Currant is a leader in popularity in our country. There is almost no personal plot where currant bushes would not grow. The beneficial properties of this berry do not need advertising. But how and what blackcurrant can treat - let's try to figure it out.

What is the purpose of growing blackcurrant?

For some gardeners, cultivating blackcurrant is a quick payback business. In others, currant bushes grow for personal use. The third currant landing serves as a hedge. But no matter what the purpose of growing, the result is one - delicious healthy berries.

The bushes of this culture are unpretentious in care, tolerate frosty winters well, and with proper agricultural technology they are also rarely ill

Chemical composition and nutritional value

The use of currants is due to the rich chemical composition of its berries. However, in black currants, the whole bush is valuable - both leaves, and branches, and buds. The composition of this plant contains many vitamins and minerals, micro and macro elements, acids, sugars, pectins and flavonoids.

Acids:

• ascorbic - 0.4%;
• apple - 2.5-3.5%;
• lemon - 2.4-4.5%.

In addition, the plant contains tartaric, phosphoric, succinic, salicylic and nicotinic acids. Also available in berries:

• pectins - about 0.8%;
• tannins - up to 0.4%;
• anthocyanins;
• glycosides;
• essential oils;
• flavonoids.

Calorie, proteins, fats, carbohydrates

The nutritional value of currants depends on the form in which you consume it.

Vitamins and minerals

A wide list of vitamins and minerals make blackcurrant one of the most useful berries.

At what age can a child be given

In Soviet times, early administration of natural juices to infants was recommended. Modern pediatricians do not agree with this. So, a child with artificial feeding can be gradually injected with currant juice, starting from 6 months, and with breastfeeding - even later. At the addictive stage, as well as to eliminate allergies, it is worth giving the baby a few drops of juice diluted with water.

In the absence of allergic reactions, you can gradually bring the amount to 20 ml, to 10 months of age - increase to 50 ml, and a one-year-old baby can drink up to 80 ml of currant juice.

Natural juice should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 part juice and 2 parts water. You can also cook compotes for children with various fruits and berries, to which the child is already used and has no individual intolerance to them

The benefits of black currant for women and men

Basically, we know the beneficial properties of currants in the treatment of colds and coughs. But the range of application of this culture is much wider. Phytoncides and ascorbic acid in its composition serve as a natural antibiotic. It is useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hypertension, diseases of the kidneys and gall bladder, for diseases of the oral cavity, gout, and many others.

Important! It should be remembered that blackcurrant can cause allergies. Before starting currant treatment, an allergy test must be done.

Useful properties of currants are also used in cosmetology. The rich composition of these berries has beneficial effects on the skin. Currant juice heals the cuticle and strengthens the nail plate. Particular attention should be paid to the usefulness of currants for middle-aged women: fatty acids affect the production of prostaglandins, which improves the production of hormones that alleviate the condition during menopause.

For men, currants are useful in their ability to cope with erectile dysfunction.

Berries

• Blackcurrant berries have such useful properties:
• increase immunity and body tone;
• have a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory effect in the prevention and treatment of colds;
• strengthen the walls of blood vessels, stabilize blood pressure, cleanse the blood;
• used for the prevention of cancer and Alzheimer's disease;
• reduce the risk of diabetes;
• improve vision;
• normalize the liver and kidneys;
• improve peristalsis and help with gastrointestinal diseases.

In addition, it is recommended to eat blackcurrant for people with a weakened body after operations, as well as in old age, in order to improve brain function.

Of flowers

The benefits of blackcurrant flowers are due to the presence of essential oils, vitamin C, organic acids and flavonoids. They can be used for the same diseases as berries. In addition, cosmetics are made from flowers.

Leaf

A decoction of leaves will help to cope with gout, rheumatism and other problems with the joints. It is also used as a urine and diaphoretic, with dropsy and gallstones. Such a decoction is useful for the treatment of skin diseases, including scrofula. And lotions from decoction for the eyes improve vision.

Important! For the preparation of currant leaves, they need to be collected in the spring during the flowering of the plant. They should be green, without damage.

Contraindications and possible harm

• In addition to benefits, blackcurrant has a number of contraindications:
• It should never be used by people with thrombophlebitis and other diseases that are associated with blood coagulation.
• Pregnant and lactating, if necessary, treatment with black currant, specialist advice is required.
• With hepatitis in acute and chronic forms, stomach ulcers, with high acidity, and the duodenum, the use of black currants can harm the body.
• Children under 1 year old should be administered with caution, because this culture is highly allergenic.
• With individual intolerance and suspicion of a stroke or heart attack, black currant is contraindicated.

Features of use

These berries are eaten fresh, they are frozen and dried. Tea and decoctions are prepared from fruits, leaves and branches - 1 cup of such tea before bedtime can relieve insomnia. Fresh juice, fruit drinks, fruit drinks, jams or berries, rubbed with sugar, are also very useful. Even currant wine has healing properties - it tones the body, helping to overcome fatigue.

In folk medicine

Traditional healers have long used currants in their recipes. The use depends on the disease: in some cases it is necessary to eat berries, in others decoctions or tea will come to the rescue, in third it is necessary to use juice. Doses depend on the type of agent used, the age of the patient and the severity of the disease.

With pancreatitis

With pancreatitis, it is worth considering some features of the intake of blackcurrant in food. So, in the stage of exacerbation of the disease, these fruits should be discarded. In the process of remission, it is recommended to introduce decoctions or infusions of berries into the patient's diet. They are drunk at 300 ml per day, dividing the intake by 3 times. In the future, you can use mousses, puddings and jelly from mashed berries.

With the normalization of the condition, you can use the pulp of seedless berries. To do this, you need to carefully grind and get rid of the seeds. For the preparation of compotes and fruit drinks, it is necessary to use only grated fruits.

It is necessary to approach the selection of berries with all responsibility: to exclude damaged and crushed berries, as well as unripe ones. Eat only currants grown independently, and not purchased

With gastritis

With exacerbation of gastritis, currants will have to be abandoned. To stop the inflammatory process with low acidity of the gastric juice, you can take freshly squeezed juice of berries, 70 ml 3 times a day before meals. With increased acidity and secretion of the production of gastric juice, you need to use herbal decoctions with currants.

With diarrhea

Blackcurrant juice will perfectly cope with diarrhea due to the high content of tannin and vitamin C. With its use, irritated intestinal walls calm down and diarrhea stops.

Did you know? The recommended daily intake of fresh blackcurrant fruit is 500 g. However, an overdose of these berries is impossible.

For the liver

In diseases of the liver, in addition to cirrhosis and hepatitis, black currants, mashed with honey, are used. To do this, rub the berries and honey in a ratio of 50 × 50 and consume 1 tbsp 30 minutes before meals. spoon 3 times a day.

At a temperature

At high temperatures, they drink currant infusion. To prepare it, 20 g of berries are poured into 200 ml of boiling water, boiled for 5 minutes, then insisted in a thermos for about 1 hour. Take 3 times a day for 2 teaspoons.

Increases hemoglobin or not

Currant is in the top 5 berries that increase hemoglobin, and occupies a leading position in it. In this case, you can use juice, concentrated compotes and a decoction of leaves. Use no more than 3 glasses per day until the situation stabilizes.

Is it possible with kidney disease

Due to the diuretic and disinfecting properties of blackcurrant, it can be used in the treatment of kidney and urinary system problems. The berry effectively fights bladder inflammation and helps with pyelonephritis. For prevention, both berries and leaves are suitable. As a treatment, they also use an infusion of fruits, as described above, only it needs to be infused for 4 hours, and 20 mg should be taken 5 times a day, at any time.

Diuretic or not

Blackcurrant leaves have the greatest diuretic effect. To prepare a healing drink, 30–40 g of crushed leaves are poured with 1 liter of boiling water and insisted for at least 1 hour. You need to drink such an infusion 200 ml 5 times a day.

For cosmetic purposes

In cosmetic medicine, leaf extract, currant juice and berry oil are used. Blackcurrant as a part of cosmetic preparations is suitable for dry and normal skin. Currant oil is recommended for irritated and sensitive skin.

Blackcurrant for the face

For the manufacture of face masks and lotions at home, fresh, frozen and dry berries, as well as a decoction of leaves, are suitable.

Here are some simple and useful ways to use in home cosmetology:

1. For whitening effect wipe your face 3-4 times a day with freshly squeezed currant juice.
2. For whitening oily skin make juice from green fruits, mix it with 9% vinegar in a proportion of 50 × 50. Beat the ingredients until milk white and wipe the face skin in the morning and evening. Store in a cold place, best in the refrigerator.
3. To enrich the skin with vitamins, you can make a mask of juice and flour. To do this, mix the components in an arbitrary order until a slurry forms, which will not drain from the face, apply to the skin, hold for 20 minutes. Then wash with warm water and grease your face with cream. Additionally, this mask has a tonic and moisturizing effect.
4. For women over 40, to avoid sagging skin, berry puree with honey is suitable. 1/2 cup berries must be thoroughly ground, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of liquid honey. Apply to cleansed face and décolleté for 25–30 minutes, then rinse off first with warm, then with cold water. After that, lubricate the skin with a nourishing cream. The mask should be done at night 2-3 times a week.
5. For normal skin Such a mask is suitable: 15-20 currant leaves pour 100 g of boiling water, after 20 minutes, strain and pour in 1 tbsp. infusion a spoonful of currant juice. Fold gauze, moisten it in a mixture of infusion of leaves and juice, apply to face for 20 minutes. Then wash with cool water. This procedure will soften and whiten the skin, relieve freckles, age spots. It should be carried out 2 times a week, course of 1.5 months.
6. In the presence of pink acne It is worth using dried fruits. Pour 1 part of berries with 10 parts of boiling water, strain after 20 minutes, moisten gauze folded in layers, apply on face for 15 minutes. The procedure is carried out every other day, a course of 20-25 procedures.

For weight loss

Currant is considered an effective tool in the fight against extra pounds. With its use, metabolism is accelerated, fats are broken down and excreted, relieves swelling of the body. There are many different diets. We offer a 3-day diet, in which you can lose 3 kg, and a 5-day diet, adhering to which, you can lose about 6 kg of excess weight.

Menu for the first option:

1. Breakfast - a boiled egg, a small piece of cheese and a glass of currant juice, or low-fat cottage cheese with currants and green tea without sugar.
2. Lunch - vegetable soup, coleslaw and a glass of fresh berries, or boiled meat with salad and 300 grams of currant berries.
3. Dinner - low-fat cottage cheese with berries, or a salad of vegetables and 1 cup of currant juice.

With a very strong desire to eat, you can eat a salad or a handful of berries.

Did you know? In ripe currants, vitamin C is 4 times less than in unripe.

Menu for a five-day diet:

1. The first breakfast is oatmeal with berries, green tea.
2. Second breakfast - 200 g of currant berries.
3. Lunch - vegetable salad and low-fat boiled fish or meat.
4. Snack - berries or fruit juice of them.
5. Dinner - a salad of vegetables.

During the day, it is recommended to have a snack with berries, fruits and vegetable salad. With these diets, you need to maintain a drinking balance. You can drink mineral water without gas, green tea or fruit and berry compotes. If it is difficult to follow a diet, you can eat more currants and choose less fatty foods.

The drinks

When fasting day you need to drink a lot. For a vitamin cocktail, you need to mix currant, apple and raspberry juices, taken in equal quantities. You can drink such a drink with ice. As a refreshing drink, currant juice is mixed with a mineral water.

To prepare a diet fruit drink, you need to pass the berries through a meat grinder, add water, let it brew, then strain. You can drink this juice with pulp. Do not add sugar or honey. The ratio of berries and water is 1: 1.

Tea

Tea can be prepared from any part of the currant bush - leaves, berries, branches:

1. Classic Slimming Tea - pour 1 tbsp into the teapot a spoonful of green tea and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of chopped currant leaves. Pour 200 g of boiling water. Brew for 20 minutes.
2. Vitamin tea - take 1 tbsp. spoon raspberry leaves, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of strawberry leaves and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of currant leaves. Put them in a teapot, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes.
3. Tea from the branches - 100 g of chopped branches pour 1 liter of boiling water, boil for no more than 1 minute. Cool slightly.

Decoction

Decoctions can be made in the same way as tea, from any part of the plant, only the proportions of the ingredients should be greater. For example, a glass of fresh berries needs 500 ml of boiling water, a glass of crushed leaves - 1 liter of water, 100 g of branches - 300 ml of liquid.

Ingredients should be placed in boiling water and simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Then infuse the broth until completely cooled.

You can drink it to quench your thirst, without diluted sweeteners - 1 part decoction, 2 parts water or green tea

The juice

To prepare the juice, chop the washed berries and strain the contents. You can make fruit juice out of cake, and store the juice in the refrigerator. To get rid of excess calories, you can drink the juice in its natural form, or dilute it with water, add it to compotes or other favorite drink.

So, currants have multifaceted benefits for human health, if there are no contraindications to its use.Freeze berries, harvest leaves and branches and enjoy the aroma of black currants all year round. Choose a recipe to your liking and be healthy.