Birch sap, its benefits and harms. How is birch sap useful for the body? Where is birch sap

Birch sap is a Russian seasonal delicacy. Continuing the theme of the healing properties of the representatives of the plant world, I would like to dwell on such an amazing and unique product as Birch juice... This is a primordially Russian drink that our ancestors used for many centuries in a row.

A real seasonal delicacy, capable of enriching and saturating the human body with a huge amount of important and necessary substances in a short time of active sap flow.

Nature miracle

Today birch sap is not as popular as it once was - it is lost in the variety of assortment of supermarkets and retail outlets. But the industrial collection continues, and birch trees can be purchased, however, only in canned form - pure or with additives.

Natural birch sap can be tasted away from big cities and industrial zones where mature birch groves have been preserved. It can only be obtained from thick-bore birches, whose diameter has grown to 18-20 cm.

The roots of such trees managed to go far into the depths of the earth, away from the poisoned outer layer, so there is no doubt about the purity of the juice. In addition, large trees recover faster from injury, without which it is impossible to get a drink.

Up to 3 liters of juice is taken from one birch per day. The duration of sap flow is 4-6 weeks - from the beginning of March (and if the winter is warm, then from the second half of February) to mid-April, until the leaves bloom.

Birch syrup tastes like plain sweet water with a woody aftertaste... The extracted juice remains fresh for only two to three days, and even then, if you keep it in the refrigerator. All undrinked liquid is sent for processing - canning or fermentation.

Many tasty and healthy drinks are prepared on the basis of birch sap, forgotten ones are especially good old recipes birch kvass, which retains the benefits and rich taste of natural raw materials.

When canning, most of the nutrients, of course, evaporate, but the juice is still rolled up, adding sugar, berries, and mint to taste. This product is very good with chamomile.

A bit of history

Birch grows everywhere, its dwarf species have managed to adapt even to the harsh northern regions. Despite their endurance and unpretentiousness, birches prefer open sunny places, therefore they often die in the shade of coniferous trees.

In addition to Russia, birch sap is consumed in Canada and the United States, albeit in much smaller quantities. In Russia, birch was and is very popular. The tree is an energy donor; it grew in almost every homestead.

If a person fell ill, then he must lean against a young birch tree so that she would take on all the ailments... Small children were bathed in case of illness, and water was poured under a birch tree - so the baby recovered sooner.

16. It is actively used by cosmetologists all over the world. Helps get rid of acne, fine lines, dry skin, dandruff.

17. Improves the therapeutic effect of traditional medicine.

It is known about the contraindications of birch sap that it should not be consumed by those who are allergic to birch pollen, stomach and duodenal ulcers, have gallstone disease or kidney stones.

In all other cases, moderate seasonal use will bring exceptional benefits and pleasure.

Do not forget that it is necessary to extract juice carefully and in a civilized manner., without using an ax or other rough tools.

A small (about 1 cm in diameter and up to 5 cm deep) hole with a bunch of dry grassy straws inserted into it will help collect the necessary nectar and will not destroy the tree.

To prolong the freshness of the juice, it can be frozen in small cubes and then used as needed. Be healthy.

Health 04.04.2019

One of the most popular cults of the ancient Slavs was the worship of birch: people turned to it with prayer, made healing infusions from leaves and buds, and cured diseases with juice. This sacred tree is the patron saint of women. The beginning of spring is a great time to go to the forest, collect tasty and healthy birch sap, and recuperate after a long winter. Today, dear readers, we will talk about the benefits and possible dangers of birch sap for our body, learn what is the right way to collect and use it, how to preserve it, and much more.

From childhood, I also have memories of going to the forest for birch sap, and I even remember the store where my mother and I bought it in glass three liter cans... Oh, what a taste it was, a taste of childhood ...

And remember how in the song of Benjamin Basner from the movie "The World Guy" it is touching and very tenderly sung:

As soon as the snowdrop blooms on time,
As soon as the first thunderstorms approach,
Juice appears on white trunks -
Either birch trees cry, now birch trees cry.

This is a real spring elixir, easy to digest and beneficial to the body. It is considered a diet drink and refreshing well.

The composition of birch sap is unique and diverse, it includes a large number of useful substances:

• Organic acids (citric, malic, etc.);
• Sahara;
• tannins;
• phytoncides;
• essential oils;
• vitamins of group B, C;
• mineral complex (potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, etc.);
• saponins;
• betulol.

The density of birch sap ranges from 1.0007-1.0046 g / ml, the dry matter content is 0.7-4.6 g / l, and the total amount of sugars is 0.5-2.3%. The composition of birch sap will vary greatly depending on the condition of a particular tree and its growth zone.

Birch sap is colorless, transparent. The taste is slightly sweet, very pleasant. All its components are easy to digest. There are no proteins and fats in the product, there are only carbohydrates.

Calorie content

The calorie content of the juice, with all the variety of its composition, is not high: only 24 kcal per 100 g. It is a very light, refreshing drink and does not cause allergies. Due to its lightness and "openness", birch sap can be perfectly combined with other juices.

Did you know that in Finland birch sap is going to be equated in value to aloe vera extract? Are cosmetic brands in Japan and Sweden increasingly incorporating it as an ingredient in their products?

The Indians used birch sap as a remedy for arthritis and other joint problems. In Korea, it is used to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and it can also reduce migraine attacks.

The benefits of birch sap for the human body

Having full information about the composition of birch sap, you can effectively use it in the treatment and prevention of certain diseases. Let's talk further about how birch sap is useful, about its beneficial properties for our health.

Useful properties of birch sap

• Improves digestion and metabolic processes. Does not irritate the mucous membranes, it can be taken for ulcers and gastritis;
• removes toxic substances, helps to cleanse the kidneys and liver;
• helps in dissolving salts. Removes sand, kidney stones. Cleans the bladder. The juice is used for urolithiasis - a monthly course of 1 liter every day;
• in combination with a diet, it allows you to reduce weight;
• stimulates the intestines, relieving constipation;
• good for joints. Drink for arthritis, radiculitis, rheumatism;
• stimulates the immune system, helps to resist colds and infections;
• helps to lower blood cholesterol levels;
• in folk medicine used to treat the respiratory system; Used for bronchitis, asthma. There is evidence that birch sap helps with tuberculosis;
• as a remedy for dehydration, it helps with elevated temperatures. Used for tonsillitis, flu, acute respiratory infections;
• has a diuretic effect. Helps well with edema;
• bioactive substances give the juice an antitumor effect;
• has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic process;
• the regenerating action is used for external use. Treat wounds, ulcers, boils, eczema;
• used in cosmetology. Removes blackheads, pigmentation, tones the skin of the face. Moisturizes dry skin. Strengthens hair roots and removes dandruff.

Also, birch sap has a general strengthening effect, therefore it helps to get rid of migraines, loss of strength, depression. But take a close look at the contraindications, we will talk about them below.

Birch sap is low in calories and healthy for metabolism, which is appreciated by many athletes. There is evidence of the benefits of birch sap for combating inflammation of the oral cavity. It also began to be used to prevent tooth decay.

Let's hear what doctors have to say about the benefits of birch sap.

When birch sap is harvested

When can you collect birch sap? The period of movement of juices is the end of March and April. This process depends on the latitude and weather conditions. The main thing here is the beginning of a stable thaw.

The collection of birch sap continues until the first buds appear. For the entire period of circulation of juices, a birch tree is able to give 3 - 6 liters of life-giving moisture. The volume depends on the size, age and place where the birch grows.

How to collect birch sap correctly?

Collection time

It is better to organize the gathering during the daytime - from 10 to 18 hours. It is then that the juice flows most actively. Avoid picking up from trees near roads and large settlements. It is ideal to find an ecologically clean place where birch cannot take anything bad from the soil.

A little test before collection

You should choose a tree of medium size (at least 20 cm in diameter) - not very old and not very young, so as not to harm. First, you should conduct a small test to understand that this birch is ready to share its wealth with you. At a height of at least 20 cm from the ground (optimally half a meter), make a neat puncture of the bark with an awl and see if drops of juice appear. If this does not happen, choose a different birch.

When you see drops on the bark, you can proceed directly to collecting the juice. There is no need to try to extract all the sap from one tree - it is better to collect it from several birches.

Remember that 1–2 liters is the volume of sap that one healthy birch tree is ready to lose per day without consequences (depending on its size). A large amount of collected sap can lead to a negative effect, up to the death of the tree.

The collection of the juice itself

There are several ways to competently collect the juice, but not one does not involve the active use of an ax! By making impressive breaks in the bark, you cause irreparable damage to the plant. Such a birch will not only no longer give juice, but it may dry out soon.

Therefore, the use of an awl, drill or knife is recommended. The depth of the hole that needs to be made is about 3 cm. It makes no sense to make it anymore, since the juice moves between the bark and the wood. To make the juice flow smoother and in the right direction, an additional device is inserted into the hole. It can be a cocktail or drip tube, or from “natural” options, a groove made of dry grass or bark. The point is that the juice flows directly from the hole into your container, and does not disappear, going down the bark.

What container to use

As a collection container, you can use a plastic bottle with a narrow neck or a jar. They need to be tied securely to the tree just below the hole.

The process of collecting juice itself takes place without the constant participation of a person, however, it is necessary to periodically visit a birch tree in order to have time to remove the container filled with juice and replace it with a new one. See how fast the juice is going and calculate the approximate time. It is ideal to observe the process every 3 hours.

After collecting the juice

After the sap is collected, remember to take care of the tree. The hole you made should be carefully plugged with moss or a peg, or covered with garden varnish or wax. This will help the tree recover from fluid loss as soon as possible.

There are several tricks for successfully collecting birch sap, known since Soviet times, when this activity was very popular:

• it is worth choosing an older birch, as its juice is sweeter and richer;
• it is better to make an incision on the north side of the tree, there is a stronger sap movement;
• it is better to start harvesting in the southern parts of the forest - there the juice appears faster.

I suggest watching a video, where everything is clearly shown how to properly collect birch sap.

How to take birch sap

Birch sap is good for almost everyone. It is easily absorbed, does not lead to allergies, tones up. And drinking fresh juice is very easy. It is enough to take a glass of juice three times a day on an empty stomach. It is recommended to drink it 30 minutes before meals. The preventive course is about a month. But you can drink a little and without a clear system, if you are healthy.

As a tonic and cleanser, this juice is drunk with acute respiratory infections. Then it is heated quite a bit.

Compotes and jelly are cooked with birch sap. It can be added to various cereals. But, in my opinion, it is best to drink it fresh. In Canada and the USA, syrup is made on its basis.

The use of birch sap in traditional medicine

Folk recipes, which include birch sap, are very popular and are considered effective in the treatment of many diseases. Here are some recipes:

• for the treatment of anemia and enlargement: mix birch, apple, beet and carrot juices in equal proportions, take 50 ml 3 times a day;
• for the treatment of colds: birch sap along with rose hips and lemon juice(1: 1 ratio) increases sweating, thereby helping the body fight the symptoms of the disease;

Birch sap copes well with many cosmetic problems and for this it is not only consumed internally, but also externally. It improves skin tone and treats skin diseases (psoriasis, acne, age spots), prevents hair loss.

• Birch ice helps preserve youth and. It's easy to prepare: just freeze birch sap in special ice cube trays and wipe your face and décolleté.
• A nourishing mask based on birch sap helps to saturate the skin with vitamins, moisturize, and improve skin color. Wipe your face with a swab smeared with vegetable oil... Then take a mixture of birch sap, sour cream and honey and apply it on your skin for 15 minutes.
• For hair, birch sap can be a medicine not only against hair loss, but also against dandruff. You can simply rub it into the scalp without rinsing, or prepare a mask: mix birch sap, honey and castor oil in a 5: 1: 1 ratio, apply to the hair and keep for 20 minutes.

A slight cosmetic effect will be noticeable even if you simply wipe your face with birch sap, like a lotion, and, of course, take it internally.

Harm and contraindications

The benefits and harms of birch sap are not at all equivalent. The harm from it is minimal and belongs to several contraindications.

It is imperative to consult a doctor if there are kidney stones. The same goes for bladder stones. The juice can cause stones to move.
In some cases, birch sap is not recommended for stomach ulcers. A very small percentage of people are allergic to birch pollen. Here juice may also be contraindicated. Children are given birch sap after a year. With diabetes mellitus, birch sap should be taken with water in a 1: 2 ratio.

How to store birch sap

Of course, the biggest benefit comes from fresh birch sap that has just been harvested. To preserve the beneficial properties of this drink for a longer period, you need to take into account the effect of factors such as light, oxygen and temperature.

Storing the collected juice

The juice is best stored sealed in a glass container in a cool dark place, the shelf life is 3 days. Then the juice begins to ferment, actively losing its benefits, and you should think about its conservation. There are 2 main ways to preserve juice:

Juice preservation without added sugar

The taste of this juice will be more natural, and the benefits will be more pronounced. Filter the collected juice through cheesecloth, separating from the pieces of bark and wood that usually come across there. In an enamel saucepan, heat to 80-90 degrees.

The juice should be poured into clean, sterilized jars and immediately rolled tightly. After wrapping the jars with a blanket, leave to cool completely. The drink should be stored in a cool place, consumed within six months.

With added sugar

Such a drink will have a sweetish taste. As in the first case, filter the juice through cheesecloth and heat. When you see that a yellowish foam has appeared on top, remove it and remove the juice from the heat, without bringing to a boil. For each kilogram of juice, add a tablespoon of sugar and citric acid on the tip of a knife. Roll up like in the previous recipe.

You can prepare many simple, tasty and healthy drinks that contain birch sap.

Birch kvass

Take 2 liters of juice, add 1 tablespoon of raisins and 100 g of sugar. Leave in a glass jar in a dark, warm place for three days, allowing to wander. Then strain the mixture and the kvass is ready. Store it in the refrigerator.

Birch sap kvass with bread

For 1-2 days, insist 3 liters of fresh birch sap in the refrigerator. Cut 200 g of black (best of all Borodino) bread into small cubes. You can fry them in the oven or in a skillet. Pour croutons into a glass container and pour birch sap (it is advisable to warm it up a little beforehand). The juice should be about 20'C. Add 0.5 cups granulated sugar and mix everything thoroughly.
Cover the container with gauze and leave in a warm place for 3-5 days. Then strain the finished drink.

Birch sap kvass with raisins

Heat the juice to 35`С. Take 20 g per liter of juice fresh yeast, three berries of raisins. Lemon zest is often added. The container is tightly closed and placed in the dark. Kvass is suitable for one and a half to two weeks.

Birch sap with honey

Birch sap with honey is a delicious combination that allows you to preserve all the beneficial properties of the sap for a long time. You will need 5 liters of birch sap, 30 g of honey, 25 g of fresh yeast and 15 raisins. Put the mixture in a dark place for 2 weeks, after this time you can use it all summer.

Birch lemonade

Birch Lemonade is a refreshing drink full of vitamins. For 4 liters of juice, take 2 large lemons and 14 tablespoons of sugar. Cut the lemon into slices, pour over the juice and cover with sugar, boil the resulting mixture and let it brew for 3 hours. After straining and chilling the lemonade, you can drink it all summer long if you store it in the refrigerator.

Health drink

For 3 liters of birch sap, you need to take 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, add 1/3 teaspoon of peppermint + 1/3 teaspoon of oregano + 1/3 teaspoon of thyme + 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid and 1/2 teaspoon tablespoons of St. John's wort, bring to a boil and preserve in a prepared dish (roll up the boiled lid in a sterilized jar with a ready-made drink poured into it).

Poems about winter as a mirror image of the Russian soul

Birch sap is a clear liquid that is released from the trunk of a tree under the influence of root pressure when the bark is broken or cut. A tube or small groove is inserted into the incision site, through which the juice flows into a prepared container. After collecting, the place of the incision is covered with wax so that the tree does not subsequently dry out.

The movement of juices near the birch begins in early March along with the first buds, and the sap is collected for 1.5 months, from early April to mid-May. Besides Russia, this juice is drunk in Scandinavia and North China.

It tastes like fresh spring water, but with sweet woody notes due to the low concentration of natural sugars.

The benefits of birch sap are great, because it contains many minerals, vitamin C, tannins, phytoncides and essential oils. On hot days, it invigorates, quenches thirst thanks to its pleasant light taste and replenishes the supply of mineral salts that a person loses during heavy sweating.

Interestingly, in the USA and Great Britain, interest in this drink has increased recently, displacing another popular tonic - coconut water.

Nutritionist Eva Kalinik says: "Birch sap is close in chemical composition, electrolyte balance, potassium and other phytonutrients to coconut water, but its main advantage is in saponins."

It is the saponins that are responsible for most of the beneficial properties of the original Russian drink.

• Throat diseases: cough, sore throat. For treatment, it is necessary to take warmed birch sap mixed with milk and starch. It is recommended to drink a glass of this drink daily until recovery.
• To improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This spring nectar stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and enzymes necessary for normal digestion. Birch sap normalizes stool, relieves constipation.
• To relieve inflammation in the mouth and prevent tooth decay, you can rinse your mouth with this juice. Are you going to have a glass of juice? Just hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. Unlike many acid-rich fruit juices, this drink does not damage tooth enamel.
• Helps relieve migraines and headaches.
• With a cold of any origin, especially a chronic one, you should take a glass of pure birch nectar daily. Natural anti-inflammatory compounds will expel disease from your body in no time.
• Swelling caused by impaired kidney function, stones and sand in the kidneys and gallbladder also surrender under the influence of birch sap. It has diuretic properties, but drinking with such diseases is possible only with the permission of a doctor.
• If you have already received your doctor's approval, you can drink one glass three times a day, for two weeks, but no longer.
• Long-lasting healing wounds, ulcers, abrasions must be treated with undiluted liquid. Its beneficial properties help to quickly heal open lesions on the skin.
• Recommended as a supportive agent for people with anemia and other blood diseases.
• With a sharp rise in body temperature, a balm of birch sap, sugar, wine and finely chopped lemon helps. All this is required to be insisted in a dark place for three months.
• Helps to cope with spring depression and vitamin deficiency. To do this, you need to drink a glass of healing liquid daily for two weeks.
• Birch sap promotes the elimination of toxic substances from the kidneys and liver - European healers knew about this back in the 12th century. To test for yourself its cleansing properties, you need to drink 200 ml every morning before breakfast. The course of treatment will take 4-6 weeks and 6-8 liters of healing fluid.
• Fresh tree sap is an excellent dietary drink, it contains absolutely no proteins or fats. If you have already started to work on yourself and have lost a few pounds, but then weight stagnation has occurred, include this useful liquid in the diet.

For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, the drink should be consumed in 1 glass for about a month. A preliminary medical consultation is required!

Cosmetic properties

Rinsing hair with birch sap makes hair stronger, restores the water balance of the scalp, and prevents dandruff. You can make a lotion with honey and rub it into your hair roots. Also, a mask of birch nectar, brandy and decoction of burdock root helps against hair loss. It is applied for 15-20 minutes, then washed off with warm water.

In Scandinavia, this drink is considered an excellent remedy for nourishing and rejuvenating the skin. With its help, women cope with the first signs of aging.

1. To get rid of blackheads, you need to apply a mask consisting of egg white, birch sap and honey to the skin. To prevent acne, wipe your face with undiluted liquid morning and evening.
2. To preserve the medicinal qualities of the drink, you can freeze it in the form of ice cubes. If necessary, wipe the skin of the face, neck and décolleté with them.
3. To smooth out fine wrinkles, a cream mask of 2 tbsp is suitable. l. birch nectar, 50 g of sprouted wheat and 200 g of mashed sea buckthorn.
4. For dry skin, a mask of tree sap and honey in a 1: 1 ratio will be useful.

The listed masks are applied to cleansed face skin, and after 15 minutes they are washed off with warm water.

Healthy drinks based on birch sap

1. Birch kvass. Juice, a few raisins and sugar are mixed for him in the calculation of 2 tsp. per liter.
2. Multivitamin juice. The drink goes well with natural citrus juices.
   It is necessary to store the juice in the refrigerator, but not more than two days.
3. Birch syrup. Obtained by liquid evaporation method. It can be added to compote, tea, or plain water. But finding it on the market is more difficult than, for example, maple syrup.

The harm of birch sap and a list of contraindications

If you like tasty and healthy liquids, you can safely drink birch sap. The benefits and harms of this drink are not equal. Experts assess its negative effect on the body as weak.

This juice can be drunk by adults and children over one year old, healthy and sick. It is approved for pregnant and lactating women, especially those who suffer from edema.

You cannot drink birch sap in case of stomach ulcers and allergies to the pollen of birch catkins. A reaction in the form of a rash and irritation on the skin is a good reason to refuse the drink.

If you consume excessive amounts of alcohol, are an active or passive smoker, are under stress, take a lot of medications (such as statins, hypertensives, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone and analgesics), and the body's defenses are running out, do not neglect this wonderful gift nature.

Birch sap (birch tree)- liquid emerging from birch in places of damage to its trunk or branches. Such injuries can be cuts or fractures, and the outflow of fluid is due to the action of root pressure in the tree.

Birch sap is a very valuable product enriched with many beneficial substances for the body, due to which this liquid has a complex beneficial effect on human health.

Composition of birch sap

• Juice density - 1.0007-1.0046 g / ml;
• Solids content - 0.7-4.6 g / l;
• Ash content - 0.3-0.7 mg / l;
• The total sugar content is 0.5-2.3%;
• Protein - 0.1 g / 100 g;
• Fat - 0.0;
• Carbohydrates - 5.8 g / 100 g;
• Among organic substances, we note: essential oils, saponins, betulol, more than 10 organic acids.

The calorie content of birch sap is- 22-24 kcal per 100 g of fresh product.

Birch sap also contains the following macro- and microelements (minerals):

• sugars - 1-4%;
• - 273 mg / l;
• - 16 mg / l;
• - 13 mg / l;
• - 6 mg / l;
• aluminum (Al) - 1-2 mg / l;
• manganese (Mn) - 1 mg / l;
• - 0.25 mg / l;
• silicon (Si) - 0.1 mg / l;
• titanium (Ti) - 0.08 mg / l;
• copper (Cu) - 0.02 mg / l;
• strontium (Sr) - 0.1 mg / l;
• barium (Ba) - 0.01 mg / l;
• nickel (Ni) - 0.01 mg / l;
• zirconium (Zr) - 0.01 mg / l;
• - 0.01 mg / l;
• traces of nitrogen (N).

The chemical composition may vary somewhat depending on the region of growth of the donor birch birch and the composition of the soil on which the tree grows.

Medical studies have shown that taking at least one glass a day for 2-3 weeks (it is optimal to drink a glass three times a day half an hour before meals) will help the body cope with spring, or absent-mindedness, fatigue, etc.

From the point of view of herbal medicine, birch sap is one of the best natural remedies for improving metabolism. Despite the fact that birch sap differs little from water, it ferments well and has a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach.

Birch sap is rich in sugars necessary for the body, organic acids, enzymes, calcium, magnesium, iron and others, which we talked about a little earlier. Due to its rich composition, it is recommended for diseases of the blood, joints, skin, as well as for, and other diseases of the respiratory system.

The use of birch sap helps to cleanse the blood, enhance metabolic processes, and removes harmful substances from the body in infectious diseases. It is useful to drink juice with and, diseases of the liver, gallbladder, low acidity, scurvy, and venereal diseases.

Birch sap also contributes to the rapid cleansing of the body of harmful substances and the breakdown of urinary stones of phosphate and carbonate origin.

Birch increases the body's resistance to colds, infectious and allergic diseases, has an anthelmintic, diuretic, antitumor effect, it is useful to wipe the skin with birch juice when, to moisturize and cleanse dry skin.

And it is also useful to wash hair with birch sap when, to enhance their growth and the appearance of shine and softness (the infusion of birch leaves has the same property). Birch sap is a good remedy for impotence. Birch "tears" have a very good effect on women during the period. If you drink at least a glass of juice a day, drowsiness, fatigue, irritability and other phenomena accompanying menopause will disappear.

Did you know that birch sap is very useful and you can drink it? From mid-March to early May, in the vast forest expanses of Russia, the gentle rays of the sun awaken the main natural symbol of the country - the birch: sap flows upward from the roots of the tree along the entire crown. The timing of the movement depends on the region and weather conditions. In Siberia, in the North-West of the country, and in the Middle Lane now, in the second half of April, the best time to drinkBirch juice- a storehouse of useful vitamins, micro-macroelements and amino acids.

Birch sap, can you take it from a birch?

I foresee the question of ecologists or people who are jealous of nature: why collect birch sap, thereby harming the tree? I am also against industrial juice collection and sloppy, sometimes barbaric handling of trees, leading to their death.

However, an adult birch can give from 1 liter to 3 liters (no more than 1 liter per day) of sap without prejudice to its health. It is like donors who donate a portion of blood for the benefit of human life and for their own renewal of the body. Often, white-borers themselves cry, losing transparent, like tears, drops of juice, because remember:

“Juice appears on the white trunks -

Either birch trees cry, now birch trees cry ... ".

Today, birch sap is classified as a biologically pure product with benefits and its cost exceeds 100 rubles. for 1 liter. Exotic or Unique Benefit? Let's see what the juice of white-barrel beauties is so rich in.

Composition of birch sap

Birch juice- a saline solution that nourishes the tree and promotes the formation of foliage and provides it with life. And it is already clear that it will be useful composition not only for a tree, but also for a person, moreover, it tastes good. It does not have a pronounced taste, it is a cool, slightly sweetish liquid with a slight acidity, reminiscent of spring water.

Birch sap contains the following components:

• Proteins;
• , the one that is found mainly only in animal products. This is what makes birch sap especially useful.
• Organic acids, enzymes, aromatic, tannins, which improve metabolism and promote the elimination of carcinogens and toxins. Phytoelement saponin in juice reduces.
• Fruit sugars.
• Microelements and their salts: potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, manganese. The juice is especially rich in potassium, which blocks sodium, reducing swelling, and improving the functioning of the heart muscle.

It is believed that in its composition birch is close to, the benefits of which have already been discussed.

Birch sap: benefits

1. The juice perfectly replenishes the balance of vitamins in the body and resists.
2. Strengthens while reducing risk.
3. The juice regulates the acidity of gastric juice, therefore it is prescribed for patients with gastritis with low acidity. Has a rare ability to scar the gastric and intestinal mucosa caused by ulcers.
4. Strengthens metabolic processes in the body, relieves depression.
5. It cleanses well the blood, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, eliminates toxins and toxins, relieves swelling, is a natural diuretic.
6. Birch sap is recommended for angina, bronchitis, pneumonia. You can just gargle them
7. Birch elixir is used in the treatment of joint diseases, arthritis, arthrosis, and salt deposits.
8. Helps with furunculosis, neurodermatitis, eczema, other skin and hair problems.
9. Thanks to low calorie, v 100 grams only 25 kcal with great benefits, it is used in diets for weight loss.
10. The juice is useful for women during menopause, as it lowers blood pressure and soothes the symptoms of this period. Eliminates fatigue, lethargy and gives strength.
11. It occupies a leading position in cosmetology: it is added to the composition of creams, masks, and lotions. Rubbed into hair.

When to collect birch sap

Birch sap usually begins to be extracted after the vernal equinox (March 21) immediately with the melting of the snow. It all depends on the weather, the tree feels it subtly. The beginning of the movement of the juice can be checked by making a slight incision along the trunk. If there is juice, a drop of it will immediately appear. So, you can start collecting. When choosing a location, it is important to consider the following points:

• The most useful is the clear juice collected in the middle of the period of sap flow. With budding, the juice becomes cloudy, bitter and can no longer be consumed.
• They collect birch sap far from the city so that the highway does not pass nearby, otherwise the sap will not be useful.
• It is better to choose a birch on a hill, in the depths of the forest, where it wakes up a little later, this juice is sweeter.
• The tree must be mature, with a trunk thickness of at least 20 cm and thick bark. But it is better to neglect too old trees, the juice in them is also bitter and almost tasteless.
• Collect in clear sunny weather, then the best movement of the juice. In the dark, the movement stops, the tree also falls asleep.

How to collect birch sap correctly without harm to the tree

It is important to correctly collect birch sap so as not to harm the tree and at the same time get the sap in full

1. At a height of about 1 meter, a hole is made with a sharp knife or drill with a diameter of 5-8 ml. Never chop the bark with an ax and make large cuts - this can destroy the tree! Do not make more than 3 holes in one barrel.
2. The sap flows between the bark and the wood, so there is no need to drill deeply, it is enough to break through the bark layer.
3. Insert a plastic juice tube, a wood stick, a metal tube in the form of a drain into the hole, fastening a thick thread, a rope at the end, or you can use a medical dropper by removing a needle from it and insert it into the hole with a spout. The juice will begin to flow through them into a plastic bottle or glass jar.
4. The volume of juice should not exceed more than a liter per day - the same amount that a birch can restore without loss. Better to use multiple trees.
5. Do not forget to cover the hole in the tree after the end of the collection with clay, plug it with grass, a stick or garden pitch, taking it with you in advance.

If you went into the forest and did not take with you devices for collecting birch sap, you can cut a branch and hang a bottle on a twig, the sap will flow down it. You can hang several bottles at once on several knots like this:

How to take birch sap for health benefits

It is better to drink juice fresh, it contains more vitamins and nutrients. Fresh juice is stored in the refrigerator for no more than three days. You can preserve the juice, but as you know, all its benefits end there. But it is better to freeze the juice, so it retains its properties more.

You can drink it with milk, making cocktails with citrus juice or mint leaves. But I think that it is best to drink the juice clean, enjoying its transparent moisture.

How to store birch sap

It is best to drink the juice immediately upon receipt. If it is not possible to get it often, you can stock up for future use and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This juice is the healthiest. If there is a lot of juice, you need to think about how to preserve it.

Freezing juice in the freezer

The most convenient and reliable way to store birch sap is to turn it into ice. And this method helps to preserve all the nutrients. So boldly pour the juice into the molds and send it to the freezer, if necessary, you can get the mold, melt and drink.

Canning birch sap

You can preserve birch sap in glass jars, but the process requires heating the juice to the boiling point at which most vitamins are killed. Of course, something of the usefulness of the juice remains, therefore the method is permissible, but you should know that it will no longer retain all the benefits of the juice.

We heat the juice to a temperature of 80 degrees and pour it into clean sterile pre-warmed glass jars and close it with a metal sterilized lid. We wrap the jars with a warm blanket and so we stand for 6-8 hours. Then we cool the jars and send them to a cold room or refrigerator. This way we preserve all the beneficial properties of birch sap.

Birch sap: harm

• allergic to pollen,
• urolithiasis,
• a stomach ulcer during an exacerbation.

Birch juice treatment recipes

Treatment with birch sap is quite affordable and enjoyable. Birch sap helps:

At chronic, sore throat, fresh birch sap is drunk every morning for 1 glass.

For a cough, it is good to take birch sap, half diluted with warm milk.

Take off gout attacks, the recipe for birch balsam will help improve kidney function:

Take 100 ml of alcohol for 1 liter of juice, store in bottles or jars. Take balm 50 g three times a day before meals for 20 minutes.

For increase in hemoglobin: Mix birch sap in equal parts with apple, carrot or beetroot juice. Take 50 ml (this is about 1 shot) 15 minutes before meals 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks.

To cleanse the body, in particular the kidneys from sand, in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, joint problems and other diseases, juice is taken 1 glass three times a day 20 minutes before meals for 2 weeks.

Conclusion

Birch for a Russian person - a symbol of bright sadness, dear to heart and soul. The image of a white-trunked beauty, gentle, flexible, slender, is sung in poetry and songs. And the birch forests are surprisingly light, soulful, mesmerizing. We will take care of them and use with care the gifts that they give us, like the rest of Mother Nature.

And everyone should try real birch sap, at least once in their life ... Now you know how useful birch sap is.

I suggest you watch a video sketch of picturesque natural places and listen to the song “I drank birch sap in a spring forest”. Music and lyrics author: Evgeny Danilovich Agranovich.

Open to us, Fatherland, your open spaces,

Open the treasured thickets inadvertently -

And just like before, give me a drink

Birch sap, birch sap!

M. Matusovsky