A tree with ruby berries. Why is cherry useful?

Cherries are loved by everyone. Cherry trees are widely distributed around the globe. During the excavations of the ancient settlements archeologists everywhere find cherry bones, which indicates the love of man for these juicy berries from time immemorial. Ancestors appreciated the taste of fragrant berries. They skillfully used not only fruits, but also other parts of this amazing tree.

And he will feed, and heal

Cherry berries can be consumed in any form: fresh, dried, canned. They quench your thirst and improve your appetite. Having low caloric content (52 kcal / 100 g), are excellent for dietary nutrition.

About whether cherry is useful, can tell its chemical composition. Berries are rich in vitamins and minerals, their flesh has bactericidal properties. The salts of copper and iron contained in the cherry fruit, as well as a significant amount of folic acid (up to 0.4 mg) help in the treatment of anemia, which makes cherry the desired product of a children's table and nutrition of pregnant women. The iron in the cherry contains more than in apples, and the content of folic acid, cherries approaching ripe raspberries.

What is useful is cherry, so it's unique natural compounds. The fruit contains ellagic acid, which blocks the development of cancer cells. And coumarins and oxycoumarins normalize blood coagulability, preventing thrombosis and heart attacks. The natural color of anthocyanins, which is especially abundant in cherry dark varieties - is a powerful antioxidant, strengthening capillaries and retarding cell aging. Contained in the pulp, magnesium has an anticonvulsant and soothing effect on the nervous system.

Not only berries. Use of other parts of the cherry tree

Cherries are loved all for juicy berries and delicious compotes. And how useful is cherry, but its fruits? And leaves, and ossicles, and peduncles, and young branches are used in cooking and folk medicine.

Skin leaves of cherry are natural antiseptics. They are widely used in canning, adding to pickles and jams. When cuts and abrasions can be applied to the injured area of gruel from the leaves - this will prevent the inflammatory process. When you visit a bath instead of birch brooms you can take cherry: the bactericidal properties of cherry leaves will clear the skin, heal wounds, destroy fungal infections. Broth of sprigs helps with gastric disorders, it is used as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery. Cherry stems - a diuretic, which helps with edema and urolithiasis. Decoction of the stems and young twigs helps with hypertension. With the help of ossicles, folk medicine treats gout and kidney stone disease.

Flowers, stems, cherry leaves dry for the winter. What is useful cherry in the winter, so it's protection against beriberi. Healing cherry tea will give vivacity and protect against colds.

Warnings and contraindications

In folk medicine, cherry has long been used. Useful properties and contraindications to its use have been well studied by herbalists and healers. Unfortunately, some people can not use cherry berries.

Cherry juice is contraindicated in diabetes. Cherries can not be eaten by people with stomach ulcers and those with increased acidity. Also, people who are obese and have an intestinal disorder should refrain from using cherries. Inside the cherry stones there is amygdalin, which in time splits into harmless glucose and poisonous hydrocyanic acid. Cherry tincture with bones, cooked without heat treatment, may contain some amount of amygdaline, and is rather harmful than useful. Cherries with bones in the form of jam and compotes do not pose a danger, since the amygdalase loses its ability to split when heated.