Lingonberry and your health: how does the autumn berry affect the body?

In autumn, lingonberries give a rich harvest - the beneficial properties of red berries are used in traditional and traditional medicine. This shrubbery, like cranberries, belongs to the Heather family. It grows in the forests and tundra of the middle zone. Lingonberries are rarely eaten in their pure form, because it has a tart sour-bitter taste. But from it prepare delicious desserts, drinks and sauces, which not only give pleasure, but also bring health benefits.

Calorie content and composition

Lingonberry is a low-calorie berry. 100 grams contains only 46 kcal. Therefore, recovering from such a product is almost impossible. However, due to the high concentration of organic acids, lingonberries increase appetite. In ancient times, healers gave red berries to sick people to help cope with the depletion of the body.

Lingonberry fruits can please with a rich vitamin and mineral composition. They contain the following substances:

• alimentary fiber;
• vitamin A and beta-carotene;
• vitamin C;
• Vitamin E
• vitamin PP;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• iron.

The concentration of organic acids is 2%. Of these, apple, lemon, benzoic, pyruvic and others are present.

However, the most valuable part of the shrub is not the berries, but the leaves. They have found application in official medicine as a diuretic. Leaves contain many flavonoids, which reduce the risk of malignant neoplasms and slow down the aging process. Also in the composition is a rare ursolic acid, which has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Leaves should be collected in April-May before flowering begins or in autumn, when the berries leave.

10 healing properties of lingonberries

Lingonberries, mountain ash, cranberries, sea buckthorn and other autumn berries prepare a person for the arrival of cold weather. They increase the body's defenses, make you feel a surge of strength and serve as a prevention of acute respiratory diseases. And what other medicinal properties does lingonberry have?

• Relieves inflammation

In 2003, scientists from the National Institute of Public Health in Finland conducted a study that found that lingonberries increased serum quercetin levels. This substance, belonging to the class of flavonoids, has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity.

Thanks to quercetin, lingonberry relieves inflammation and reduces joint pain. It facilitates the well-being of persons suffering from gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Improves vision

If you want to enhance visual acuity, eat berries not only blueberries, but also lingonberries. The latter contains beta-carotene and anthocyanins, which improve the blood supply to the retina. With a deficiency of these substances, a person may develop "night blindness" - a violation of twilight vision.

• Treats diseases of the genitourinary system

Dry leaves are used to treat infectious diseases of the kidneys, bladder, and dissolve sand and stones. This part of lingonberry contains up to 9% arbutin glycoside, which has pronounced antiseptic properties. However, you can not self-medicate. High doses of arbutin cause poisoning.

• Normalizes the work of the digestive tract

Berries are rich in dietary fiber.They stimulate intestinal motility, relieving a person of constipation, and also serve as food for healthy microflora. Doctors recommend eating red fruits to patients suffering from reduced acidity of gastric juice and poor appetite.

• Helps maintain harmony

In 2014, scientists from Lund University in Sweden studied the beneficial properties of blackcurrant berries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, acai and lingonberries for overweight people. It turned out that it was the red autumn berry that better than others prevents the harmful metabolic effects caused by the high fat content in the diet. That is, lingonberry helps the body digest fatty foods and prevents weight gain.

• Protects the nervous system and brain

Fresh lingonberries contain many antioxidants. They protect brain cells from damage, improve memory and mental abilities. Fragrant tea from the leaves has a calming effect, relieves fatigue and headache.

• Lowers blood pressure

Potassium and arbutin present in lingonberries remove sodium salts and excess fluid from the body. This leads to a decrease in heart load and blood pressure.

• Prevents Atherosclerosis

Regular consumption of lingonberries leads to a decrease in the level of triglycerides in the blood and prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. This conclusion was reached by Swedish scientists from the Food for Health Science Center in 2016 when they conducted experiments on mice.

• Makes pregnancy easier

Doctors do not prohibit pregnant women from consuming lingonberries and lingonberry drinks: tea, decoctions, juices, compotes, fruit drinks. Due to the large amount of vitamins, the berry helps women cope with increased physical and emotional stress. In late pregnancy, lingonberry relieves edema and normalizes blood pressure. Lingonberry juice or fruit drink is useful to drink with anemia.

• Destroys pathogenic bacteria in the throat and mouth

For medicinal purposes, it is better to gargle with a decoction of lingonberry leaves, and berries are also suitable for the prevention of bacterial infections. Indications for use: pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, gingivitis, stomatitis.

How to cook lingonberries - recipes for drinks and dishes

The most traditional way of consuming lingonberries is in pureed form with sugar or honey. Well, if you want to experiment, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with interesting recipes.

Decoction of leaves

The decoction can be used only after consulting a doctor, because an overdose is dangerous to health.

Indications for use are as follows:

• cystitis;
• pyelonephritis;
• urethritis;
• urolithiasis disease.

To prepare a decoction, pour 2 tablespoons of dried leaves with 200 ml of room temperature water. Insist on a water bath for half an hour, then strain. Dilute the resulting liquid with 200 ml of boiled water. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Berry fruit drink

Cowberry juice perfectly quenches thirst, tones the body and has an antipyretic effect. To prepare it, you will need 3 components:

• 200 g of berries;
• 2 tbsp. tablespoons of sugar;
• 2 liters of water.

Mash lingonberries with a crush to a state of gruel. Boil water. Add berries, sugar to it and cook for 2-3 minutes. Let it brew for 2 hours, then strain. Drink chilled.

Soaked lingonberry

Soaked lingonberries - a delicious snack for meat dishes, especially game.

To prepare, prepare the following products:

• fruits - 1 kg;
• water - 500 ml;
• sugar - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• salt - 2 tsp;
• cinnamon - 2 sticks;
• peas and cloves.

Sort the fruits, rinse under running water and dry on a paper towel. Fill them with glass jars on ¾ volume.

Then cook the marinade: boil water, add spices, mix and cool.

Pour the berries with liquid. Cover the jars with gauze and let it sit at room temperature for 2-3 days.Then close the containers with capron lids and place in a cold place.

Fresh Sugar Berry

This method of harvesting allows you to save the product until spring. Go through the berries, rinse thoroughly and dry. Lay the lingonberries in layers in sterilized glass jars, pouring sugar. Shake the containers so that the berries are better rammed. Pour the top with a 2 cm thick sugar layer. Close the cans with nylon lids and store the lingonberries in the refrigerator.

Lingonberry and Pear Jam

Jam can be used as a standalone dessert or used as a filling for baking.

For cooking, you will need the following products:

• berries - 1 kg;
• pears - 1 kg;
• sugar - 1.5 kg;
• water - 600 ml.

Sort and rinse lingonberries. Pour boiling water and leave for 3 minutes, then drop in a colander. Prepare pears: peel, remove the core with pits, cut into small pieces.

Add sugar to the water and bring to a boil. Then put lingonberries and pears there and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let it brew for 2 hours. Then again put the pears with lingonberries on the stove, bring to a boil and cook for another 10 minutes. Pour jam into glass containers and roll up.

Lingonberry sauce

Lingonberry sauce has a spicy taste with spicy notes. Well complements red meat dishes (pork, beef, lamb, horse meat). To prepare it, mix the following ingredients in a pan:

• berries - 400-500 g;
• vinegar (preferably apple) - 0.5 cups;
• sugar - 0.5 cups;
• cinnamon powder - 0.5 tsp;
• cloves - 5 pcs.;
• thyme - 1 sprig.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Then remove the spices and pour the sauce into sterilized jars. Cork capron lids, store in a cool place.

How to store lingonberries?

Lingonberry contains two unique substances - benzoic and ursolic acids. They prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi and thereby significantly extend the shelf life of the product.

How to store lingonberries? To get started, sort it out, discarding overripe and damaged fruits. Then gently pour into cardboard boxes and place in a cool place with a stable temperature. The cellar and the lower compartment of the refrigerator will do. Shelf life is 2-3 months.

It’s better not to leave lingonberries on the balcony: it can freeze due to temperature changes.

Preserve berries for a year will allow freezing. Frozen lingonberries are almost as good as fresh in terms of vitamins and minerals. Fruits can be stored in plastic containers or vacuum bags.

Dried lingonberries are stored for 6 months at room temperature and 3 years in the freezer. To make a harvest, carefully sort the berries. Dry the fruits in a well-ventilated area without direct sunlight or in the oven at a temperature of 55-60 degrees.

Harm and contraindications

Sometimes a product causes allergic reactions, especially in young children. If you have never eaten lingonberries before, start with a small portion - 0.5 tbsp. spoons. Overuse of lingonberries can be harmful to health, cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn. And because of the diuretic effect, the body will lose many valuable macro- and microelements.

Fortunately, lingonberry berries do not have strict contraindications. But they should be used with caution by the following persons:

• sick stomach ulcer and gastritis;
• hypotension;
• children under 3 years old.

Lingonberries are able to accumulate radionuclides and salts of heavy metals. Therefore, pick berries only in ecologically clean areas, away from industrial enterprises and highways.

Thus, lingonberries definitely deserve a place on your table. It has a therapeutic effect on the body, especially on the heart and blood vessels, urinary tract, vision, metabolism.Due to the special chemical composition, the berries are stored for a long time even without prior heat treatment. So, you have the opportunity to pamper your body with vitamins in the cold season.