Useful properties of lingonberry

The health benefits and harms of lingonberry are incomparable. There are not many contraindications for eating berries. True, the leaves are a fairly strong medicine, not everyone can drink decoctions and infusions. But if you take them under the guidance of a doctor, do not exceed dosages, take breaks, you can replace some expensive and toxic drugs with a pleasant-tasting drink.

Composition and nutritional value of lingonberry

In addition to the fact that lingonberry is tasty, has a long shelf life and is suitable for making jams, juices, desserts, side dishes, it has a number of medicinal properties. It is one of the richest bog berries in vitamins, microelements and organic acids.

The chemical composition of lingonberry

Depending on the place of growth and on whether it is a cultivated berry or harvested in natural conditions, the chemical composition of lingonberry can vary, and significantly. But in any case, culture is rich in substances that are vital for the human body.

First of all, it should be noted the high content of various organic acids in the berries, ranging from 2.5 to 3% of dry matter:

• lemon (1.3%);
• apple (0.3%);
• benzoic (0.05-0.2%);
• wine;
• salicylic;
• ursolic;
• oxalic;
• acetic;
• glyoxylic;
• pyruvic.

Polysaccharides, which are the main source of energy for humans, are represented by fiber (1.8%) and pectins (0.8-1.0%).

Phenolic compounds (including tannins) in lingonberry berries contain 0.3-0.6%, these are biologically active substances:

• anthocyanins;
• leukoanthocyanins;
• catechins;
• flavonols;
• phenolic acids.

Lingonberry is also useful for the human body due to the rich mineral composition of the berries.True, the amount of elements and trace elements depends on the conditions in which the culture grew. According to the data of the candidate of biological sciences T.V. Kurlovich, who has been studying lingonberries for many years, the berry contains approximately (mg / kg):

• calcium (94.6);
• phosphorus (44.52);
• copper (32.25);
• magnesium (22.4);
• iron (11.17);
• barium (1.505);
• strontium (1.118);
• titanium (0.245);
• zinc (0.159);
• lead (0.108);
• nickel (0.065);
• tungsten (0.053);
• tin (0.053);
• chromium (0.025);
• molybdenum (0.02);
• silver (0.016).

In addition, the culture contains:

• nitrogen - 0.45-0.77%;
• potassium - 0.43-0.61%;
• manganese - 70-83 mg%;
• sodium - 17-40 mg%;
• boron - 0.12-0.36 mg%.

The sweetness of the berries is given by glucose, fructose and sucrose, the total share of which is 8-12%. Ripe fruits contain arbutin.

What vitamins are contained in lingonberries

The healing properties of lingonberry are not least due to the vitamins contained in the berry. Depending on the place of growth, it contains (according to T.V. Kurlovich):

• vitamin C - from 5 to 30 (!) mg%, although most often its amount does not exceed 18 mg%;
• B vitamins - up to 0.03 mg%;
• vitamin E - 1 mg%;
• provitamin A - from 0.05 to 0.1 mg%;
• vitamin K.

Calorie content of lingonberry

For 100 g of lingonberry, the calorie content is only 39.3 kcal for fresh fruits and 42.2 kcal after freezing. This makes berries an indispensable product for all kinds of diets aimed at weight loss. At the same time, lingonberry is not only a pleasant low-calorie supplement. It supplies the body with many vitamins and other useful substances, the lack of which necessarily arises when the list of foods eaten is limited.

The benefits of lingonberry for the human body

Official medicine uses the medicinal properties of lingonberry berries as an aid in the healing of many diseases. This is due to the chemical composition of the fruit. Doctors consider only leaves as a medicine. At the same time, folk healers offer many recipes that include berries.

Of course, lingonberry is useful for everyone who has no contraindications. Even if a person does not think about treatment, and simply eats berries or drinks tea with fruits or leaves, he receives a significant dose of vitamins and minerals. And this has a positive effect on the state of the body.

But the beneficial properties and contraindications of lingonberry berries may differ slightly depending on the gender or age of the person who uses them.

Useful properties and contraindications of lingonberry for women

Lingonberry is good for women of all ages. Oddly enough, berries help with lean and heavy periods. They, of course, cannot replace medications, before limiting treatment to taking lingonberries, you need to consult a doctor - after all, menstrual irregularities can be caused by a number of serious diseases. But if the doctor approved, berries or fruit drinks, taken for at least a week, can relieve spasms and reduce pain.

Lingonberries during menopause can be a real salvation. Taking berries, both fresh and dried, frozen, soaked, processed into juice or fruit drink, can:

• normalize the state of the nervous system;
• reduce sweating;
• serves as the prevention of venous congestion;
• helps to cope with hot flashes.

For pregnant women, the doctor often prescribes berries as a natural mild diuretic that relieves swelling and saturates the body with useful microelements.But in rare cases, lingonberry can harm the child, so you should not prescribe it yourself. It is necessary to use berries with extreme caution during lactation - the baby is no longer protected by the placenta and everything that mommy eats goes to him.

Lingonberry: useful properties and contraindications for men

The benefits of lingonberry for men are primarily due to the ability to relieve prostatitis. Even if there are no problems yet, starting from middle age it is useful to drink lingonberry water, tea or eat berries in courses of 10-14 days with a break, not less than a month. Naturally, it is better to consult a doctor - after all, prostate diseases are sometimes accompanied by urolithiasis. And in this case, the doctor should evaluate the benefits and harms of lingonberries for the man's body.

The stronger sex suffers from stress and neuroses as often as the weaker. He only prefers not to admit it, not to let off steam, but to keep everything to himself. Berries, fruit drink, tea will help bring the nervous system in order. Even a few spoons of jam have healing powers.

At what age can lingonberries for children

There are ongoing discussions on this topic. Even doctors cannot agree among themselves at what age they can give lingonberries to children. Some argue that from the age of three, others from the age of twelve.

Probably, it all depends on the health of the child, as well as the characteristics of his development. In any case, even berries, the effect of which on the body is much weaker than leaves, must first be given in small doses. And if the child is sickly or the parents want him to take lingonberries in courses for medicinal purposes, you should first consult a doctor.

Children are given berries:

• as a diuretic;
• from allergies (after checking the tolerance of lingonberries);
• for colds as an anti-inflammatory and temperature-lowering agent;
• in the complex of treatment for diabetes mellitus;
• for general strengthening of the body.

It should be remembered that children should eat smaller portions of fruit than adults. Also, berries are credited with the properties of enhancing the effect of antibiotics - this should be remembered with complex therapy.

Prescription for bedwetting

Despite the fact that lingonberries are a well-known diuretic (diuretic), traditional medicine uses them for infantile enuresis. For this, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of equal parts of dried berries and leaves are poured with two glasses of boiling water, insisted for 10 minutes, then cooled and filtered.

Half of the infusion is drunk during the day, the second - in the evening, but no later than 17-00.

What does lingonberry help with?

In addition to the fact that lingonberry is used as a fortifying, vitamin, astringent, diuretic and sedative, it is prescribed in the complex treatment of various diseases. The leaves of the plant can act as an independent drug - their effect is much stronger, and is recognized by official medicine. But berries have fewer contraindications, in small quantities you can eat them without consulting a doctor.

With a cold

Lingonberries for colds are used due to the large amount of vitamin C, antipyretic, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. In addition, the berries contain a lot of other vitamins and nutrients that help to activate the body's own protective properties.

Cold tea

The simplest and most harmless advice is to drink lingonberry tea with honey or sugar at the first sign of a cold. To do this, knead a tablespoon of berries with the same amount of sweetener, pour boiling water, stir. When the drink becomes drinkable, it is consumed internally until it cools down.

Morse for colds

If a cold disease is "missed", you can prepare a fruit drink and drink it 1-1.5 glasses a day. To do this, pour a glass of berries with water in a ratio of 1: 2, bring to a boil, add 5 teaspoons of sugar (not honey!), Simmer over low heat for a quarter of an hour, filter.

From temperature

Lingonberries can bring down the temperature with a common cold. If a person has a sore throat, you need to see a doctor - he will prescribe medications to cure the underlying disease. Perhaps the complex of measures from the temperature of lingonberries will also be included.

Lingonberry-beetroot juice

This fruit drink will not only lower the temperature, but also increase hemoglobin, saturate the body with vitamins and microelements. Beets soften the action of lingonberries, the drink can be drunk even by patients with high acidity.

For 250 g of fresh or soaked berries, you need to take the same amount of red beets, 750 ml of water, 50 g of honey.

Lingonberries are chopped with a blender or in another way, poured with chilled purified water and put on a small fire, brought to a boil. Turn off, insist 30 minutes.

Beets are washed, peeled, twisted in a meat grinder. Lingonberry is added to the infusion, boiled. When the broth has cooled to 40 degrees, it is filtered through cheesecloth, combined with honey.

Drink warm during the day, 100 ml 3-4 times. You can store such a broth in the refrigerator for no longer than three days. But it is better to make it fresh daily.

Simple recipe for temperature with raspberries

If the temperature is not burdened with complications, a tasty medicine can be easily prepared from frozen lingonberries and raspberries. A tablespoon of fruit is placed directly into a cup, poured with hot water, sugar or honey is added to taste. The berries should be slightly crushed - they will easily let the juice flow.

Drink 100 ml hot three times a day.

From cough

Lingonberry cough helps well - it has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. But the cough is different.

Recipe for sputum separation

To make it easier to separate phlegm, honey is added to the juice prepared for the winter or from fresh or frozen berries to taste. One tablespoon of this delicious medicine is drunk 6-8 times a day.

Tuberculosis cough recipe

Lingonberries can even moderate TB coughs.

Take equal parts of fresh or frozen berries and honey, grind. Take 2-3 tbsp. spoons 3 or 4 times a day. Wash down with warm (not hot!) Water.

With cystitis

Lingonberry for cystitis is used quite often. Of course, the effect of the leaves is stronger than that of the berries. But you don't always need a powerful tool. The berries are mild. At the beginning of the disease, when it seems that it is too early to go to the doctor, but discomfort is already felt, they can be prescribed for yourself on your own.

With inflammation of the bladder, relief after taking berries occurs:

• due to the high content of anti-inflammation vitamin C in fruits;
• due to the presence of an antiseptic arbutin that enhances the outflow of urine;
• The benzoic acid found in the plant is also anti-inflammatory.

With cystitis, you can prepare fruit drink in the same way as described in the recipe for colds.

Lingonberry water for cystitis

An effective remedy is the water in which the lingonberry was stored. The berries are washed, poured into a jar to the neck and poured with clean water. So they can be stored all winter. The water, with which the berries are poured, becomes healing after 2 months, and it practically has no contraindications.

Lingonberry infusion for cystitis

A glass of crushed berries is poured with a liter of boiling water, wrapped in a warm blanket and insisted for 60 minutes. Then they filter and drink, but not more than three glasses a day.

For the kidneys

Lingonberries for kidney should be taken with caution. Berries, of course, are not leaves, but there are diseases in which even they can be harmful.You cannot eat lingonberries without consulting a doctor:

• with renal failure;
• glomerulonephritis;
• kidney stones.

The therapeutic effect of berries is due to their antiseptic and diuretic effects. They activate the kidneys, and this can have more than just a positive effect. With infectious diseases, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of berries will help.

Below are the recipes for lingonberry water and fruit drink, but you can prepare them as described in other sections of the article.

Morse for kidney disease

Squeeze out 50 ml of juice from fresh or frozen berries, dilute with 150 ml of boiled water. Add a sweetener to taste, drink 100 ml 3-4 times a day half an hour after eating.

Lingonberry water for kidney disease

Not always, especially among residents of the southern regions, lingonberries are in such quantities as to soak them for the winter and keep them untouched for 2-3 months. And the medicine may be needed urgently, and not when the berry is infused.

A glass of fruit is scalded, and then immediately poured with two parts of cold purified water for 7 hours. The resulting cold infusion is taken 30 minutes before each meal, 100 ml.

From edema

Lingonberry helps with edema due to its diuretic properties. Berries have a milder effect than leaves, they can be taken on their own in a course of 10-14 days. But only if the person does not have intolerance, hypotension, stones, or serious kidney damage.

Together with urine, salts are excreted from the body, due to which fluid is retained in the body. It is important here not to overdo it and not to bring yourself to dehydration or leaching out of all the beneficial trace elements and vitamins.

Decoction for edema

To reduce swelling, dry berries and lingonberry leaves are mixed in equal proportions. Pour two teaspoons with a glass of boiling water, cook for 15 minutes. Cool, filter, drink during the day.

Delicious fruit drink for edema

This recipe is quite simple, but the fruit drink turns out to be saturated, people with high acidity should absolutely not drink it. For those whose body is not used to the constant use of marsh berries, it is better to consult a doctor.

Three glasses of lingonberry berries are kneaded, poured with a liter of water, stirred and boiled over low heat. Add the zest of 1 lemon, vanillin, cinnamon and sugar to taste. Turn off the fire, cool the drink, filter.

With urolithiasis

Lingonberry for urolithiasis is not used for treatment. It is able to remove sand, prevent further salt deposition. A good berry for the prevention of the formation of kidney stones. But if they are already there, uncontrolled intake of not only leaves, but also a large number of fruits can lead to poor health.

Berries have a diuretic effect, the stone can move and block the ureter. This leads to severe pain, surgery may be required.

Is it possible to eat berries at all with kidney stones? If a person lives in an area where lingonberries grow, a few, or even a dozen fruits will not bring much harm, as well as a sip of juice. But there can be no question of eating enough berries. For people for whom lingonberry is exotic, it is better to abstain and consult with a nephrologist first.

With gastritis

You can use lingonberries for gastritis only with normal or low acidity.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lingonberry helps due to the presence of tannins in it, relieving inflammation and having an antispasmodic effect. The high content of various acids makes it impossible to use berries and leaves for people prone to high acidity.

Lingonberry water for gastritis

With gastritis with normal or low acidity, they drink lingonberry water, prepared according to one of the recipes described above. Take 100 ml 4 times a day.

Juice for gastritis with low acidity

This recipe is suitable only for people whose gastric acidity is low. Add a tablespoon of honey to half a glass of juice. Drink during the day for 3 doses - before meals, or 30 minutes after meals.

With pancreatitis

Lingonberries for pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas can only be used during remission.

Why can't you eat lingonberries with acute pancreatitis?

1. Berries stimulate the secretion of enzymes, which are not already released into the duodenum. They digest themselves in the pancreas and destroy it.
2. Lingonberries contain many acids that irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.
3. The shell of the fruit is poorly digested, retained in the stomach and intestines. And this violates the first of the principles of treatment for pancreatitis - hunger, cold and rest.

Even during the period of remission, it is better to use not fresh berries, but compotes, jelly, puddings, jellies, or put a spoonful of jam in tea. If you really want lingonberries, they start eating it with 1-2 fruits, reach half a glass, and stop there.

Kissel to restore the body after an acute period

But when the disease begins to release, around the second week, you can use jelly with well-boiled lingonberries, sweetened with a sweetener. They quench thirst, help relieve cramps and restore strength. Lingonberry will speed up the regeneration of the pancreas and relieve inflammation.

Lingonberry juice during remission

With chronic pancreatitis, it is allowed to drink only freshly prepared juice (it is possible from frozen berries). It is diluted 1: 1 with water, softened with a permitted sweetener, drunk 2 times a day for ½ cup. This will help prevent inflammation of the pancreas from developing.

With gallstone disease

Lingonberry for cholelithiasis should be used only when prescribed and under the supervision of a physician. You can easily find recipes in which "healers" advise drinking juice, eating fresh berries, and not paying attention to pain in the right hypochondrium for 10-12 days. Like, small pebbles come out.

But what if the big one went, or the small one blocked the bile duct? At this time, the patient believes that since 12 days have not passed, he must endure. So it is possible not only to be on the operating table ... In addition, the release of even small stones can end up getting stuck in the bile duct.

Yes, lingonberry has the ability to accelerate regeneration, reduce inflammation, relieve spasms. But it also increases the outflow of bile! This in itself increases irritation of the already inflamed gallbladder, stomach and intestines.

With gout

Lingonberry for gout, arthritis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism is taken in the same way. It is impossible to treat pain, inflammation in the joints, relying only on the anti-inflammatory properties of berries. Lingonberry fruits should be included in complex therapy, but not replace it.

Teas, decoctions and infusions of berries for the treatment and prevention of exacerbations of diseases of the musculoskeletal system should be drunk hot.

Lingonberry anti-inflammatory tea

Take one part of dried lingonberry fruits, drupe leaves and oregano herbs, 2 parts of dry raspberries.A teaspoon of the mixture with a slide is poured with a glass of boiling water, brought to a boil, poured into a thermos or wrapped well, insisted for 60-90 minutes.

Take hot, 1-2 glasses a day, adding a sweetener to taste. For pregnant women, due to the presence of oregano, such a drink can only be consumed after consulting a doctor.

Lingonberry juice for gout and arthritis

It is prepared in the same way as for gastritis with low acidity - a tablespoon of honey is dissolved in half a glass of the drink. You just need to drink the juice during the day, regardless of the meal.

Lingonberry for weight loss

You can often find advice to eat lingonberries in diets aimed at weight loss. Yes, the berry has a low calorie content. But even if a person has no contraindications, before including lingonberries in the menu, you need to think.

If the diet consists in the fact that you cannot eat certain foods, while the rest can be eaten in unlimited quantities, lingonberries will come in handy. But if the amount of food taken is minimal and calculated in portions, a man or woman who has included a delicious berry in the diet may greatly regret it.

The fact is that lingonberry stimulates the appetite. In the first case, you can fill your stomach with cabbage or boiled beets (well, or other permitted foods). In the second, you have to endure. So, in order to avoid mental and physical suffering, it is better to consult a nutritionist.

And, in general, lingonberries with a diet can make up for the lack of vitamins and other nutrients in the body, caused by the restriction of the range of foods used in food.

The use of lingonberry in cosmetology

Lingonberry berries are used in cosmetology due to:

• high content of biologically active substances;
• benzoic acid, which has anti-rotting properties;
• a large amount of vitamins and minerals;
• anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and astringent properties;
• tonic effect.

But the berries of the lingonberry are dense, it is difficult to knead them quickly. You will have to use a pusher, and then wipe through a sieve or blender.

Lingonberry face masks

Lingonberry can:

• relieve inflammation and irritation;
• moisturize the skin of the face;
• strengthen the epidermis;
• prevent skin aging and the appearance of wrinkles;
• stimulate metabolic processes;
• narrow pores;
• supply the skin with essential vitamins and minerals.

How to make face masks

Face masks with lingonberries are made 2 times a week for a month. They are applied to a clean face with fingers or a silicone brush, left for 15-20 minutes, washed off with warm water. Then they wash their face cool so that the pores shrink.

Mask for dry skin

A tablespoon of lingonberry pulp is thoroughly mixed with a teaspoon of sour cream and the same amount of any vegetable oil (preferably jojoba, olive or coconut).

This mask nourishes the skin, smoothes wrinkles.

Mask for oily skin

Beat the protein, add 2 tablespoons of lingonberry pulp. After the mask is removed, a nourishing cream is applied to the face.

This procedure narrows the pores, dries the skin, and normalizes the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Mask for normal to combination skin

A tablespoon of lingonberry pulp is combined with the same amount of grapefruit juice, then wheat flour is added (enough to get a thick mixture).

It is both a rejuvenating and a whitening mask.

Lingonberry hair masks

The anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and astringent properties of lingonberry are used to treat hair. It helps to eliminate dandruff, itching. Shampoos and conditioners strengthen hair, stop hair loss, saturate with minerals and vitamins. But masks cooked with your own hands from lingonberry berries work best.

For strengthening and against hair loss

Finely grated carrots, a third of a glass of chopped fresh or frozen lingonberries and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of castor oil are thoroughly mixed and applied to the hair roots. Cover the head with cellophane (you can wear a swimming cap or a special one for a shower), wrap it up with a terry towel. After 2 hours, the mask is washed off first with water and then with shampoo.

Mask for repairing severely damaged hair

Gruel from 2 tbsp. tablespoons of lingonberry berries and the same amount of castor or burdock oil, 2 chicken (or 6 quail) yolks are thoroughly mixed. Apply to damp hair, wrap with cellophane and a terry towel for 2 hours. Wash your hair first with warm water, then shampoo.

This mask should be done once a week for 3 months.

Contraindications to the use of lingonberries

Compared to leaves, lingonberry berries have fewer medicinal properties and contraindications. Their action is mild, if the fruits are not eaten in large quantities. It is believed that if there are no contraindications, without prejudice to health and consultation with a doctor, even people for whom lingonberry is an exotic culture can eat half a glass of berries. Those who are accustomed to marsh berries since childhood consume them in much larger quantities.

Meanwhile, you need to know what contraindications exist for the use of lingonberries:

1. In case of kidney or gallbladder stones, it is categorically impossible to eat berries without consulting a doctor.
2. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with high acidity completely exclude the use of lingonberries. Even with normal acidity, ulcers should consult a doctor.
3. In case of acute pancreatitis, in no case should you eat not only lingonberries, but also other berries. In general, the exacerbation of this disease involves the most severe diet!
4. With many kidney diseases, for example, kidney failure or glomerulonephritis, a handful of berries that you allow yourself can turn into disaster.
5. Lingonberry lowers blood pressure. Hypotensive patients cannot eat it.
6. Before giving berries to a child, you need to consult a doctor, conduct a sensitivity test. You need to start taking lingonberries with 1-2 fruits, gradually increasing the dose. The doctor should determine the maximum number of berries allowed for a child, but the dose should not exceed half a glass.
7. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking lingonberries - in some cases, the berries can harm the baby.
8. During lactation, the intake of lingonberries must be agreed with a doctor, otherwise the child may have constipation, dehydration and other troubles.
9. Postoperative period.
10. Individual intolerance.

Hypersensitivity test

Before eating lingonberries for the first time, a simple test should be done, since there are no 100% hypoallergenic foods. To do this, a bandage is moistened in juice diluted with water, tied around the wrist. If hives, itching, irritation, or other negative reaction do not appear within 10 minutes, you can start eating berries. For the first time, it is better to limit yourself to 1-2 pieces, in the future, their number can be gradually increased.

What else should you pay attention to? First, lingonberries are believed to enhance the effects of antibiotics. Secondly, it increases appetite, so low calorie content of berries is not a reason to immediately include them in the diet.

Conclusion

The health benefits and harms of lingonberry, despite the large list of contraindications, are incomparable. Often, doctors prescribe berries even for those diseases that are on the forbidden list. They themselves calculate the dosage and time of admission, depending on the weight of the patient, concomitant diseases. In addition, the origin of the berries is of great importance - it is one thing to independently collect fruits in an ecologically clean place, and quite another to buy them from your hands or at a retail outlet.

Recommended entries

Lingonberry garden: planting and care

Lingonberry: photo of berries

The healing properties of lingonberry leaves

Lingonberry leaf during pregnancy

How lingonberry affects blood pressure

How to quickly sort out lingonberries from garbage

What is the difference between cranberries and lingonberries

Grapes White miracle

Strawberry Galya Chiv