in

Useful Properties Of Cherry Plum

Cherry plum is a type of fruit plum. Its fruits are tasty, flavorful, and very healthy. Cherry plum is used to make jams, jellies, compotes, and sauces, and is consumed fresh and dried. Today we will find out what beneficial properties the cherry plum has and whether there are any contraindications to its consumption.

The composition of cherry plum

100 g of cherry plum contains Water – 89 g; Proteins – 0.2 g; Carbohydrates – 6.9; Dietary fiber – 0.5 g; Pectin – 0.65 g; Organic acids (malic, citric) – 2.4 g; Ash (inorganic substances) – 0.5 g.

Vitamins in cherry plum: Vitamin A (beta-carotene) – 0.16 mg; Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 0.02 mg; Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – 0.03 mg; Vitamin B3 or vitamin PP (niacin) – 0.5 mg; Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – 13 mg.

Macro- and microelements: Potassium – 188 mg; Calcium – 27 mg; Magnesium – 21 mg; Sodium – 17 mg; Phosphorus – 25 mg; Iron – 1.9 mg.

100 g of cherry plum is on average equivalent to about 28 kcal.

Useful properties of cherry plum

Ripe cherry plum has the following beneficial properties:

  • promotes better digestion of meat and fatty foods, stimulating pancreatic secretion due to the available organic components and enhancing the activity of certain digestive enzymes
  • stimulating intestinal functioning, and gently relieving constipation;
  • is rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and improves immunity;
  • contains a significant amount of iron, which is a component of hemoglobin and ensures oxygen transport by blood. This contributes to healthy nails, hair, skin, and normal body functioning;
  • quenches thirst and refreshes, restores a healthy appetite;
  • removes excess fluid from the body, helps to reduce blood pressure, and prevents heart rhythm disturbances;
  • has a choleretic effect;
  • due to its high citric acid content, it acts as an antibacterial agent and antioxidant;
  • is used for the treatment and prevention of vitamin deficiency;
  • removes radioactive formations from organs and tissues;
  • soothes stress, helps to relax after a hard day;
  • relieves headaches;
  • prevents varicose veins;
  • relieves inflammatory processes in the throat, cough of any origin has an expectorant effect;
  • helps to reduce fever in case of colds;
  • It is used as a healthy dessert in the diet of children, the elderly, and patients with diabetes mellitus.

Cherry plum seed is used to produce oil, which is widely used in perfumery and cosmetics. The shell of the seeds is necessary for the production of activated carbon.

This fruit contains many vitamins and minerals, so it is recommended for pregnant women and children. Cherry plum helps to cope with constipation without the use of laxatives, and gently stimulates bowel movements without causing spasms.

Warnings about the use of cherry plum

Excessive consumption of cherry plum can also have a negative effect on the body, causing heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms of poisoning, and also exceeding the blood sugar rate.

Cherry plum should not be consumed with a stone, as it contains a substance dangerous to humans – hydrocyanic acid.

Due to a large number of organic acids in its composition, cherry plum can increase the acidity of gastric juice and worsen the condition of people suffering from gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Cherry plum is not contraindicated during pregnancy, but it will be useful for the expectant mother and child only in limited quantities.

Cherry plum is contraindicated in the case of:

  • allergies;
  • the high acidity of gastric juice;
  • ulcers;
  • gout;
  • Rheumatism.

Cherry plum in dietetics

Cherry plums should be included in the diet. Crushed fresh fruits added to any dish (desserts, salads, sauces) help to lose weight easily and at the same time be tasty. Due to its low-calorie content, the presence of organic acids, and a large amount of dietary fiber, cherry plum helps to activate metabolic processes, faster digestion, and intestinal cleansing. Weight on this diet decreases slowly but steadily.

Since cherry plum contains a minimum of calories, its fruits can be used by those who are struggling with excess weight. For those who are losing weight, it is a great alternative to sweets and high-calorie fruits.

Both fresh cherry plum and compotes and sauces made with it will be useful. But on a diet, it is undesirable to include jam and pastries in the diet, due to the sugar and flour content in these dishes.

Cherry plum in folk medicine

Cherry plum has been used to treat various ailments for almost as long as it has been known to man. To combat high blood pressure, cherry plum can be consumed fresh, 200 grams.

Fresh fruits are used for vitamin deficiencies and related ailments: scurvy, chicken blindness, etc. As a great source of potassium, cherry plum is good for the cardiovascular system and helps treat arrhythmias.

The infusion of the plant’s flowers has choleretic properties, is recommended for use in case of liver and kidney diseases, and helps men to restore potency.

Cherry plum juice in a volume of 30-50 ml can be drunk in case of colds: it helps to reduce fever and cough intensity. This form of intake is also used to remove radionuclides and other harmful substances from the body.

The root system of the plant has proven to be effective in treating coughs. Take 20 peeled and dried cherry plum roots per half a liter of boiling water, and let it boil for 6-7 minutes, insist. Drink 100 ml several times a day. This infusion has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, so it can be used in the complex treatment of colds.

Decoctions of fruits and unsweetened compotes help with gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice.

For liver diseases, take 20 g of dried cherry plum flowers per glass of boiling water, and insist for 2 hours. Then take half a glass twice a day.

A decoction of dried cherry plum is used to treat constipation. A tablespoon of fruit is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for 5 hours. Take 1/3 cup three times a day before meals.

For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, a decoction of twigs is useful. 3 tbsp of dry crushed raw materials are poured with a liter of boiling water, insisted for a day, then the juice of half a lemon is added. This broth can be drunk 2-3 times a day in a glass. The drink copes well with stomach pain.

Cherry plum in cooking

Like any healthy fruit, cherry plum is used in cooking, both as a condiment and as a sweet.

The most famous and widespread seasoning made from cherry plum fruit is tkemali sauce. The Transcaucasus is considered to be the birthplace of this sauce, where it was first invented and prepared. It is quite spicy and hot, as it contains such spices as dill, cilantro, bitter pepper, garlic, and salt. All ingredients are ground and cooked until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Tkemali is served with fried meat not only because it perfectly emphasizes its taste, but also because this sauce helps to assimilate it.

Since cherry plum is a fruit that is not only healthy but also retains all its properties during heat treatment, it is used to make jams, jams, syrups, compotes, jellies, and marmalade.

Cherry plum dries quite quickly and easily, you just need to rinse the fruit well and lay it out in the sun in a well-ventilated place. Dried cherry plum is a great source of vitamins in the cold season.

Cherry plum in cosmetology

The rich vitamin composition of cherry plum allows it to be used in various fields of cosmetology. It is widely known that vitamins C and A act as antioxidants that can stop the aging process, as well as protect our body from external adverse factors, thus improving skin condition. That is why cherry plum has become one of the components of cosmetic products for hand, face, and hair care.

Cherry plum is especially valuable for those with oily skin, as its juice helps to normalize oiliness and gives the skin a matte finish. By wiping your face daily with an infusion of cherry plum fruit, you can forget about the problems of oily skin, and by leaving a mask of the fruit on your face for 10-15 minutes, you can make your skin firmer and fresher. If you have a rash on your skin, just wipe it with the flesh of a ripe berry and in a few hours the irritation will be much less.

A decoction of chopped cherry plum will help strengthen your hair and make it more lush and shiny. Just rinse your hair with it after each wash and in a month you will notice significant changes for the better.

How to choose and store cherry plums?

Cherry plum is picked from the tree when slightly unripe. If you buy it in a store, be sure to inspect the fruit: it should be intact, without cracks and mold, and approximately the same size. Preference should be given to fruits with a natural waxy coating – they are stored longer. But this criterion does not matter if the cherry plum is intended for compote or jam.

On average, fruits are stored for 2-4 weeks, some varieties – up to 5 weeks. It is better to keep them in a cool, dry place. When the temperature drops to 0 ° C and below, the flesh gradually turns brown.

So, we are sure that this information will be useful to you. In short, cherry plum is a versatile and healthy product that gives us health and beauty. Be healthy!

Avatar photo

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How to Improve Your Mood With Food: Americans Have Found a Simple Way

What are the Benefits and Harms of Giving Up Meat