes - the glycemic index of the fruit is low. If eaten in moderation, currants will help regulate sugar levels and prevent the development of severe complications.
Uses of white currants
White currant varieties are used very widely. It is used to treat ailments and for preparing culinary dishes, and for appearance care. Not only fresh, but also frozen or processed fruits have valuable properties - with proper preparation and storage, white currants retain all the benefits.
In folk medicine
In home medicine recipes, white currant varieties are found very often. Several products based on white berries are especially popular.
- Strengthening tea. To prepare it, young buds, leaves and thin twigs of white currants are poured with boiling water and infused for several hours. If desired, add a spoonful of honey to the finished drink and take 150 ml per day. Tea helps with reduced immunity, and also serves as a good diuretic and helps remove small stones from the kidneys and bladder.
- Anti-inflammatory infusion. Young shoots and leaves of the plant are crushed, 1 large spoon of raw material is measured and poured with a glass of boiling water, and then placed in a water bath for 10 minutes. The finished infusion is cooled and filtered, and then rinsed in the mouth for inflammatory processes in the gums and throat.
- Decoction for constipation. About 5 large spoons of fresh or dried berries must be boiled for 10 minutes, and then left under the lid for several more hours. Drink 100 ml three times a day; currant decoction helps quickly get rid of constipation and also normalizes digestion in general when consumed regularly.
You can prepare an aromatic tincture with healing properties from white currants. To do this, 500 g of fruits and 15 leaves of the plant need to be thoroughly washed, poured into a large jar, topped with a glass of sugar, and then poured with 500 ml of alcohol or vodka.
The jar of tincture is kept for 10 days in a dark and warm place, and then filtered and used for colds, decreased immunity and inflammatory ailments. You need to drink the product 50 ml per day for no longer than 14 days, then the tincture will be beneficial.
In cooking
The benefits of white currants for the human body are also evident in cooking. The easiest way is to make compote or fruit drink from berries, but these are far from the only options for using currant fruits.
For example, with the addition of white berries you can make a light and healthy dietary salad. It is prepared like this:
- 200 g of fresh turnips are washed, peeled and cut into strips;
- in a small bowl, salt the root vegetable and mix thoroughly;
- add 2 large spoons of sour cream and the same amount of lemon juice to the turnips;
- pour 80 g of currant berries into a bowl.
At the last stage, season the salad with a large spoon of liquid honey, you can also add a couple of fresh mint leaves. You can eat the dish at any time of the day; such a salad will bring great benefits to the body and supply it with the most valuable vitamins.
A very popular dish is a tasty and healthy jam. The simplest recipe for its preparation looks like this:
- for jam, select a large enamel pan and pour 1.5 kg of washed fresh berries without branches into it;
- top the raw materials with the same amount of granulated sugar;
- The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and left for 4 hours, during which time the sugar will completely dissolve in the released juice.
After this, put the pan on the stove, wait for the sweet syrup to boil and cook for exactly 5 more minutes over low heat, stirring continuously. The finished jam retains the maximum amount of beneficial properties; thanks to the short thermal effect, the currants almost do not lose valuable acids and vitamins.
In cosmetology
White currant is a valuable cosmetic product. The vitamins and organic acids in its composition have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, especially when using homemade masks.
If you are prone to pimples and acne, you can use the following remedy:
- 2 large spoons of currant leaves are poured with a glass of boiling water;
- leave to brew for about 20 minutes;
- When the infusion becomes warm, gauze or thin cloth napkins are soaked in it and applied to the face for half an hour.
Another mask works well to whiten skin and get rid of freckles:
- half a glass of fresh white berries is mashed and passed through cheesecloth to squeeze out the juice;
- after this, the juice is mixed with a similar amount of low-fat natural cottage cheese;
- if desired, add a little cream or milk to improve the consistency;
- Apply the mask over your face for 20 minutes.
The skin becomes lighter and softer after 2-3 procedures, and it is recommended to use masks at least once a week.
White currant helps eliminate the first shallow wrinkles:
- a handful of fresh berries must be mashed and pure juice squeezed out of them;
- then the juice must be mixed with a similar amount of vegetable oil - olive or flaxseed;
- The mixture is applied to the face and neck with massaging movements and left for 20 minutes.
The mask not only smoothes the skin well, but also makes it more elastic and velvety.
To restore damaged skin, you can prepare a currant mask in combination with blue cosmetic clay. It's simple to make - a handful of fruits are mashed to a puree or mixed with clay powder until the desired consistency is obtained. Then spread the paste over the face for 20 minutes, after which it is gently washed off with warm water.
Calorie content of berries
For all their benefits, white currant berries have very low nutritional value.100 g of fresh fruit contains only 42 kcal - this is less than black currant. The fruits mainly consist of carbohydrates, they also contain some proteins, but there is no fat at all.
Contraindications for white currants
The benefits and harms of white currants are not the same for everyone. Despite its enormous value, the product can cause harm to the body. Contraindications for it are:
- individual intolerance to individual components in the composition — even hypoallergenic white currants can cause a negative reaction;
- stomach ulcer and high-acid gastritis in the acute phase - organic acids in the composition will have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes;
- hemophilia - if blood clotting is poor, the product may worsen the condition;
- hepatitis — consuming fruits is not recommended for severe liver damage;
- pancreatitis - in case of acute inflammation of the pancreas, the product will only cause harm.
Even in the absence of contraindications, berries should be consumed in moderation, preferably no more than 200 g per day. In case of overdose, they will lead to indigestion, nausea and diarrhea, since a large amount of organic acids will irritate the digestive tract.
Conclusion
The benefits of white currants for humans are very great, and the product has quite few contraindications. The berries can be used for treatment, maintaining beauty and for preparing delicious dishes - white currant fruits will be beneficial in all situations.
