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Useful Properties And Contraindications For The Use Of Blackberries

Unfortunately, not everyone knows about the beneficial properties of blackberries. Meanwhile, this berry is very valuable for human health. Of course, blackberries are not as popular as raspberries, although they are close relatives. In fact, blackberries are very useful, and not only they.
Read on to find out the most interesting things about the benefits of blackberries.

Blackberries (or gray blackberries) are a close relative of raspberries and cloudberries. Blackberries are sour-sweet and dark with a bluish tint. Their taste reminds us of the forest – even though gardeners have been growing blackberries on their plots for a long time.

More than 370 varieties of blackberries grow in the Northern Hemisphere from the Balkans to Scandinavia, as well as in North and South America, where its seeds were brought by settlers from the Old World.

For many centuries, villagers have used the thorny blackberry shrub to create hedges.
The berries themselves have long been grown in gardens around the world in the same regions where wild blackberries grow. In the United States, blackberries are grown on an industrial scale and exported in hundreds of tons.

Blackberry composition

Blackberries are a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals. It contains the following substances:

  • organic acids (salicylic, malic, tartaric, and citric);
  • minerals (manganese, potassium, nickel, copper, chromium, barium, magnesium, iron, calcium, molybdenum, strontium, sodium, cobalt, vanadium, titanium, phosphorus);
  • Vitamins (tocopherol, vitamins PP, C, A, K, ascorbic acid, B vitamins, rutin);
  • sucrose;
  • fiber;
  • fructose;
  • glucose;
  • amino acids;
  • carotene;
  • tannins and aromatic compounds;
  • pectin substances.

With such a rich composition, the calorie content of blackberries is quite low – only 36 kcal per 100 grams of berries.

Useful and medicinal properties of blackberries

The health benefits of blackberries should not be ignored. Even simple berry tea helps to cope with diseases. It is recommended to drink it during a cold.

Blackberry fruits are able to:

  • quickly reduce the temperature and eliminate the inflammatory process, for which it is called a natural “aspirin”;
  • normalize blood pressure;
  • help with neuroses and sleep disorders;
  • balance hormonal levels, which is especially important for women during menopause;
  • improve bowel function;
  • relieve inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder;
  • help with joint diseases.

In different periods of ripening, fruits can have different effects on the body. For example, overripe berries are an effective laxative. Slightly unripe blackberries are used as a fixative.

Thanks to the pectin substances that blackberries are rich in, they are recommended for the treatment of liver disease and diabetes. Some studies have shown that regular consumption of the berry can prevent the development and spread of cancer cells.

Blackberries are useful for nursing mothers and pregnant women.

Vitamins of all groups and types, as well as organic substances and trace elements contained in them, have a wonderful effect on the body of the mother and baby during pregnancy. The berry also helps to restore the female body after childbirth. It normalizes hemoglobin levels and metabolism.
Useful properties of blackberry leaves and roots
We should also note the health benefits of blackberry leaves. For medicinal and prophylactic purposes, a decoction or juice of the plant is used. A decoction of the leaves is useful for diarrhea and dysentery; pulmonary and stomach bleeding.

The juice of the leaves and shoots has a tonic effect, soothes, and is effective in treating: anemia; bronchitis; sore throat; pharyngitis; fevers; intestinal disorders; gynecological diseases.

A decoction of the roots has a diuretic effect in dropsy, edema.

Contraindications to the use of blackberries

No matter how healthy blackberries are, they have several contraindications, just like any other product:

  • allergic reaction in the form of nausea, intestinal disorders, and sometimes in the form of heart muscle disorders;
  • kidney disease;
  • People suffering from diseases of the small intestine and stomach should replace berries with blackberry juice;
  • if you have high stomach acidity, do not drink more than one glass of blackberry juice per day.

In all other cases, blackberries can be not only an excellent dessert but also a good medicine.

Blackberries in nutrition

Tasty and healthy berries are low in calories. For this feature, they can be safely eaten during diets. Berries alone will not make anyone slimmer, but they will actively contribute to this by normalizing metabolism.

The pectins in blackberries not only help to remove heavy metal ions and pesticides from the body but also lower cholesterol levels. Thanks to this, blackberries are recommended for the treatment of obesity.

Therefore, you can be sure that it will definitely help in the fight against a few extra pounds.

Blackberries in cooking

Any dish becomes healthy when blackberries are among the ingredients. It is used to make jam, syrup, marmalade, jam, and compote. The delicate flavor of the berry was appreciated by French winemakers. They add blackberries to liqueurs, fruit wines, and liqueurs. The sweet and sour taste is suitable for making sauces.

The berry goes well with dairy products (cottage cheese, yogurt, ayran); meat (pork, beef); poultry (duck, chicken); fish; pastries (pies, cookies); other berries (cloudberries, irgi, sea buckthorn).

It is recommended to eat fresh berries. In extreme cases, dried blackberries can be a good substitute. 400 g of sweet and sour fruit is a daily dose of vitamin C.

Blackberries in folk medicine

An infusion of dried blackberry fruits and leaves is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery; in case of gastrointestinal disorders, acute colds, pneumonia, increased nervous excitability, pathological phenomena, and menopause (hot flashes, insomnia, neurasthenia), as well as in some kidney diseases.

Fresh blackberries are a tonic, sedative, and antipyretic agent.

Outwardly, the infusion of dried leaves – in the form of rinses and washes – is used to treat gingivitis, throat diseases, eczema, lichen, ulcers, and purulent wounds.

Blackberries in cosmetology

Blackberries are very actively used in the manufacture of cosmetics due to their properties to refresh the skin, eliminate its grayish tint, remove dead skin cells, moisturize, and give it a radiant appearance. In addition, blackberries effectively fight skin diseases, relieving inflammation, relieving eczema, and dermatitis. Thus, blackberries are good for both dry and oily skin.

Blackberry masks are widely used in home cosmetology.

For inflammation and skin rashes. Crushed blackberry leaves are poured over boiling water, then wrapped in gauze and applied to the face.

For rejuvenation. Mash blackberries and squeeze out the juice. Mix 30 ml of juice with 1 tbsp of sour cream and apply to the face for 15-20 minutes.

Anti-stress (relieves skin fatigue). Mix raspberries, blackberries, and black currants in equal proportions, and take 3 tbsp of mashed potatoes, 1 tsp of honey, and cream. Apply the mixture to the skin and rinse with warm water after 15-20 minutes.

For oily skin. Take 2 tbsp of blackberry puree, add 0.5 tsp of honey, and a couple of drops of lemon juice. Apply to cleansed skin for 20 minutes.

For dry skin. A blackberry mask for dry skin is made as follows: Mix 2 tbsp of mashed berries with egg yolk and apply an even layer on the face, avoiding the area around the eyes and lips. After 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.

In addition to these recipes in home cosmetology, blackberries are also used in masks for wrinkles and age spots, to tighten pores, and refresh and rejuvenate the skin. This berry is able to give beauty and radiance to your skin if you use it in regular care, combining it with proper cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

How to choose and store blackberries

The first blackberry fruits appear in July. The plant bears fruit until the end of August. That’s when you should expect the berry to appear on the market. Blackberries can be black and white, but the first variant is more common.

When buying packaged fruits in the supermarket, pay attention to the date. The package should be free of moisture, and the berries should be free of damage and mold. Ripe blackberries retain their density and have a core inside.

The berry will not be able to please its taste for a long time. It is a perishable product that should be eaten fresh or prepared as soon as possible to make something tasty and healthy from it.

Even if you store the berry in a vacuum-packed container in the refrigerator, it will not stay fresh for more than two days.

Blackberries are frozen for the winter or dried. By the way, even dried berries retain all the vitamins.

The benefits of blackberries are great and undeniable! It will improve not only your well-being but also your appearance, so the information you have received in this article will be of interest to everyone. Be healthy and beautiful!

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Written by Bella Adams

I'm a professionally-trained, executive chef with over ten years in Restaurant Culinary and hospitality management. Experienced in specialized diets, including Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw foods, whole food, plant-based, allergy-friendly, farm-to-table, and more. Outside of the kitchen, I write about lifestyle factors that impact well-being.

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