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The benefits of dogwood have been known for a long time, however, fresh berries can only be found according to the season, therefore many amateurs often procure it for their own, drying them out. It is not surprising, because dried dogwood retains its beneficial properties( however, as well as contraindications) to the maximum extent, besides, its taste only makes it better, because the acidity almost disappears from it, and the pulp itself gets softer structure.
If this unique shrub grows in your garden, be sure to try making your own vitamin reserves for the winter. Of course, if you wish, you can buy ready-made dried dogwood in the store, but homemade preparations are always high-quality, natural and harmless, which cannot be said about the products purchased. What are the beneficial properties of dried dogwood, and what are its contraindications - let's talk about it today.
What is the use of dried dogwood?
As already mentioned, dried cornel retains all its beneficial properties and does not lose its therapeutic effect. Why is this happening? The fact is that the berries are dried at a low temperature, eliminating the heat treatment, and hence the loss of vitamins. Small shriveled berries provide the body with tremendous help, helping it to fight various diseases, and also serve to prevent their appearance. What is useful cornel dried? Rich vitamin composition allows it to beneficially affect the state of human health, namely:
- strengthen the immune system;
- increase appetite;
- to facilitate the course of colds and accelerate recovery;
- remove toxins from poisoning;
- to prevent the occurrence of anemia;
- clean up heartburn;
- to compensate for the lack of potassium and other trace elements;
- strengthen blood vessels and normalize blood pressure.
Cornel helps food digest better and prevents the oxidation of fats derived from other products, thereby regulating fat metabolism and easy weight control.
Dried dogwood for diabetics has an invaluable benefit: while serving as a natural source of glucose, it itself helps to lower its blood level. Thus, eating sweet berries, people with this disease can afford to eat a sweet( and without the use of artificial substitutes), and even without negative consequences.
Features caloric content of fresh and dried
berries Undoubtedly, cornel is a useful dietary product, since it contains absolutely no fat. However, it is worth noting that the caloric content of dried dogwood is several times higher than that of fresh berries. However, this does not play a special role, since his indicators are still insignificant “for the figure,” namely: a little more than 200 kcal in dried cornel against 44 kcal in fresh fruit( per 100 g of weight).
But diabetics should limit the consumption of dried cornel, despite its benefit, because 100 g of dried berries contain almost 50 g of carbohydrates, while fresh ones have only 10 g. The ratio of proteins does not change significantly: about 5 g versus 1 g.
When should not eat dogwood?
Despite its benefits, dried dogwood can also harm, especially if you do not take into account existing health problems. So, it is better to refuse tasty berries and decoctions or tinctures based on them in case there are such violations:
- in the stomach area( gastritis, ulcer, increased acidity);
- increased excitability of the nervous system;
- prone to constipation;
- exacerbation of chronic renal diseases.
In the presence of the above problems, the inclusion in the diet of cornel will only aggravate their course: so, vitamin C will adversely affect digestion, and the tonic effect will harm the nervous system and ensure insomnia. Do not forget about individual intolerance - this also happens and instead of the benefits of cornel there will be only harm.
With care, dried dogwood and small children should be given. A couple of berries are enough for one-year-olds, and 200 g are enough for preschool children( in the absence of a negative reaction).
How to prepare cornel?
In order to dry the berries for the winter, it is better to start harvesting them in early autumn - at this time the entire crop will ripen and accumulate a maximum of useful substances. It is necessary to select only whole and not over-ripe berries, so that they are kept longer.
Recommendation! The best option for drying the dogwood at home is to use a special dryer, in which housewives usually dry various fruits( in the mode for apples).
The easiest way to wither dogwood is to simply pour it on a baking tray in one layer and leave it for two weeks in a room that is well ventilated. Periodically you need to turn the berries.“Dogwood drying” should be stored in fabric or paper bags so that the dogwood “breathes” for not more than three years.
If you decide to buy ready-made dried dogwood, you need to know how to distinguish it from a fake. Often there are such cases when, instead of berries, vegetables are brought home, namely, sweetened dried small tomatoes( cherry tomatoes).
It is necessary to ask the seller “for trial” one berry and break it in half: if inside the bone, you are not deceived and this is real dogwood, but if there are small seeds, it is cherry.
How to eat dried dogwood?
Dried dogwood presented in the photo is good in any form. They can regale instead of sweets, gently gnawing delicious pulp around the stone or prepare vitamin decoctions, bay 1 tbsp.lberries with a glass of boiling water and infusing for 2 hours. Such a concentrated drink should be drunk per day( fresh, not storing), dividing it into three doses.
Very fragrant, you get jelly from dried cornels. For its preparation, the amount of product must be increased three times for the same volume of water. Sugar can not add, jelly, and so will be moderately sweet. Sweet tooths will like more saturated cornel compote from such a quantity of products:
- 500 g of dried berries;
- 1.5 liters of water:
- 100 g of sugar.
Dogwood should be washed, add water, and after boiling - add sugar. After 5 minutes, remove the pan from the stove and let it brew until the compote has cooled.
Dried dogwood, with useful properties and contraindications that we have learned, is undoubtedly of great value to the human body. In addition, red dried berries are also very tasty and even children will like them. Harvest healthy fruits, enjoy their taste and do not get sick!
