Raspberries are a berry, the benefits and value of which people have recognized for a long time. They ate this berry and brewed a drink on i...
How to distinguish raspberries from blackberries?
Raspberries and blackberries
Sometimes people confuse these two berries, more often because the colour of an unripe blackberry is almost the same as that of ripe raspberry, and it is also easy to mistake some varieties of raspberries for a blackberry (already ripe), again because of the identical shade. These berries have features that a person will not immediately pay attention to if they are not fond of plant growth, but they will definitely help you find out what kind of berry is in front of you.
For example, a raspberry bush is much lower than a blackberry, its twigs are thinner and covered with the same thin thorns, when, like a blackberry, they look more impressive. It is convenient to pick raspberries and eat right away because the berry is easily separated from its receptacle - this is an expanded part of the stem, without which it will not work to pick a blackberry.
It is easiest to distinguish these berries by taste - raspberries are much sweeter, they are rarely mixed with sugar before eating, unlike blackberries. For people who grow raspberries and blackberries in the garden or in the country, it is useful to know that blackberries bear more fruits, but ripen closer to autumn, and raspberries are less productive, but you can enjoy their taste already at the height of summer.
Forest and garden raspberries - which is healthier?
It is believed that forest raspberries may provide more medicinal benefits than garden raspberries. It has a higher concentration of nutrients. The fruits of wild raspberries are smaller than those of cultivated raspberries, they are recommended to be picked in dry weather because with high humidity the berries quickly deteriorate. The aroma and taste of forest raspberries are also more expressive than those of garden ones.
What nutrients do raspberries contain?
The benefits of raspberries for the human body are undeniable - you just have to study their composition. Raspberries contain beta-carotene, which is important for eye and skin health, folic acid, which is responsible for the formation of new cells, phylloquinone, or vitamin K1, which affects blood clotting and kidney health. This berry contains a large number of flavonoids that fight cardiovascular diseases, as well as potassium, which supports the nervous system. Raspberries are also rich in ascorbic acid, iron and manganese - a valuable trace element that affects the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Who is raspberry good for?
Raspberries are a real storehouse of a wide variety of useful microelements, and the field of prevention of certain diseases and their symptoms is very extensive. Eating raspberries directly can prevent both the development of such global disorders of the body, as rickets, and help with a whole range of problems affecting a certain area, for example, blood vessels. Raspberry is able to prevent blood clots and blockage of arteries, prevent cholesterol accumulation and the development of atherosclerosis. Thanks to manganese, the risk of developing anaemia are reduced.
The health benefits of raspberries for women
Raspberries have a positive effect on women's health. This berry can be consumed by people who want to lose weight, but cannot completely abandon the sweet - raspberries, with their sweetness, are low in calories. It has only 53 kcal per 100 grams, it contains a huge amount of vitamins, which allows it to be included in the diet of healthy diet. It is good to eat raspberries for pain during menstruation, and it also maintains skin tone.
Health benefits of raspberries for men
Raspberries have a beneficial effect on men's health. It helps in the prevention of impotence, removes harmful substances from the body, restores the level of haemoglobin in the blood and the work of the digestive processes.
Benefits of raspberries for pregnant women
Raspberries contain folic acid, which doctors prescribe to all women in early pregnancy - it prevents the development of congenital malformations in the unborn child. In the first trimester, the fetus develops a primary form of the nervous system and folic acid deficiency can lead to negative consequences in the future.
Is raspberry good for nursing women?
Doctors recommend that new mothers refrain from eating raspberries for at least six months. There is a chance that the child will develop allergies. After six months, you can gradually introduce the berry into the diet, but you need to pay attention to the reaction of the child's body. Even if the child does not have any problems, it should be remembered that the daily norm of raspberries during lactation is 100-150 grams.
Benefits of raspberries for baby health
Raspberry helps to strengthen the child's immunity, helps to normalize the digestive system, enriches the growing body with all necessary vitamins, such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese and others.
The benefits of raspberry leaves
The leaves of this berry are enriched with elements that are also beneficial for humans. Raspberry leaves contain a large number of flavonoids - biologically active substances that help the body cope with the development of a number of diseases, including chronic ones. It:
gastrointestinal diseases;
haemorrhoids;
diabetes.
As a preventive measure, a decoction of raspberry leaves is useful for people who treat teeth and gums.
Raspberry leaf tea and its benefits
Raspberries have long gained credibility as an effective remedy in the fight against colds. Along with raspberry jam, raspberry leaf tea fights inflammation, is effective at high temperatures, conjunctivitis.
The benefits of raspberries for losing weight
Raspberries activate certain processes in the human body that are necessary for people who want to lose weight:
removes excess fluid and salts from the body, which retain this very fluid;
improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, helping the body adapt to a new type of diet;
normalizes the work of the heart - it is important to remember those who are losing weight, which increase physical activity.
The benefits of raspberries in skin and hair care
A large number of cosmetic products contain raspberry extract, which indicates its proven benefits for skincare. You can also make several products using raspberries directly at home. Below are a few simple recipes.
Raspberry recipes: face masks
The easiest way to refresh and brighten skin is to soak a cotton ball in raspberry juice and lubricate your face with it. After 20-25 minutes, you can wash your face with warm water.
A Milk-raspberry mask will also help maintain skin tone: you need to mix juice from 100 grams of berries with 2 tablespoons of milk and soak the mask on your face for 20-30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
There is a more complex recipe from the juice of raspberry leaves and petroleum jelly - useful for those who suffer from acne: first you need to make a decoction of raspberry leaves, and then mix with petroleum jelly. You will get a kind of ointment that will help deeply cleanse the skin and prevent new rashes.
Raspberry recipes: hair products
Several products based on this berry will help improve the quality of your hair and give it more shine. Especially these recipes are useful for girls with bleached and dyed hair who are in great need of nutrition and hydration.
A nutritious mask can be made as follows: take 2 tablespoons of raspberry juice as a basis, add 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of honey to it. Mix everything thoroughly and apply it to the hair. You need to withstand the mask on your head for an hour, and then wash it thoroughly with shampoo and do not forget about the balm. By the way, you can cook it from raspberries.
For the balm, only raspberries are needed. The quantity should be based on the length and thickness of the hair. Chop the berries before applying. Leave on hair for about 10 minutes.
Raspberries: harm to health
Eating raspberries negatively affect pregnant women immediately before and after childbirth. Doctors do not recommend taking it for food and those people who suffer from gastritis, gout, stomach ulcers, kidney problems and allergies.
Raspberry storage
People usually try to eat freshly picked raspberries as soon as possible, because they quickly become lethargic and lose juice, especially in hot weather. If nevertheless, there is a need to extend the life of fresh berries, then you can keep them in the refrigerator for about a week, having previously protected them from other products. It will be better if the raspberries do not absorb their smells.
How to freeze raspberries for the winter?
Frozen raspberries
To prevent the berries from losing their juice and taste, they must be properly processed before being loaded into the freezer. First, they must be rinsed with water and dried, then kept in the freezer for a day, but put them there so that the berries lie in one layer, and only then you can pour all the berries into a bag or plastic container.
How to dry raspberries?
There are several options for how to do this.
You can dry raspberries directly in the sun on paper: the berries should not be wet with water, so they need to be turned over from time to time. This drying will take about a week.
You can put the berries in the oven and dry them at 60 degrees Celsius.
You can combine these two methods: dry the raspberries in the sun for 2-3 days, and then finish the process in the oven.
Raspberry recipes
Raspberries can serve as the basis for jam, juice and compote - these delicacies are familiar to us from childhood. Below are easy recipes for them.
How to make raspberry jam
The raspberry pot must be covered with sugar - the weight of the berries and sugar should be approximately the same. In sugar, raspberries should stand for about 7 to seven hours. Boil the resulting mass on the stove for 15 minutes, then add more raspberries to it and let it boil for a few more minutes. The shelf life of raspberry jam spun in a jar is 2 years.
How to make raspberry juice
You need to take 100 grams of sugar per kilogram of berries. Raspberries are processed in a blender, heated, allowed to cool slightly, and then filtered. Sugar is added to the resulting juice - the mixture should boil for 5-7 minutes. The juice is rolled into jars and allowed to brew for several days.
How to make the raspberry compote
For 500 grams of berries, 200 grams of sugar and a litre of water are taken. First, the berries need to be thrown into boiling water, then add sugar and let it boil for 3-4 minutes.
Few facts about raspberries
This berry is often used as a sweetener for medications.
In Russia, a drink made from raspberries and cranberries was the predecessor of tea.
Raspberry nectar is especially prized by bees.
Copper makes raspberries a good antidepressant.
Russia is the world's largest supplier of raspberries. It is followed by Poland, the USA, Serbia and Mexico.
