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Hawthorn calorie useful properties and contraindications. Useful properties of hawthorn berries for humans. Contraindications and possible harm
Hawthorn is a thorny shrub from 1 to 4 meters tall, belonging to the Pink family. Hawthorn fruits are round or slightly elongated berries of deep red color. The plant is very unpretentious and feels good, both in forests and river floodplains, and in the steppe. Hawthorn is a long-liver among plants. Its age can reach 400 years.
Hawthorn varieties
About 300 species of hawthorn grow in different regions of the planet. In our country, there are more than 50 varieties of this plant.
Let's dwell on the most popular of them:
Hawthorn (prickly) - one of the most unpretentious species. Distributed throughout Europe. The plant has yellow or red fruits.
Hawthorn blood red - a species whose homeland is Siberia and the Far East. In nature, it is found in forests growing near rivers and on illuminated forest edges. This species tolerates even severe frosts well.
Hawthorn ... Under natural conditions, it occurs in oak and pine forests of the Amur and Primorye regions. The fruits of this species are covered with white pimples.
Hawthorn single-seed (monopest) is a widespread species, the main feature of which is that there is only one bone in its fruits.
Hawthorn Maximovich - a species common in Siberia and the Far East. Very large sweet fruits of bright red color ripen on this plant.
Nutritional value, calorie content and composition of hawthorn
Hawthorn, like most berries, has a low calorie content. The energy value of 100 g of hawthorn is only 52 kcal.
Nutritional value of 100 g of hawthorn:
- 14 g of carbohydrates.
- 0 g fat.
- 0 g protein.
Hawthorn composition (per 100 g):
Vitamins:
- 90 mg vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
- 14 mg beta carotene.
- 2 mg vitamin E (tocopherol).
- 23 mg vitamin A (retinol).
Minerals:
The benefits and harms of hawthorn
Useful properties of hawthorn:
- First of all, hawthorn is used to normalize the work of the cardiovascular system. It strengthens the walls of blood vessels and heart muscle, stimulates the brain and blood circulation. Hawthorn preparations help recover people who have suffered a heart attack, suffering from arrhythmia and tachycardia. Introduced into the mandatory diet at.
- Hawthorn has a calming effect on the nervous system.
- Berries have a diuretic effect and relieve swelling.
- Taking hawthorn has a positive effect on the thyroid gland.
- Hawthorn infusion helps with headaches and migraines.
- Hawthorn has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gallbladder and liver.
- The plant normalizes sleep and helps with nervous exhaustion.
Hawthorn harm
- With extreme caution, hawthorn should be taken by patients with hypotension, since berries lower blood pressure.
- It is impossible for absolutely healthy people to take drugs with hawthorn on an empty stomach, since a sharp decrease in pressure can occur in them.
Hawthorn in the diet of pregnant and lactating women, children, diabetics and athletes
Pregnant women can take hawthorn and preparations from it only after consulting a doctor. The fact is that hawthorn tends to dramatically lower blood pressure. This can cause vomiting and dizziness during pregnancy. In addition, due to the use of hawthorn, the mother and the fetus may develop arrhythmias.
For children
hawthorn can be given from 12 years of age. Usually a decoction is made from its fruits, 
which helps to reduce nervous excitability and normalize a strong heartbeat. Nowadays, pharmacies sell hawthorn syrup, which is recommended for children from the age of five. But, you first need to consult a pediatrician.
Patients with diabetes mellitus may well include hawthorn in their diet. The sugars that make up the berries of the plant are mainly represented by useful fructose, and not glucose. In addition, a decoction and tincture of hawthorn regulates blood sugar levels.
Athletes be sure to take drugs from hawthorn. They will help keep the heart and blood vessels healthy, as well as relieve the stress that is inevitable when preparing for the competition.
How to choose, collect and store hawthorns?
- Hawthorn fruits begin to be harvested from mid-September. Harvesting can be continued until the first frost.
- When buying fresh fruits from the market, pay attention to their color. They should be dark red or bright orange.
- When buying dried fruits from your hands, you must carefully examine them. First, they should not stick to each other. Secondly, they should not have black spots and traces of mold.
- For long-term storage, hawthorn is usually dried. In this form, it can be stored for 8 years.
- Hawthorn fruits can be frozen. Interestingly, after thawing, they taste sweeter.
What dishes can you cook with hawthorn?
Hawthorn in dietary nutrition
Hawthorn is often used during. It improves the metabolism and also stimulates the intestines, which will certainly contribute to weight loss. In addition, hawthorn reduces appetite.
For the purpose of losing weight, tea made from the fruits and flowers of hawthorn and various decoctions, in which hawthorn is included as a component, are used.
Hawthorn is a berry that has long been known to mankind; in ancient manuscripts, there are many references to the fact that hawthorn was immensely popular and was widely used in the treatment of many ailments, especially in heart disorders. During the Great Patriotic War, the berries of this plant were used to replace the scarce heart drugs in those years. It was believed that hawthorn has magical properties; in ancient Greece, newlyweds weaved wreaths from the branches of this shrub and put them on the altar of Hymenaeus (God of matrimony) to strengthen the marriage and make it happy. Despite the fact that the hawthorn has already lost its magical properties and wreaths are not woven from its vine, its medicinal properties are still highly valued.
The content of the article:
Useful (medicinal) properties of hawthorn
The beneficial properties of this plant can be easily explained by its composition, hawthorn fruits contain many vitamins, including: vitamins of group B, as well as vitamins: A, C, K and E. The berry contains many biologically active substances: fructose, saponins, starch, sorbitol, organic acids, essential oils, choline and pectin. But the real highlight of this plant is the content of ursolic acid, it is quite rare in nature and is very valuable for the body. The acid has a vasodilating, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, has cardiac stimulating, hepatoprotective and antitumor properties, has a diuretic effect and is also the main component of skin collagen and actively stimulates cell regeneration.
For many people, the word "hawthorn" is associated with the work of the heart, as this plant is used to make medicines for the cardiovascular system and sedatives for the nervous system. Hawthorn is widely used in the treatment of heart diseases such as: angioedema, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, tachycardia, myocardial infarction, insomnia. The elements that make up the plant improve the functioning of the nervous system, reduce its excitability, tone up the muscles of the heart, and improve blood circulation. Also, the benefits of hawthorn are high for epilepsy, headaches and allergies. Diabetics highly appreciate it as a means of stabilizing blood sugar levels. In addition, the plant improves liver function, has a choleretic effect, and activates metabolism.
Hawthorn is widely used in folk medicine as a decongestant and antirheumatic agent. In case of nervous overstrain, the following tincture will help: 1 tablespoon of berries is brewed with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours in a warm place, after which the tincture is filtered. Drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day before meals. If you are worried about insomnia, this tincture will definitely help you - 20 grams of berries or 40 grams of flowers are brewed in 200 ml of boiling water. Tincture on flowers - 1 tablespoon, 3 times a day. If on berries - it can be used as tea.
Along with the medicinal value of hawthorn, nutritional value is also important. Kvass, compote with the addition of apples, jam, jam, wine, marshmallow, jelly, and confiture are prepared from it. The calorie content of hawthorn is not high, it is about 53 calories per 100 grams. In addition, hawthorn bark is used in textile industry as a red dye for fabrics.
In folk medicine, alcoholic tincture and hawthorn decoction are used. They are considered a good tonic, have a positive effect on the health of the cardiovascular system, strengthen blood vessels, help prevent cholesterol disease and have all the beneficial qualities of antioxidants.
Alcohol tincture is stored longer, but it is prohibited for use in diseases of the kidneys, liver, and should not be given to children. Water broth of hawthorn is more versatile, but it is not subject to long-term storage for more than 2-3 days.
Alcohol tincture of hawthorn
Take a glass of fresh berries, rinse, put in a glass jar. Pour half a liter of medical alcohol or 0.7 liters of ordinary vodka. Gently "squeeze" the berries with a pestle, leave for 14 days in a cool, dark place. After the specified time, strain the tincture into a clean bottle, the berries can be thrown away.
Take a tincture of hawthorn limited, 3-5 drops before meals with a glass of water. The product is not recommended by traditional medicine and for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, too.
Hawthorn water broth
Take a glass of berries, place in a pan with an enamel surface, pour 1 liter of water and cook in a water bath for 20 minutes. Cool, drain. The broth turns out to be "weaker", it is recommended to use it in an amount of 25 to 100 ml from 2 to 3 times a day. More specific dosages should be discussed with your doctor.
Hawthorn with honey
This remedy is used as a general tonic, it is used to prevent colds. You need to collect about half a kilogram of hawthorn berries, peel them and grind them with a blender. Add about 2 cups of lime or flower honey, and 1 cup of red mountain ash, preferably frozen. Grind everything together into a homogeneous paste, store the product in the refrigerator (up to 3 months). Take 1 teaspoon before meals.
Sugar-free hawthorn sweets
100 g of rice flour, 100 g of a free-flowing sweetener without calories, such as fitparad, 2 cups of hawthorn.
Rinse and peel the berries. Mix the bulk ingredients and pour them over the berries in a glass jar. Stir, let it brew for about a day in the refrigerator.
Hawthorn jelly
1 pack of gelatin, no calorie sweetener to taste, 2 cups of hawthorn berries.
Peel the berries and mash them with a blender. Soak gelatin in warm water according to the instructions. Add gelatin to the berries, mix, arrange the blanks in jelly molds and cool for 4 hours.
Fruit dessert with hawthorn and chocolate
Vanilla extract, 200 g fat-free cottage cheese, 200 g of hawthorn, sweetener, 2-3 tablespoons of natural cocoa, a tablespoon of oat bran, 4 egg whites, gelatin or agar, 1 pack.
Beat the whites into a strong foam, add the bran, add cocoa and sweetener. Bake the resulting dough in a microwave oven at 600 W. 12 minutes. Place the finished cake in a round shape and allow to cool. Peel and puree the berries with a sweetener. Combine with cottage cheese, stir until smooth. Add vanilla extract. .Pour the presoaked gelatin into the curd mass and mix well again. Put the filling on the cakes, chill for 4 hours in the refrigerator to harden.
Hawthorn for the winter
Hawthorn jam
1 kg berries, a glass of Fitparad sweetener, jam thickener or agar, half a lemon, cinnamon, and a couple of cloves to taste.
Rinse the berries, pass through a blender or meat grinder until smooth. Add the finished puree to a semi-liquid state with water, add spices and boil. Add sweetener, stir, add the jam thickener at the end. Warm the jars over steam and fill with hot jam. Close the lids, leave to cool under a warm blanket.
Hawthorn compote
1 kg of berries, 5 liters of water, 1 glass of sweetener.
Rinse and peel the berries, arrange in jars. Boil water, pour berries, leave to cool completely. Drain only the water, add the sweetener, and repeat the pouring-pouring-boiling procedure 3-4 times. Close the jars with lids. Sometimes cinnamon and a little cloves are also added to such a compote.
Apple jam with rowan and hawthorn
2 kg each of all the products listed in the name of the recipe, sweetener, honey extract or a glass of natural honey, thickener for jam, ground cinnamon.
Rinse and peel the berries, pass through a blender. Blanch the apples with boiling water, remove the skin, and grate on a coarse grater. Place all the ingredients in a bowl for jam and boil, pouring water so that it covers the puree completely. Add sweetener and spices. At the end, add honey or honey extract for aroma, arrange in jars, close the lids, cool under warm blanket throughout the day.
Despite the large number of useful properties of hawthorn, its harm is also obvious. The berry is categorically not recommended to be consumed by nursing mothers and pregnant women. In addition, it is imperative to know when to stop, otherwise this harm may affect a perfectly healthy person. It is not recommended to consume more than 150 grams of berries per day, if abused, a heart rhythm disorder, an increase in blood pressure, as well as disorders in the work of the kidneys and stomach are possible. Tinctures and decoctions of hawthorn should not be taken on an empty stomach. Summing up all of the above, it should be noted that hawthorn is very useful, and in some areas it is irreplaceable, but if abused (like other berries), the effect will be the opposite of the expected one. A sense of proportion should always prevail!
Calorie content of hawthorn 52.5 kcal
Energy value of hawthorn (ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates):
Proteins: 0 g. (0 kcal)
Fat: 0 g. (0 kcal)
Carbohydrates: 14 g (56 kcal)
Energy ratio (BJU): 0% / 0% / 100%
Read on for useful information about other berries:
Gooseberry
Rose hip
Thorn
Goji
Viburnum
Blackberry
Mulberry
Cowberry
Video about the benefits of hawthorn
Especially for - fitness trainer Elena Selivanova.
The hawthorn, popularly called the boyarka, can be found everywhere. This tree or shrub grows along the banks of rivers, in the undergrowth, on the edges of the forest, along ravines. It is often cultivated by planting in parks and gardens. Its beautiful white flowers, collected in inflorescences, appear in June. And at the end of August, clusters of red-orange berries hang on the branches of the boyarka.
Composition
The blood-red hawthorn (this is the name of the species most often found in central Russia and located in the same latitudes of neighboring countries) contains many organic and inorganic substances. The flowers and fruits of this plant contain minerals and vitamins necessary for the human body.
Hawthorn contains iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, which are important macronutrients. It contains even more trace elements: molybdenum, zinc, boron, manganese, chromium, copper, aluminum and many others. Scientists have isolated ascorbic acid, vitamins E and K, as well as carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.
Flavonoids are organic compounds that affect the functioning of various organs and systems. In the body of mammals, including humans, flavonoids are able to change the activity of some enzymes involved in metabolism. The flavonoids quercetin and quercitrin, which have antitumor and antioxidant effects, were isolated in hawthorn flowers. And the fruits, in addition to these two flavonoids, also contain vitexin, which dilates blood vessels and enhances cellular reactions in the heart muscle.
Sugars, tannins, nitrogen-containing compounds (acetylcholine and choline) and organic acids (citric, malic, tartaric, palmitic, coffee, etc.) are also found in various parts of the hawthorn. It is known that organic acids are involved in metabolism and are necessary to maintain the acid-base balance in the body.
Calorie content of hawthorn
The berries contain various vegetable sugars (if you taste the berries, you can see for yourself). There are 14 grams of carbohydrates and 52.5 kcal per 100 grams of the product. For comparison: 100 grams of pork meat contains 257 kcal.
And if we compare with the fruits of other well-known crops, then the energy value of hawthorn berries is much less than such sweet fruits as peaches and grapes, but slightly more than, for example, strawberries and blueberries.
Beneficial features
Hawthorn berries are quite edible, just do not forget that despite their nutritional value, it is not worth eating them in large quantities. You can make kvass from them, they are added to compotes, preserves, jams, jam. Skillful housewives prepare marshmallows, confiture, jelly from berries, and also grind them with sugar. In winter, such sweets are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals.
Hawthorn preparations have tonic properties, but at the same time they calm the nerves, reduce the number of heart contractions and normalize digestion. Some substances found in flowers, leaves and fruits are much less common in other plants, such as ursolic acid.
It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, has a mild diuretic and antitumor effect, and also restores and protects liver cells. The same substance stimulates regeneration processes in the skin, restoring collagen fibers.
The organic acids contained in the plant help to normalize the intestinal flora, which not only improves digestion, but also maintains immunity and reduces allergic reactions. Hawthorn is also known to have beneficial effects on the brain and improve memory.
Hawthorn in medicine
Even in Ancient Russia, they knew about the medicinal properties of the plant and used it to treat heart and nervous diseases. Hawthorn is also used in modern medicine. Its preparations have a cardiotonic effect, that is, they enhance the work of the heart muscle and normalize the rhythm of myocardial contractions, reducing its excitability.
To reduce pain in the heart, one teaspoon of fresh flower juice is enough. It helps relieve a heart attack by helping to improve the supply of oxygen to the myocardium. After a heart attack, patients are advised to drink tea made from brewed flowers or hawthorn fruits.
The calming effect underlies the use of boyarka and to alleviate the condition with neuroses. Taking an aqueous infusion of berries at night, you can get rid of insomnia and headaches. It is also useful for hypertensive patients, as it normalizes blood pressure well. Infusion of fruits and flowers can be used to treat epilepsy. They are useful for patients with diabetes mellitus and in the treatment of allergies, as they normalize metabolic processes in the body.
The boyarka also helps with gastrointestinal diseases. The use of decoctions in combination with other means helps to alleviate the condition with gastritis. And thanks to the choleretic effect and the presence of organic acids that contribute to the normalization of the intestinal flora, decoctions and infusions from the plant help with intestinal disorders. Hawthorn is widely used in folk medicine and to treat rheumatism.
Hawthorn in cosmetology
The effect of substances contained in hawthorn on the restoration of the regenerating properties of the skin is known. Extracts of this plant are added to creams, lotions and other cosmetic products to improve skin tone and rejuvenation.
Decoction of flowers or fruits improves skin condition. You can use such a decoction not only externally, but also internally (observing the correct dosage). The cleansing and rejuvenating effect is achieved due to the anti-allergic and antioxidant properties of this medicinal plant.
From the fruits, you can prepare a toning face mask. Its effect is to improve microcirculation in the capillaries of the skin, as well as the direct absorption of substances into the skin that stimulate regeneration processes in its cells and directly serve as a material for collagen synthesis.
Hawthorn for weight loss
For weight loss, flowers or hawthorn fruits are used in the form of an infusion, which is drunk a tablespoon 4 times a day after meals. It is included in various herbal preparations for weight loss.
You can grind dried berries into flour and add them to various baked goods: the calorie content of such buns and pancakes will be lower and nutrients will have a beneficial effect. In addition, it is useful to supplement almost any diet for weight loss with hawthorn tea.
Good to know
It is necessary to collect flowers and leaves of the boyarka at the beginning of flowering, when there are buds in the inflorescence along with the blossoming flowers. The fruits contain the greatest amount of nutrients at the end of ripening, they are harvested, depending on the region, at the end of August - September.
It is important to remember that any medicinal plant, including hawthorn, must be collected outside the city, where there are no large amounts of heavy metals and other harmful substances deposited on plants and in the soil.
Hawthorn, like any medicinal plant, helps only with strict adherence to the dosage. If you overdo it, it can lead to a decrease in heart rate, a decrease in blood pressure and headaches. You need to be especially careful with this plant during pregnancy.
Hawthorn during pregnancy
It is undesirable for pregnant women to use the fruits and decoctions of this plant without the recommendation of a doctor. Its use during this crucial period, especially in large quantities, can cause dizziness, vomiting.
When using hawthorn during pregnancy, a sharp decrease in pressure is possible, a deterioration in the heart rate not only in the mother, but also in the fetus, which can lead to dangerous health consequences.
In any case, the possibility of using this plant should be agreed with the doctor.
Hawthorn (Crataégus)
Description
Hawthorn is a thorny shrub or small tree of the rose family, reaching a height of 4 m. Its shoots are shiny, brownish-red, covered with straight thick thorns about 2 cm long. Flowers are white or pinkish. Fruits are oblong, dark red or orange, fleshy, with mealy pulp, ripen in September-October.
Spreading
The hawthorn grows in the undergrowth of deciduous and mixed forests, along the banks of rivers and ravines, on mountain slopes, in valleys and on forest edges. It is distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in North America, as well as in Eurasia.
The reason for the name was, most likely, the word "boyar", since the appearance of this plant is very spectacular and picturesque. The Greek word that served as the source of the Latin name is translated as "strong", which reflects the property of wood, strong and solid, as well as the ability of the plant to live long enough - up to 300 years.
Composition
Hawthorn fruits contain sugars, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols, carotene, choline, glycosides, tannins, organic acids - malic, citric, crategus, tartaric, ascorbic, etc. Amygdalin and essential oil are found in seeds, and flavonoids are found in flowers , saponins, essential oil, crategus, chlorogenic, caffeic acids, hyperoside.
Application
Hawthorn berries are used to prepare jams, compotes, sweets, marshmallow, jam, mashed potatoes, juice, pie fillings, "raw jam" (berries rubbed with sugar).
In folk and official medicine, hawthorn is used mainly in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Hawthorn preparations improve the work of the heart muscle, they are useful for atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, heart weakness, angina pectoris, tachycardia.
Hawthorn increases the contraction of the heart muscle, while reducing its excitability, stimulates blood circulation in the vessels of the heart and brain, normalizes the rhythm of cardiac activity, lowers blood pressure, and improves the general condition of heart patients.
Recently, the ability of hawthorn preparations has been discovered to reduce blood cholesterol levels, to normalize the activity of the thyroid gland, which gives a good effect in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Infusions and decoctions of hawthorn flowers are more effective than fruit preparations.
Ripe hawthorn fruits are used in cosmetology. Hawthorn fruit masks with honey give the skin elasticity, toning up the blood vessels.
Contraindications
If the time of taking hawthorn preparations does not matter much (on the contrary - they improve the general condition of patients with prolonged use), then the dosage must be careful. In large quantities, hawthorn berries cause mild poisoning.
Attention! Hawthorn preparations should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Calorie content of hawthorn
Calorie content of hawthorn - 50 kcal.
Description of hawthorn as a plant, calorie content and chemical composition of fruits. Useful properties of berries when eaten and contraindications for use. Dish recipes. Interesting facts about hawthorn.
The content of the article:
Hawthorn is a perennial thorny shrub of the Rosaceae family. A total of 47 plant species are known, but the most studied hawthorn is blood-red, common. Such names are used - "lady", "hawk claws" and even "rooster spur". It can grow as a large bush or a cluster of trees - in the latter case, the height of the shoots reaches 5 m. Fruits in shape can be spherical, elongated, apple-shaped, the taste is sweet and sour, the pulp is fleshy, yellow or orange, in the middle there are many small bones. Wild growth is found on the territory of the Tambov region and in Eastern Ukraine, mainly in clearings in a deciduous forest. In the Central Black Earth Region, it is artificially bred for decorative purposes. Berries are used in medicine and cosmetology.
Composition and calorie content of hawthorn berries
In diets for weight loss, dishes with this plant are introduced only in cases where it is established that the cause of extra pounds is edema. The main property is too pronounced - a decrease in pressure. But a one-time entry into the daily menu of the product is welcomed - it replenishes the reserve of nutrients without adding extra pounds.
The calorie content of hawthorn per 100 g is 58.5 kcal, of which:
- Proteins - 0.8 g;
- Carbohydrates - 14 g;
- Dietary fiber - 3.6 g;
- Water - 82.4 g.
- Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 2 mg
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 90 mg
- Vitamin A - 2,333 mg;
- Beta Carotene 14 mg
- Potassium - 32.10 mg;
- Calcium - 11.80 mg;
- Manganese - 3.40 mg;
- Iron - 0.20 mg;
- Magnesium - 0.28 mg;
- Copper - 0.35 mg;
- Zinc - 0.35 mg;
- Cobalt - 0.18 mg;
- Molybdenum - 7.00 mg;
- Chromium - 0.01 mg;
- Aluminum - 0.12 mg;
- Selenium - 10 mg;
- Nickel - 0.34 mg;
- Strontium - 0.24 mg;
- Iodine - 0.06 mg;
- Boron - 77.20 mcg.
The benefits of hawthorn for the body are provided by the following components:
- Vitamin A - supports healthy vision and stimulates skin regeneration.
- Beta-carotene has an antioxidant effect, stimulates the body's defenses, helps it get rid of free radicals.
- Ascorbic acid - the main participant in redox processes, normalizes protective organic functions.
- Potassium - normalizes acid-base balance and magnesium levels, stabilizes the urinary system, dumps excess water and prevents the appearance of edema, stabilizes heart contractions.
- Potassium - is responsible for muscle contractility, is a building material for all organic tissues.
- Molybdenum - has an antioxidant effect, stabilizes reproductive function in men, stimulates metabolic processes and growth in children.
Useful properties of hawthorn
For the preparation of medicines, almost all parts of the plant are used, except for the leaves, - bark, young shoots, flowers and fruits. The benefits of hawthorn berries when consumed extend to all organic systems.
The natural remedy has the following effects on the body:
- Eliminates spasms of the coronary vessels and intestines.
- Since it has a diuretic effect, it helps to remove excess fluid from the body and get rid of swelling.
- Prevents the development of atherosclerosis and angina pectoris.
- Normalizes blood pressure, stabilizes heart rate.
- It has an analgesic effect in diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Calms the nerves, increases emotional stability.
- It has a general tonic effect, increases resistance to infections.
- Stimulates immune functions, inhibits the vital activity of the herpes virus and papillomavirus circulating in the body.
- Regulates blood sugar levels.
- It stabilizes the work of the thyroid gland in particular and the endocrine system in general.
- Has a pronounced choleretic effect, is used in the treatment of dyskinesia and inflammatory liver diseases.
- Helps relieve dizziness and reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
Hawthorn helps athletes to tune in to victory - this natural stimulant allows you to quickly recover from increased stress.
Harm and contraindications to the use of hawthorn
Healthy people need to use hawthorn with caution, limiting the amount eaten. Too many fruits at a time can provoke a decrease in blood pressure - drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea appear ...
Contraindications to the use of hawthorn berries are as follows:
- Individual intolerance;
- Bronchial asthma in the acute stage or with frequent attacks;
- Diabetes mellitus with insulin dependence;
- A tendency to constipation and intestinal dysbiosis with the appearance of intestinal spasms.
- Pregnancy. There is a likelihood of developing arrhythmias in the fetus and an increase in the frequency of manifestations of toxicosis - vomiting and dizziness - in the expectant mother.
- Childhood. In pure form, berries or homemade teas infused with them can be given no earlier than 12 years, after the cardiovascular system is fully formed.
Hawthorn berry recipes
Hawthorn fruit is widely used in cooking. They are used to make jams and jams, squeeze juice for cocktails, prepare sauce for meat and various drinks. The berries are dried and crushed to make flour. A small addition gives the baked goods an original taste.
Hawthorn Berry Recipes:
- Puree... Ripe berries are boiled until softened, without dividing them into parts. There should be enough water so that after crushing soft fruits, it turns out to reach the consistency of thick sour cream. Sugar is added so that the taste is pleasant, but not sweet. Mashed potatoes are laid out in sterilized jars and rolled up.
- Pancake or porridge sauce... Hawthorn puree, prepared according to the previous recipe, is mixed with honey and a little cinnamon is added.
- Paste... Hawthorn puree is made a little thicker than usual, sugar is added to make it sweet, cinnamon, cumin. You can add a handful of rolled poppy seeds to improve the taste. The "dough" is mixed, laid out in a thin layer on trays and dried in the oven at a temperature of 60 ° C.
- Hawthorn cookies... Dried hawthorn berries are ground into flour using a coffee grinder or mortar - the finer the flour, the easier it will be to prepare the product. The proportions of flour from hawthorn fruits and ordinary wheat flour is 1 to 3. The amount of products is calculated for 1.5 cups of flour. Ghee - about 100 g - grind with half a glass of sugar with a wooden spoon, add salt, add lemon zest from one citrus, 2 eggs and bring everything to a homogeneous structure. It is more convenient to beat the eggs with a little sugar beforehand. Combine both portions of flour, add the oil mixture, knead the thick dough. In the future, figures will have to be cut out of it, so you need to achieve an absolutely uniform consistency and no stickiness. The oven is heated to 200-210 ° C, the dough is rolled out on a wooden sheet sprinkled with flour, figures are cut out of it. These figurines can be sprinkled with poppy seeds, coarse granulated sugar, crushed nuts. Then the sheet with the blanks is placed in a cold place for 15 minutes. Cookies are baked for about 10 minutes - you can check the readiness with a toothpick.
- Candies... Hawthorn puree is used as a semi-finished product for making sweets. Ingredient proportions: 1 part starch, 4 parts sugar, 10 parts puree. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed, sprinkled with powdered sugar on a wooden or plastic tray. Spread the candy mixture in a thick layer - 2-3 cm, again generously sprinkle with powdered sugar. Air-dried. The taste of sweets can be improved with any additive - poppy, cinnamon, grated cloves. Very tasty sweets are obtained if fresh juicy berries are placed in the middle of each - 1-2 currants or cranberries. Berries are added to sweets if it was planned to eat them right away. If you are going to feast on later, you will have to give up the juicy filling. To preserve sweets, they are laid out in clean, sterilized dry jars and rolled up with lids. Shelf life - up to 2 months.
- Jam... Boil whole berries in water until softened: for 1 kg of berries - 2 glasses of water. The cooled fruits are ground in mashed potatoes, sugar is added and put to boil. The proportions of puree and sugar by weight - 1 to 1. Boil until the amount of berry mixture is reduced by a quarter. Just before connecting, add lemon juice and mix thoroughly.
- ... Cooking it is quite difficult and dreary - all the seeds have to be removed from the berries. If you are not ready for such a "feat", then you can be content with jam. Hawthorn - 400 g - sorted out, boiled in a glass of water, thrown on a sieve - the water is not drained. Now the seeds are removed from the berries, the pulp is mixed with sugar - 500 g, brought to a boil and a little citric acid is added to taste.
- Filling for pies... If you take care of the vitamin ingredient in the fall, you won't have to suffer from anemia in winter. The fruits are air-dried and crushed to flour. Flour is mixed with honey - 2 tablespoons per glass of flour, mix. Can be placed in sterilized jars or used immediately.
There are many legends about the origin of the hawthorn. In the eastern legend, Allah created a plant at the request of a weak bird, which was not allowed to make a nest by larger birds. The bush's needles have become reliable protection for birds.
In the legend of Ancient Russia, a good lady was turned into a hawthorn bush by a sorceress, so that the stream of good deeds that the lady was engaged in during her lifetime did not dry out. That is why the plant helps to cure many diseases.
Hawthorn has different popular names. Among the ancient Slavs it was swallowing, during the times of Kievan Rus - boyarka, in Azerbaijan the bush is called emishan, in Kyrgyzstan - bazaarsha, in Moldova - paduchel, in Armenia - crptkin, in Georgia - kuneli, in Kalmykia - tolon.
In ancient Greece, virgins who dreamed of getting married as soon as possible made wreaths from the branches of a flowering bush, decorated their hair with them, and then gave them to Hymen, the god of family and marriage. At the same time, the physician Dioscorides described the properties of the plant and listed all the diseases in which the condition can be alleviated with the help of hawthorn medicines.
In the 14th century, the hawthorn almost fell into disgrace. They tried to treat infectious diseases, toothaches and eliminate problems during a difficult pregnancy. Fortunately, the healers realized in time that the useful properties were limited, and did not ruthlessly destroy the growth. Similar attempts to heal all diseases were made by ancient Roman doctors 200-300 years BC, but then medicine was in an even more primitive state.
And already in the 17th century, Peter the Great gave the hawthorn the official title of a medicinal plant, ordered the selection of bushes with larger fruits and the most pronounced amount of healing properties to begin. Such varieties were grown in royal gardens, crossing the most successful combinations - bushes with larger and juicy berries, with a pronounced aroma, with berries in which there are few seeds ... They were used to make medicines for the nobility and used the fruits in the preparation of desserts. The common people collected the berries of a wild plant for the same purposes.
Hawthorn, which grows like a tree, has a particularly durable wood that can be used to make furniture and souvenirs. And the bushes of bright red hawthorn have strong long sharp thorns, which make it possible to use plantings as a living fence. Such a palisade reliably protects from uninvited guests and performs a decorative function.
Watch a video about hawthorn:
If the hedge is properly formed and carefully looked after, it will not be necessary to replant the bushes for 200-250 years! All this time, you can not be afraid of thieves entering your site and collect a rich harvest of delicious and healing berries every year.
