Everyone loves cherries. Cherry trees are widely distributed around the globe. When excavating ancient settlements, archaeologists find cherry pits everywhere, which testifies to the love of man for these juicy berries from time immemorial. Ancestors appreciated the taste of fragrant berries. They skillfully used not only the fruits, but also other parts of this amazing tree.
And feed and cure
Cherry berries can be consumed in any form: fresh, dried, canned. They quench thirst and improve appetite. With a low calorie content (52 kcal/100 g), they are great for diet food.
Whether a cherry is he althy can be told by its chemical composition. Berries are rich in vitamins and minerals, their pulp has bactericidal properties. Copper and iron s alts contained in cherry fruits, as well as a significant amount of folic acid (up to 0.4 mg) help in the treatment of anemia, which makes cherries a desirable product for the children's table and the nutrition of pregnant women. Cherries contain more iron than apples, and in terms of folic acid content, cherries are close to ripe raspberries.
ThanCherry is useful because it is unique natural compounds. The fruits contain ellagic acid, which blocks the development of cancer cells. And coumarins and oxycoumarins normalize blood clotting, preventing thrombosis and heart attacks. The natural dye anthocyanin, which is especially abundant in dark cherries, is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens capillaries and slows down cell aging. The magnesium contained in the pulp has an anticonvulsant and calming effect on the nervous system.
Not only berries. Use of other parts of the cherry tree
Cherry is loved by everyone for juicy berries and delicious compotes. And what is the use of cherries, besides their fruits? Leaves, seeds, stalks, and young twigs are used in cooking and folk medicine.
Skinny cherry leaves are natural antiseptics. They are widely used in canning, adding to pickles and jams. For cuts and abrasions, you can apply a slurry of leaves to the injured area - this will prevent the inflammatory process. When visiting a bath, instead of birch brooms, you can take cherry ones: the bactericidal properties of cherry leaves will help cleanse the skin, heal wounds, and destroy fungal infections. A decoction of the twigs helps with gastric disorders, is used as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery. Cherry stalks are a diuretic that helps with swelling and urolithiasis. A decoction of the stalks and young twigs helps with hypertension. With the help of bones, traditional medicine treats gout and kidney stones.
Flowers, stalks, cherry leaves are dried for the winter. What is useful for cherries in winter is protection against beriberi. Healing cherry tea will invigorate and protect against colds.
Precautions and contraindications
Cherry has long been used in folk medicine. Useful properties and contraindications to its use have been well studied by herbalists and healers. Unfortunately, some people should not eat cherry berries.
Cherry juice is contraindicated in diabetes. Cherries should not be eaten by people with stomach ulcers and those who have high acidity. It is also necessary to refrain from eating cherries for people suffering from obesity and indigestion. Cherry pits contain amygdalin inside, which over time breaks down into harmless glucose and poisonous hydrocyanic acid. Uncooked cherry tincture with pits may contain some amygdalin, and is more harmful than helpful. Pitted cherries in the form of jam and compotes are not dangerous, since amygdalases lose their ability to break down when heated.
