Content
The beneficial properties of bracken fern have been known for many centuries, because this plant has been growing on the planet for more than 400 million years. Many legends are associated with it, and its leaves look like the open wings of the king of birds - the eagle. Unfortunately, people often do not pay attention to such unusual plants, but the value of bracken for the human body cannot be overestimated.
What are the benefits of bracken fern for humans?
Even in ancient times, fern was valued for its beneficial properties. For hundreds of years, it has been present in the diet of many peoples of Eastern cultures.
The plant “from top to root” is used in cooking, cosmetology, and medicine. It is excellent for diets, as it has a low calorie content and is easily digestible.
Bracken fern grows almost everywhere. Young leaves that have not yet bloomed, the so-called snails, are suitable for food. At a later date, the plant becomes poisonous and is dangerous to eat.
Calorie content of bracken fern
Bracken leaves are low in calories, so they are often used in many dietary dishes. Nutritionists recommend adding it to salads and as a side dish for meat dishes. Decoctions of this miraculous plant are very useful.
Calorie content of bracken is 34 kcal per 100 g.
As for nutritional value, it looks like this:
- fats - 0.4 g;
- proteins - 4.55 g;
- carbohydrates – 5.54 g.
The proteins that make up bracken are largely similar in their properties to crops such as oats and wheat. In addition, in terms of the amount of protein, fern is not inferior to such common crops as honey mushrooms, cabbage and potatoes.
However, the main feature of the plant is the high concentration of biologically active elements.
Vitamin content
The rhizome and leaves of bracken fern contain the following beneficial substances:
- carotenoids (lutein, carotene);
- lipids;
- steroids;
- tannins;
- glucositol and thiaminase.
- organic acids (vanillic, cinnamic, caffeic, aspartic, nicotinic, coumaric, etc.);
- carbohydrates (arabinose, xylose, fructose).
Among other things, bracken fern holds a leading position compared to other plants with a high content of vitamins. Scientific research has confirmed that the plant contains:
- copper;
- vitamin E;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- iron;
- ascorbic acid.
Benefits of bracken fern
It is difficult to overestimate the healing properties of bracken fern. The advantages of the plant include:
- Frequent consumption of properly prepared young bracken leaves strengthens the immune system.
- The substances included in its composition help the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- The plant helps normalize blood sugar, which means it is effective for diabetes.
- Saturates the body with iodine compounds, improving the functioning of the endocrine system and thyroid gland.
- Helps strengthen bone tissue.
- Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
- Promotes the removal of radionuclides.
- Increases human performance.
- Slows down the aging of the body, therefore prolongs youth.
- Saturates the body with healthy fiber, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system and metabolism.
For children
Bracken is often used in the treatment of children. Its poisonous properties are used as an anthelmintic. And the presence of useful substances helps in the treatment of diathesis and rickets.
For adults
Traditional medicine uses not only the leaves, but also the rhizomes of the bracken fern in treatment. Decoctions are prepared from them that help with cough. The roots are also used as a wound healing agent.
The leaves, which can heat up arbitrarily, are used as a wrap for radiculitis and rheumatism. In addition, decoctions of the leaves are used as a solution for washing wounds: this helps stop bleeding, eliminate pain symptoms, and promote wound healing.
Benefits of bracken fern in food
Today, bracken fern is often used in cooking. A properly prepared plant has a pleasant taste and retains all the beneficial properties that nature has endowed it with.
Pickling the tender leaves of the plant has become especially popular. In terms of the method of preparation, it is reminiscent of pickling mushrooms, and the taste of the pickled plant is similar to them.
Whatever you plan to cook from fern, its shoots must be boiled for 10 - 12 minutes. The water is slightly salted and drained after cooking. The product prepared in this way can be fried, marinated or stewed.
Traditionally, fern was cooked in a copper vessel. It was believed that this helps preserve all the valuable properties of the product and improves its taste. Nowadays there are cookware options on sale that can successfully replace old copper basins.
Stewed fern with onions and various types of meat is very tasty. To do this, shoots boiled for 30 minutes are combined with stewed meat, onions are added and the whole thing is simmered until fully cooked. It’s good to add soy sauce to such a dish: it will add zest to the dish and make it more refined. It can be consumed both hot and cold.
In addition, Far Eastern bracken is used in the preparation of soups, cabbage soup, side dishes and other traditional dishes. Some chefs even prepare desserts from the plant.
Very often, stewed fern is combined with rice. Then oriental notes are felt in the dishes.
There are many cooking options.If you wish, you can always find something that suits your taste and will benefit your body.
Restrictions and contraindications
When using bracken in home healing, you need to be very careful and not get carried away. The benefits and harms of using bracken fern in human treatment are not equivalent. It should be understood that the plant is poisonous, and if consumed excessively, poisons can accumulate in the body and bring an effect completely opposite to what was expected. In addition, there are categories of people who are contraindicated to use fern. These include:
- hypotensives (people with low blood pressure);
- pregnant or nursing mothers;
- persons with chronic diseases during their exacerbation;
- Small children.
Despite the fact that this plant contains a huge amount of vitamins and other valuable elements, the poison in its composition should not be discounted. An overdose of bracken fern can cause the following symptoms:
- severe pain in the temporal or occipital region;
- dizziness;
- nausea, and in some cases vomiting;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure, even to the point of fainting;
- slow heartbeat;
- suppression of respiratory functions, shortness of breath.
If the overdose is too large, it can even lead to death. To prevent this from happening, you should strictly adhere to the dosages and follow the recommendations for the use of the plant indicated on the packages and in recipes.
Bracken fern can provide both health benefits and harm.Therefore, if the plant was not previously part of a person’s diet, then before using it you need to consult a doctor who will tell you how best to use the herbal product to obtain maximum benefits and at the same time avoid negative consequences.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties of bracken fern can help in the fight against many diseases, and in addition, add variety to the daily menu. However, due to the poisonous properties of the plant, caution should be exercised, and it should also be taken into account that adding the plant to the diet should be an organic part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Then the Far Eastern bracken fern, with all the wealth of its healing properties, can become one of the building blocks in building good health.
