Home / Herbalist / What good and bad strawberries?

What good and bad strawberries?

Strawberries - the Queen berries, a real Queen, flavor which does not leave indifferent neither kids nor adults. It is not only a great delicacy, but also a great medicine that has given by nature itself.

Useful properties of strawberries

Strawberry – flavored berry that possesses unique nutritional, medicinal and useful properties. It contains large amounts of sugars, vitamins, folic acid, fiber, carotene, pectin, iron, cobalt, calcium, phosphorus and manganese. This plant has a powerful healing effect on the human body. Strawberries are used to treat hypertension, sclerosis, constipation , and various problems with the digestive system. In addition, many forms of running conditions if the eczema can easily be solved with special treatment strawberries. It promotes the normalization of metabolism, and also helps with serious heart disease, kidney ailments and anemia.

Inflammation of the thyroid gland shows the use of the strawberries, because it possesses antimicrobial activity. If you drink fresh strawberry juice on an empty stomach, it will help to cure cholelithiasis. It should also be noted that modern doctors have appreciated the sugar-lowering and diuretic properties of these amazing berries. It is also proven that strawberry promotes excretion of excess water. Regular use of berries in food increases the appetite and even slows the aging process. High content of antioxidants causes a good mood. Strawberry indispensable for beriberi, she fights well with a variety of agents of viral and bacterial infections.

Strawberry – an aphrodisiac

Strawberry is a powerful aphrodisiac, that is, a product that enhances and stimulate sexual desire between a man and a woman. Her scent makes to reveal female sensuality. A handful of berries eaten before intimacy, helps the partners to relax and enjoy each other.

Interesting story of the origin of the term "passion"for products intended for the category of 18+. A well-known researcher and scholar academician V. V. Vinogradov in his book"History of words"writes that the founder of this term was the writer N.In. Gogol. In his book"Dead souls"is a character Lieutenant Kuvshinnikov is a real womanizer who talks about their loveadventures –"he borrowed about strawberries". After that, the word "passion" began to be used in a humorously ironic, denoting erotica.

Strawberry, as a cosmetic

Since ancient times, women of very different nationalities used the strawberries as a cosmetic means for skin care of face and body. Due to the rich content of salicylic acid this berry serves as an excellent whitening and anti-inflammatory remedy for acne, freckles, age spots. Mask of strawberries can be used as acid peels when skin.

The ancient Romans used the juice and pulp of the fruit berries to freshen breath and whiten teeth. French revolutionary Madame tharien, who later became close to Napoleon, bathed in strawberry puree, believing that thus prolongs youth.

Whitening facial mask of strawberries: mash 3 large berries in a porcelain mortar, apply on cleansed face and neck. Keep 5-8 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Apply moisturizer.

Mask of strawberries for skin: mash 2 medium size berries in a porcelain mortar, add the resulting puree 1 teaspoon of honey (for oily to normal skin) or cream (for dry skin). Apply on cleansed face and neck. To withstand 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Strawberries to clean pores: mix the juice from 2-3 berries with 2 tablespoons of cosmetic clay. Apply on cleansed face, focusing on T-zone. Keep 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Apply moisturizer.

Strawberry is a dietary product

Despite the fact that this berry has a pronounced sweet taste, it can be recommended even to patients with diabetes. In addition, strawberries are indispensable in the fight against excess weight, because it prevents the absorption of fats and unnecessary carbohydrates in the intestine, stimulating peristalsis of the intestines.

A prototype artificial flavors

The characteristic flavor and strawberry flavor kids love that the producers are trying to apply synthetic strawberry flavours and food additives in children's cosmetics, toothpastes, to give a pleasant taste children's pasteurized milk, yogurts, chocolates.


Healing properties of strawberries

As with all gifts of nature, strawberry is rich in medicinal properties. Itcontains most macro - and micronutrients that are vital for good body function.

Strawberries are rich in:

  • macro-elements (potassium, calcium, magnesium);
  • micronutrients (iron, iodine, manganese, copper, fluorine, cobalt, molybdenum);

  • vitamins C, b-carotene, E, B9, PP;
  • fiber;
  • fruit acids (salicylic, quinic, succinic, malic);
  • painting substances, including anthocyanins.

Incalculable is the good that brings strawberries to the human body:

  • Due to the high content of potassium it helps to correct the heart muscle, regulates blood pressure, improves conduction of nerve impulses and protects against depression, relieves swelling, improves oxygen supply to the brain. Calcium and fluoride, which are contained in strawberries, strengthen bones and teeth.
  • This berry is an excellent preventive measure against strokes due to magnesium, which it is rich.
  • Strawberry stimulates the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Cobalt, iron, copper and molybdenum contained in it, are essential sources of hematopoiesis.
  • This berry is a real storehouse of vitamin C, which is more than the lemon (in terms of 100 grams). Therefore, it strengthens the immune system, promotes regeneration and renewal of the connective tissue (cartilage, tendons), improves the quality of synovial fluid.
  • The vitamin E, anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants due to their strawberry slows the aging process, fights free radicals, prevention of cancer.
  • Berries are rich in folic acid, which is especially necessary when planning a pregnancy. In addition, folic acid strengthens blood vessels and prevents breakage.
  • The red color of strawberries is due to b-carotene which is a precursor of vitamin A in the body. It provides cell renewal and skin elasticity, smoothes wrinkles, stimulates the immune system, improves visual acuity.
  • Salicylic acid contained in the strawberries has an antibacterial effect when applied topically and ingesting it shows a weak antipyretic effect.
  • Soft fibers, which are rich in the pulp of the strawberries, and remove toxins from the intestines, stimulates peristalsis, lower cholesterol.

The strawberries are recommended as a preventive medical aid in the followingdiseases:

For sore throat colds, as well as to freshen breath, prevent diseases of the gums used infusion of strawberries.

Macerate strawberries: 2-3 large strawberries and mash in a porcelain mortar, transfer to a clean glass jar, pour 1 Cup of boiling water for 20 minutes. Rinse throat and mouth with warm infusion 5 times a day.

Prevention of anemia: eat half a kilo of fresh strawberries.

Strawberry dressing: In hard-to-heal wounds, trophic ulcers recommended strawberry dressing. For their preparation of ripe berries well washed, pour over boiling water, mash with a fork. To put the resulting mush on the wound, cover it with cling film, wrap and leave for 30-40 minutes.

Tea from the leaves of strawberry: In folk medicine, much attention is paid not only to the strawberry fruit, but its leaves and roots. For medical purposes use the dried leaves of the plant. Collect them better in August and September, when the fruiting period has come to an end. Dry leaves in the shade, then clean the glass jar, the neck of which is closed with paper, or canvas bags.

Before use the dried leaves to break them into 2-4 pieces. For the treatment in folk medicine, the use of tea and the infusion. Brewing the leaves of strawberries are best in a porcelain teapot. To 1 Cup of boiling water put about 2 large sheet. Infused 5-10 minutes, taken with honey or sugar 2-3 times a day.

Tea from strawberry leaves is richvitamin C has a mild diaphoretic and diuretic effect. Helps reduce blood pressure.

Recommended for:

  • small stones and sand in the kidneys;
  • inflammatory diseases of the bladder;
  • stagnation in the gallbladder;
  • colds and the flu.

Infusion of leaves of strawberry:

Infused dried strawberry leaves in a thermos for 40 minutes per 2 cups of boiling water 6-8 leaves. Used to rinse the throat and mouth.

Recommended for:

  • diseases of the gums;
  • sore throat;
  • pain in the throat.

A strong infusion of strawberry leaves is very good for diarrhea, food poisoning, lung infections of the bowel.


How useful strawberry for children?

Strawberries due to its pleasant taste and enticing aroma is a favorite food among children. Rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, low in calories it is perfect for baby food.

Healthy kids for the first time, you can start to introduce strawberries as foods in 12 months. Children with a tendency to allergies familiarity with the berry is better to postpone up to 2 years of age.

Should give preference to fresh berries, as they contain all the nutrients. In the winter you can freeze strawberries in the freezer. For this selected Mature, but still resilient enough fruits, washed, dried, put in airtight plastic container suitable for freezing, clean the freezer.

From defrosted berries, you can prepare compote, jelly, pudding, jelly.

  • Strawberry compote: 0.5 kg of ripe strawberries, rinse, cut into quarters, pour 1.5 liters of water. Add sugar to taste, put on fire, bring to boil, remove the foam, cook until tender berries.
  • Pudding of strawberries with cornflakes: you will need: 4 egg yolks, 0.5 Cup of sugar 0.5 kg of strawberries, 0.5 cups corn flakes, 30 ml of lemon juice. Beat the yolks with the sugar until the formation of persistent peaks. Add the lemon juice, corn flakes, mix well. At the bottom of the baking pan with deep sides lay the sliced strawberries evenly pour the mixture. Put in a preheated oven at 180 ° C for 20 minutes.
  • Jelly from frozen strawberries: you will need:frozen strawberries 300 grams, water 1 litre, 0.5 cups sugar, starch 2 tablespoons. Frozen berries defrosted. Beat with a blender to puree. Add 1 liter of water, bring to boil, add sugar, a few more minutes to boil. Starch to dissolve in a separate container in about 5 cups of cold water. A thin stream, stirring constantly, pour the starch in boiling water strawberry. Again bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, cool.

Strawberry jam can be used to impart flavor and aroma to milk, milk porridge, cottage cheese, natural yogurt and kefir to garnish casseroles. Kids certainly will not refuse such treats, even if not favor dairy products.

The benefits of strawberries during pregnancy

Due to the high content of folic acid in strawberries is an ideal product when preparing for conception and during the first months of pregnancy. Folic acid is required for proper formation of the nervous system of the fetus.

In addition, the soft tissue contained in the pulp, gently stimulates peristalsis, which is especially needed during the frequent constipation in pregnant women.

Easy diuretic effect helps to eliminate excess fluid from the body of the expectant mother, while not increasing the burden on the kidneys, which is important in the later stages of pregnancy.

Can pregnant women eat strawberries?

This question is difficult to answer unequivocally. If the expectant mother does not suffer from a predisposition to allergic reactions is not hypersensitive to strawberries, then you need to consume this berry in pregnancy. But if you have a strawberry Allergy or other allergic diseases (asthma, dermatitis), it is better to abstain.

It should be noted that during pregnancy it is better to use only the berries are collected in season, and to refuse imported imported fruit.


Damage strawberries

In nature, everything is either medicine or poison. Incorrect use can harm the health.

  • First of all it concerns people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, peptic ulcer disease. A large number of fruit acids contained in strawberries, can lead to aggravation.

  • Small bones can cause discomfort to people with dentures, gum disease.
  • Strawberry is poorly stored, rotten berries, can cause severe food poisoning.
  • Trying to achieve early maturity, producers are often used for growing strawberries unsafe agricultural practices (nitrates, hormones). So the benefits are received in the stores long before the natural season, are a potential source of danger to health. It is better to buy strawberries strictly during her natural fruiting.
  • Strawberries are a favourite object of genetic engineering. The genes of flounders, and plastic fruit – just anything you see. This is especially true of berries, imported from China and America. Therefore it is necessary to give preference to local varieties.

Allergic to strawberries

Despite the fact that strawberries are a storehouse of good, it, unfortunately, is a strong allergen. Strawberry Allergy manifests itself most often in the form of abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, hot flashes, sweating, dizziness 10-15 minutes after eating the berries. Can also be skin rashes in the form of urticaria.

For diagnosis you must see a doctor-an allergist to undergo skin tests. Interesting is the fact that in most cases, allergies occur on fresh raw fruit, while strawberry jam, jams, compotes no reaction.

Because of the strong allergenic load is not recommended to introduce strawberries as foods to children under 12 months.


The use of strawberries

A decoction of the leaves of this medicinal plant are used for normalization of blood pressure and restoration of metabolism in the body. Also strawberries will help for chronic insomnia if you regularly before going to bed to eat a few berries. It is able to reduce levels of cholesterol, clean the intestines, replenish vitamin reserves in the body, and will also promote weight loss. A lot of vitamins and minerals will ensure that oxygen delivery to the tissues, strengthen bone tissue and gums, helps fight viral diseases. Fiber strawberries will restore the bowels. For this you need to eat one Cup of berries before bedtime or drink a Cup of healthful juice. To get rid of cardiovascular diseases, in season, eat a handful of freshly picked berries.

Doctors recommend to take the infusion of leaves withuterine bleeding and heavy menstruation. In addition, this unique tool will greatly ease the pain inflammation of hemorrhoids. Using this infusion topically, you can permanently solve the problem of eczema and various skin dermatitis. For infusion you'll need 2 tablespoons of crushed strawberry leaves. Fill it with boiling water, then insist in a thermos for about one hour. The filtered medium is ready to use. You can also rinse the sore throat and the oral cavity in the presence of a sharp and unpleasant smell.

As an effective diuretic, you can make an infusion of the ripe berries. Take 2 tablespoons and pour 200 ml of boiling water. After 30 minutes, strain and drink half a Cup before each meal.

For normalization of arterial blood pressure using a wonderful infusion of dried leaves. For 2 tablespoons you'll need one Cup of boiling water.


How many calories in strawberries?

Strawberry is an excellent dietary product. Not only that, it speeds up metabolism, helps burn fat, removes cholesterol from the intestine, cleanses the body of toxins, it is still low calorie. It is not due to the sweetness of sucrose in most fruits and berries, and fructose, so it can be safely recommended to patients with diabetes.

How many calories are in fresh strawberries?

Depending on the grade approximately 30-40 kcal per 100 grams of product.

How many calories are in frozen strawberries?

Freezing does not affect the calorie content of strawberries, it still remains at the level of 30-40 kcal per 100 g.

The strawberry diet

On the basis of strawberries you can make a 4-day diet that will get rid of 2-3 kg of excess weight. To increase its duration it is not necessary for allergenicity of berries and irritant action on the mucosa of the intestine.

Sample menu:

Breakfast: morning is better to start with a light salad. 1 Cup of strawberries and 1 Apple without skin cut into cubes, if desired, sprinkle with cinnamon, mix and eat with 1 Cup natural unsweetened yoghurt or kefir.

Lunch: meat salad with pieces of boiled chicken (half breast), walnuts (2-3 pieces), 1 cucumber and half a Cup of strawberries, dressed with 1 tablespoon sunflower or olive oil is cold pressed.

Snack: 0.5 Cup strawberries 1 diet bread.

Dinner: a light salad of 100 g low-fat cottage cheese (0,5%), 0.5 Cup strawberries, 1 boiled potato, drink 1 Cup unsweetened natural yoghurtor kefir.

For those who find it difficult to follow this diet, you can recommend a morning fruit salad, the use of which will gradually lead to weight loss.

Morning salad "Fit"

1 Cup medium-sized strawberries a good wash, pour over boiling water, cut. Half of one medium-sized Apple remove seeds and peel, cut into cubes. Banana wash, peel, slice polyolefine. In a bowl, mix the fruit and fill with ¼ Cup natural unsweetened yoghurt. Add honey to taste for sweetening.


The cultivation of strawberries

Features of strawberry growing are correctly selected area with enough sunlight. This water-loving plant does not tolerate waterlogged strong. It should be noted that the strawberry is not recommended to grow more than four years in one place.

Strawberry varieties. This popular garden berries like strawberries have a great many different varieties. Along with this, each year, new varieties. Early varieties include "alpha", "Chisinau early", "early Biryulevo"and"the Beauty of Zagorje". Of the varieties of ordinary, medium maturing, you can note "Paul beauty", "hero", "Festival"and"Delicious". "Borovitskaya", "Saxon", "Zenith", "Bogota"and"Leningrad late" is a bright representatives of the late varieties.

The conditions for growing strawberries. One of the main conditions for a good harvest is a special irrigation system. Sufficient illumination area is also very necessary for good ripening of the berries.

The technology of growing strawberries. The width of the ridge shall be not more than 120 cm, and between plants to allow 35-40 cm Planting seedlings is carried out in August, pre-prepared seedlings. Don't forget before planting, carefully cut a strong root system. On a plot of strawberries can be grown under a special film. Is mulching a protection against frost. Feeding can give the bushes the necessary life energy to restore the vegetative mass. In the process of ripening of berries, you need to make another special dressing ROST-concentrate for further formation of the root system. Berries grown in such a clear technology, distinguished by large size and bright red color.

Growing strawberries in the home. Require special bags made of polyethylene, which should be filled with a substrate of simple fertilizers. Bagsput in a warm place. In the land of make small planting holes in a checkerboard pattern, where the planted seedlings. From tubes droppers you can make minisistema irrigation for watering. For good lighting put next to the bags of powerful lamps. When flowering the plants need to produce it by artificial pollination with the aid of the fan.

Growing strawberries in the greenhouse in winter. This farming is an ideal option for receiving annual plants. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic, and the optimal layer of humus must be at least 15 cm Should provide the following highlights of berry growing in a greenhouse such as timely irrigation and correct maintenance of temperature. Also do not forget to periodically spray the strawberries from introduced pests. Clearly following these instructions, you will get a big crop of large sweet berries.


Contraindications to the use of strawberries

Due to the large number of biologically active substances in its composition, strawberry is contraindicated in:

  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (ulcer, gastritis);
  • large kidney stones and gallbladder;

  • the propensity to a food Allergy;
  • kidney failure;
  • children up to age 1 year.

In addition, strawberry is contraindicated in:

  • Fruit acids contained in strawberries, is able to cause exacerbation of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, diseases bowel.
  • Diuretic and choleretic effect can have undesirable consequences when a large kidney stones and gallbladder stones can "go" and block the ureter and bile duct, leading to the development of renal and hepatic colic.

  • People with a tendency to allergies should not be abused strawberries fresh and it is better to refuse from imported varieties.
  • Diuretic effect may create an additional burden on the urinary system, which can adversely affect renal function in their failure.
  • Children under 1 year are not advised to eat strawberries because of its strong allergenic properties.

To summarize the story about the Queen of berries – strawberries, I want to once again draw attention to the fact that despite the abundance of useful properties, it has a number of contraindications. Attentive to histhe health will help not only benefiting from these delicious berries, but also to prevent the development of side effects from its use.