Blackberry: useful properties, description and contraindications

Blackberries are a wild berry that has wonderful taste and healing properties. It is grown more often by amateur gardeners, and also in North America for industrial purposes.

Description of the berries

The plant itself is a shrub with stems and shoots of flexible form, as well as seated spines. The genus of the blackberry, whose useful properties are very wide, from North America, where it was domesticated.

There are more than 200 types of blackberries, which apart from their place of origin are common in Eurasia and some countries where the climate is warm. In North America, the berry is grown for industrial purposes, but in other countries, amateur gardeners are more likely to grow blackberries. In addition, for a long time the breeders have been trying to breed a variety without spiny thorns and shoots. Thus, it is possible to facilitate harvesting, thereby increasing the popularity of this plant.

Quite often grown blackberries for decorative purposes, as during the flowering period it has a very beautiful view, and prickly branches can serve as a good hedge. Of course, the main purpose of cultivation is the benefits and taste qualities.

Externally, the blackberry is very similar to raspberry, but it differs in color and taste. In the process of ripening, the berry of the blackberry changes its color from green to red, then, completely ripe, becomes black. The juice of this berry has a dark red color and sweet and sour taste.

You can cook from the blackberry jam, as well as eat it fresh. In addition, it makes very tasty and useful compotes, tinctures and syrups. The berry is also stored in a frozen form, thanks to which it is possible to regale it in the winter. Quite often, acidic varieties of blackberries are used as a preparation of sauces for meat dishes. Also, it produces excellent alcoholic beverages. Add blackberry juice as a natural color in the manufacture of liquors and confectionery.

Composition of blackberry

Blackberry berries consist of fats, whites, water, carbohydrates, as well as dietary fiber. If we talk about vitamins, then it contains such groups as: A, E, C, B2, B1, B6, B5.

Also the blackberry is rich in such micro and macro elements as: sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese, selenium, copper and iron.

As for its calorie content, 100 g of the product contains approximately 35 kcal.

Blackberries: useful properties

If you use this berry regularly, then you can be sure that your immunity will be at the highest level. About what is useful for the blackberry, then.

Scientists have been shown that this berry helps to stop the development of cancer cells in the human body. In addition, it is recommended to use it onkobolnym, which is very useful for blackberries. Useful properties, which it has, help to strengthen capillaries and prevent sclerotic diseases.

The berries of this plant have remarkable antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties, which speaks of its benefits during colds, flu, acute respiratory infections, pneumonia. Blackberries, useful properties that extend not only to increase immunity, is considered a good tool in the fight against cystitis and various infections of the genitourinary system as a whole. Also, berries perfectly help to establish the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Blackberry leaves, whose useful properties are also popular, help fight diabetes and improve metabolism in the body. For this, it is necessary to brew tea from them and take them daily.

Contraindications

There are also some prohibitions that should be considered before using blackberries. Sometimes, her berries can cause an allergic reaction. It can appear only five minutes after ingestion, but in a couple of days. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and even mucosal edema. And if you notice any of these side effects, it is better to stop using blackberries and consult a doctor.