Blueberries - composition and useful properties of berries, harm and contraindications * Crossfit

Blueberry is a sweet wild berry that not only tastes good, but also has beneficial properties. Not only the fruit is useful for the human body, blueberry leaves also have medicinal properties that are used even in modern medicine. Few people know, but it is this berry that is the first assistant in losing weight. In addition, the berry helps athletes recuperate after a grueling workout. And blueberries are also an effective cosmetic product that has a beneficial effect on the skin of the face, removes dark circles under the eyes and prolongs youth.

Composition, BJU and calorie content of blueberries

The calorie content of blueberries, as well as BJU, vary depending on what form the berries are in: fresh, dried, frozen. The composition of the fruit contains a large amount of minerals, vitamins, free organic acids, as well as dietary fiber. With the right technology of freezing and drying berries, you can preserve all the value and useful properties of fresh blueberries.

Nutritional value of the product per 100 g:

Product	Proteins, g	Fat, g	Carbohydrates, g	Dietary fiber, g	Water, g	Calorie content, kcal
Fresh blueberries	1,2	0,7	7,6	3,2	87	43,7
Dried blueberries	0,9	0,6	72,4	3,0	23,1	308,9
Frozen blueberries	1,2	0,7	6,3	3,2	8,6	34,5

Dried blueberries have a high calorie content due to the dehydration process, which makes the product more concentrated. To get 100 g of dried berries, 1 kg of fresh fruits are processed, which means that the concentration of nutrients and elements increases, as does the number of calories.

Chemical composition of fresh forest berries per 100 g:

ash - 0.3 g;
vitamin B1 - 0.03 mg;
vitamin C - 11 mg;
vitamin PP - 0.5 mg;
vitamin E - 1.3 mg;
vitamin A - 0.04 mg;
organic acids - 1.31 g;
niacin - 0.39 mg;
calcium - 17 mg;
magnesium - 7 mg;
sodium - 5 mg;
potassium - 52 mg;
phosphorus - 14 mg;
iron - 0.8 mg.

Blueberry leaves contain useful elements such as:

vitamin C;
carotenoids;
triterpene acids;
essential oil;
flavonoids.

A complete list of all vitamins is not preserved in frozen blueberries, however, with proper freezing and proper defrosting, most of the useful elements can be preserved. There is no point in freezing the leaves, since they have medicinal properties only when fresh.

Pay attention to the low calorie content of the product, which cannot but please all those who are losing weight, since you can eat blueberries in large quantities, if we are not talking about dried berries.

Benefits of berries for health

The beneficial properties of blueberries for human health are very extensive, since the product has not only medicinal, but also cosmetic qualities. It is suitable for adults and children, and if you use the product regularly, blueberries will not only saturate the body with vitamins, micro- and macroelements, but also have a beneficial effect on some organs and vital processes.

Antioxidant properties. Anioxidants act at the cellular level, providing a preventive effect against malignant tumors, as well as destroying the foci of their appearance. The antioxidants in blueberries are often equated with anthocyanins, which can prevent cancer. In terms of the content of this element, blueberries surpass apples and dark grapes.
Blueberries improve vision and prevent the occurrence of diseases of the visual organs. All this is possible thanks to the beta-carotene contained in the berry, which stimulates retinal tissue to renew and stimulates blood circulation in the eyes, as well as relieves fatigue. Blueberries can be used medicinally to combat night blindness or conjunctivitis. However, it should be borne in mind that berries are only helpers in the treatment of eyes, the main therapy is carried out by a doctor.
Wild berries are able to improve metabolism and cleanse the body of salts, metals and toxins, which directly affect the aging process and destruction of the body. The metabolism is accelerated by the pantothenic acid, which is part of the composition.
Blueberries are widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Taking blueberries regularly can help relieve colitis and stomach symptoms. In the case of diarrhea, dried berries will come to the rescue, and fresh fruits will help for constipation. This is due to the fact that blueberries improve the intestinal microflora, which is why you can not be afraid of the processes of rotting food during its digestion. And also the berry has disinfectant properties.
Increases endurance while exercising. Low in calories and high in nutrients and fiber, it helps you lose weight.
Reduces inflammation in the body. Due to this effect, it is recommended to use blueberries for liver or gallbladder diseases. In addition, the berries are used as a remedy for headaches during colds or pneumonia.
Reduces the risk of developing diabetes. Useful and medicinal properties are provided not only by sweet fruits, but also by blueberry leaves, with the help of which you can reduce blood sugar levels and normalize the work of the pancreas (the possible aggravation of diabetes depends on the work of this organ).
Blueberries are a great help in treating colds and infections due to this. Berry is a natural antiseptic and antibiotic. A decoction made from the leaves or fruit of blueberries is helpful in treating a sore throat or wet cough.
Helps in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the genitourinary tract. You can use the berries in their pure form or buy preparations that include blueberries.
Blueberries strengthen the immune system.
Regular consumption of berries strengthens the heart and reduces the risk of thrombosis.
Thinns blood and prevents heart attack. In addition, wild berries normalize the work of almost all vital organs.
Possesses bactericidal properties. If you regularly drink juice from fresh blueberries, you can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, causative agents of diseases such as typhoid fever and dysentery.
Due to their high calcium content, blueberries have a beneficial effect on the formation and strengthening of children's bones.
Recommended for use by pregnant women, but only on condition that she does not suffer from a low level of hemoglobin in the blood.

This is not a complete list of the possible therapeutic effects of berries on the body, but only the most common and important properties of the plant. The main thing is to consume ripe berries in moderation and without fanaticism. Blueberries are only an assistant in the treatment of certain diseases, but by no means are they the only medicine.

Note: The best time to harvest the leaves is when the blueberry blooms. The leaves are carefully cut with scissors and dried in a ventilated place. After they are folded into fabric bags and used all year round for medicinal purposes.

Cosmetic effects of blueberries

Blueberry has a beneficial cosmetic effect on the skin of women and girls, therefore, wild berry extract is widely used in cosmetology, and not only at home.

Blueberries as a means of cosmetology:

saturates the skin with vitamins;
strengthens blood vessels;
smoothes wrinkles;
rejuvenates the skin;
helps with redness caused by irritation to the external environment (dust, dirt, etc.);
evens out the complexion;
compresses from a decoction of blueberry leaves or masks from ground berries will help remove dark circles under the eyes;
reduces puffiness.

In addition, blueberry extract wonderfully helps teenagers to cope with acne on the face and dry skin. For the older generation, wild berry will help remove signs of fatigue and even out skin tone.

Slimming berry

Blueberries are among the most effective berries for weight loss.

It has the following effects:

cleanses the body, in particular the intestines;
improves metabolism;
reduces feelings of hunger.

Blueberries do an excellent job with all of the above tasks. And thanks to its fiber content, it prevents constipation.

In addition, due to the beneficial composition, blueberries saturate the body with essential minerals and vitamins, which are often lacking during dieting.

Blueberry juice deserves special attention, as it tones up the muscles after exercise. Without sports and physical activity, it is difficult to achieve sustainable results in weight loss. Juice from berries not only tones up the muscles, but speeds up metabolism and reduces hunger. It is useful not only for women, but also for overweight men.

Advice! For effective weight loss, you do not need to eat exclusively berries, it is enough to observe the daily calorie intake and include cocktails, low-fat yoghurts and muesli with the addition of blueberries in the diet.

Blueberry harm and contraindications

Harm from blueberries and contraindications for use can most often occur due to individual intolerance to the product or an allergic reaction. In addition, there are a number of features that make it worth refraining from eating berries. The most common ones are described below.

Overuse of berries or banal overeating. The daily intake of blueberries is no more than 0.5 kg. If you manage to eat more, such an oversight will lead to an upset stomach.
While consuming blueberries, especially in cases of following a berry diet, it is recommended to refrain from berries such as raspberries, strawberries, cloudberries and strawberries.
In case of diabetes, use blueberries only with the permission of a doctor.
It is contraindicated to eat the berry for people suffering from pancreatitis or urolithiasis, since oxalic acid is a part of blueberries.
It is harmful to eat a berry for people who have pancreatic diseases.

It follows from this that there are no many contraindications, and the consequences of overeating are minimal. However, keep in mind that if you buy products containing blueberries, this does not guarantee their absolute health. This is especially true of store-bought blueberry juices, the benefits of which and the actual content of berries in the product are highly questionable.

Nutritionists recommend adding blueberries to your meals yourself.

Outcome

Blueberries are a tasty and healthy product that has medicinal properties and is excellently used in cosmetology. The wild berry is practically harmless if you do not overeat and take into account the individual characteristics of the organism. In addition, blueberries act as a weight loss aid and are good for athletes. It increases vitality, stamina and helps to cope with heavy loads.