How much chokeberry can you eat per day? Chokeberry - medicinal properties and contraindications that you did not know about. Brief history, description and characteristics of the plant

Garden or wild chokeberry or chokeberry is a tall, spreading shrub valued for its deep black fruits, used in medicine, cosmetology and cooking. Aronia came to us in Russia from North America; for the first time, the famous breeding scientist Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin was the first to breed this plant in our homeland, who recommended chokeberry for cultivation in the northern regions of our continent.

Over time, chokeberry has become a well-known garden crop, which has taken root well in the harsh Russian climate, and breeding varieties of this plant are collectively called “Chokeberry Michurin”. Today chokeberry is grown in industrial scale, procuring plant berries for the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Chokeberry is a frost-resistant plant that can withstand minus temperature up to 40 degrees. The places where it grows are Altai, Siberia, the central part of Russia, the Urals, and Yakutia.

In southern latitudes, chokeberry has taken root in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Asia, and the Caucasus. The plant's habitat is forest edges, clearings, and undergrowth in the forest-steppe zone. Chokeberry feels best in temperate climate zones; it is undemanding to the composition of the soil.

Chokeberry is very popular among Russian gardeners for its high yield, unpretentiousness, frost resistance and magnificent decorative appearance. Today, plant nurseries offer many varieties of chokeberry, the most common of which are considered to be the following varieties: Hakkia, Aron, Egerta, Belder, Rubina, Chernookaya. Gardeners often make a hedge from chokeberry bushes. As they grow, the bushes form a continuous array, intertwining their crowns with each other.

What kind of berry is this?

Aronia chokeberry has the Latin name Arónia melanocárpa, and its other name, chokeberry, appeared due to the fact that the fruits of this plant are black when ripe, and also because the shape of the flowers and fruits of the plant is very similar to ordinary rowan.

Today, breeders know 15 varieties of chokeberry, one of which is the “Chokeberry Viking” variety. It is called so because the berries of this variety are quite large size, reaching up to one and a half centimeters in diameter, and the yield is very high.

The botanical characteristics of the chokeberry species indicate that this shrub comes from the genus Aronia, family Rosaceae, order Rosaceae. Externally, the plant looks like a well-branched bush that reaches a height of up to three meters. The young plant has a small crown branching, but by maturity it reaches more than two meters in diameter. It is noteworthy that young shoot branches have a red color, which next year replaced by brown or gray bark.

The root system of chokeberry is very well developed, but the roots are located close to the soil surface and are sensitive to the presence of moisture. The plant is light-loving, does not like soils where there is a large amount of mineral salts and excess stagnant water. The leaves of chokeberry are rich green in color, shiny and hard, have a round shape with serrated edges. The leaf size reaches from 3.5 to 7 centimeters. The shrub looks very decorative in the fall, when its foliage turns red under the influence of night frosts.

Black rowan blooms at the very end of May or at the beginning of June, depending on the region of its growth. Small bisexual flowers of five petals are collected in inflorescences reaching a diameter of up to 6 centimeters. Flowering lasts 14-16 days, the flowers are pollinated by insects, after the end of the flowering period multiple fruit ovaries are formed.

Fruiting in young plant begins from the 3rd (less often from the 2nd) year of life, fruits with long stalks look like round berries with 4-8 seeds and are collected in clusters. When ripe, the skin of the berries is black-blue in color and covered with a light waxy coating. Ripe chokeberry is a juicy berry that has a sweet, slightly astringent, tart taste.

The juice of the berries is dark purple. Rowan ripens at the end of August or beginning of September, exact time depends on weather conditions and the habitat of the plant. An adult chokeberry can produce a yield of 5-8 kilograms of berries per season. The fruits are harvested before the first frost, since frost increases the amount of saccharides and starchy components in the berries, reducing the amount of vitamins.

Aronia chokeberry is used as a medicinal product in folk and traditional medicine. The State Pharmacopoeia contains detailed description requirements for the fruits of this plant, the purpose of which is advisable in the treatment of the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract. Chokeberry successfully treats metabolic disorders in the body, stimulates the immune system, and helps with vitamin deficiency and allergic reactions.

The calorie content of chokeberry per 100 grams of fresh berries is 55.3 kilocalories. At the same time, this volume contains 1.5 grams of protein, only 0.2 grams of fat, and up to 11 grams of carbohydrates.

Useful properties

Chokeberry is a real storehouse of unique natural components, containing vitamins and microelements. If you take 100 grams of the berries of this plant and determine its chemical composition, you will get the following picture:

vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 0.01 mg;
vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – 0.02 mg;
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) – 0.06 mg;
vitamin PP (niacin) – 0.3 mg;
vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) – 0.5 mg;
vitamin A (beta-carotene) – 1.2 mg;
vitamin E (tocopherol) – 1.5 mg;
vitamin B9 (folic acid) – 1.7 mg;
manganese – 0.5 mg;
iron – 1.1 mg;

sodium – 4.0 mg;
iodine – 8.0 mg;
magnesium – 14.1 mg;
calcium – 28.3 mg;
phosphorus – 55.2 mg;
potassium – 158.2 mg;
organic acids – 2.3 g;
vegetable fiber – 4.2 g;
saccharides – 8.6 g;
starchy substances – 81.2 g.

In addition to the listed components, chokeberry berries contain pectin, fiber, tannins and coloring substances, essential oils, bioflavonoids, dextrins. Chokeberry has one amazing feature - the roots of the plant actively absorb iodine, and the more iodine there is in the soil, the higher its content will be in the fruits. These benefits of berries are simply irreplaceable in case of iodine deficiency in the human body.

The medicinal properties of chokeberry have a fairly extensive list of uses:

High blood pressure. Chokeberry has the property of thickening the blood, removing excess liquid from the body, resulting in a decrease in the volume of circulating blood and the level of pressure on the walls of blood vessels and arteries. This helps stop an attack of hypertension.
Atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels. High content routine, ascorbic acid, as well as flavonoids in chokeberry fruits, helps reduce the fragility and permeability of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, and also dilutes cholesterol, preventing it from accumulating and becoming fixed in the form of plaques in the bloodstream.
Anti-inflammatory property. Natural chokeberry phytoncides have the ability to reduce inflammatory processes and enhance natural immunological processes in the body.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Chokeberry berries influence the production of gastric juice, increasing its acidity and secreted volume, which helps improve digestion processes. The fruits significantly improve the flow of bile and normalize the functioning of the pancreas, liver and intestines.
Treatment of dyspeptic intestinal disorders. Aronia fruits contain a large amount of tannins and coloring substances, which explains their astringent, tart taste. With diarrhea, when you feel weak, your stomach hurts, it gets worse general health, and the use of preparations from this plant strengthens and normalizes loose stool, and also improves the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract.

Elimination of free radicals. Quite often, people living in environmentally unfavorable areas develop problems with the blood, the causes of which are poisoning with salts of heavy metals and exposure to radioactive isotopes. Chokeberry helps cleanse the blood and remove toxic substances from the body, which results in a significant improvement in overall health.
Age-related changes in vision. The high content of vitamin A in berries is a good help in the treatment of senile cataracts and glaucoma. The vitamin also inhibits age-related changes in the retina, improving visual acuity.

Modern medicine uses drugs made from chokeberry, combining them and other medical actions in treatment various diseases. Complex treatment with the use of chokeberry can be prescribed not only to adults, but even to children.

For adults, chokeberry is prescribed in courses of 3-4 weeks with breaks. In total, 3-4 such events can be carried out in a year. treatment course. Quite often you can hear positive feedback about chokeberry treatment from pregnant women who suffer from toxicosis.

Chokeberry improves liver function and helps cope with bouts of nausea. Aronia chokeberry can be prescribed to children starting at the age of 3. Its usefulness is obvious, but the dosage needs to be gentle so as not to disrupt intestinal function. You need to introduce it into the child’s diet literally from several berries, using their juice, and for viral or colds of the throat, you can make irrigations from diluted juice boiled water, or a decoction of leaves (30 pieces per liter of water).

Application and contraindications

Chokeberry can rightfully be considered a real green clinic. However, official medicine began to use this plant only in 1961, adding it to the lists of the state Pharmacopoeia. Aronia preparations are available in any pharmacy chain; treatment with them is not expensive. If you wish, you can prepare berries and make medicinal remedies from them at home.

Indications for use and medicinal properties of chokeberry are as follows:

In case of a blood clotting disorder, it has the property of increasing its viscosity.
In case of liver dysfunction or after toxic effects or antibiotic therapy, it improves its function, being a natural hepatoprotector.
In case of heart diseases, it intensively supplies the heart muscle with potassium, preventing the development of heart attack, stroke, and also increases the endurance and contractility of the myocardium.

In case of hypothyroidism, it improves the functioning of the thyroid gland, sufficiently supplying it with iodine components.
For the prevention and treatment of early stages tumor processes, chokeberry inhibits the development of atypical cells and is a fairly strong antioxidant agent.
In case of atherosclerosis, the plant reduces the accumulation of cholesterol in the body and also dilutes the cholesterol already present in the body, preventing the formation of plaques in blood vessels and arteries. It has been noticed that further progress of the disease while taking chokeberry is significantly slowed down.
In case of liver diseases, it promotes the discharge of bile from the gallbladder, expanding the excretory ducts, and also prevents the formation of stones.
In case of trophic vascular disorders, it reduces the proliferative ability of the walls of blood vessels and their fragility, and increases the elasticity of muscle fibers.
In case of fluid retention in the body and severe edema, it removes excess water from the body naturally, having a mild diuretic effect.
For gastritis with low secretory function and insufficient concentration of gastric juice increases the production and concentration of hydrochloric acid, thereby improving digestion and the functioning of the digestive tract.
It has the ability to lower high blood pressure by changing blood viscosity and reducing its circulating volume in the bloodstream.

At reduced concentration vitamins and minerals, as well as after severe illnesses with a long recovery period, helps the body replenish the vitamin and mineral balance, strengthen the immune system and increase the body’s adaptive forces.
In case of dysfunction of the endocrine glands and hormonal balance Chokeberry helps normalize hormonal levels and improves the body's metabolic processes.
For arthritis, rheumatism, gout, inflammatory diseases genitourinary system, digestive tract, chokeberry helps eliminate foci of inflammation and improves general condition body, reducing pain and discomfort.
For glaucoma and cataracts, rowan can improve vision function by normalizing intraocular pressure and improving the regenerative properties of the retina. In addition, it prevents age-related changes in the organs of vision, delaying their onset for a long time.
Improves emotional background, reduces age-related irritability, children's hyperexcitability, reduces the effect of chronic fatigue, improves the process of falling asleep.
Has the property of removing toxic substances and cleanses the body at the cellular level from the effects of adverse factors environment, including when radiation sickness.

It is a natural filter, cleansing the intestines of toxins naturally.
Relieves muscle spasms due to insufficient potassium ions in the body.
For diarrhea, it helps normalize the frequency and consistency of stool, normalizes intestinal motility and improves digestive processes.
Chokeberry preparations are not recommended for everyone. In some cases, they are contraindicated, and if used incorrectly, they can cause harm to the body. Chokeberry is not recommended for use in children under three years of age;
Peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines is absolute contraindication to the use of chokeberry.
Inflammatory processes in the small or large intestine, called colitis, may worsen while taking chokeberry.
Gastritis with high acidity cannot be treated with preparations from chokeberry, as this plant increases the concentration and volume of gastric juice produced.

With low blood pressure, drugs with chokeberry will help to further reduce blood pressure levels, which can lead to fainting, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Thrombosis and increased blood clotting are an absolute contraindication to the use of chokeberry berries due to the threat of blood clots and vascular thromboembolism.
If allergic reactions occur or individual intolerance Chokeberry preparations are contraindicated.

Before use herbal remedies prepared with chokeberry, you must consult your doctor and be tested for an allergic reaction to this plant.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

Quite often, chokeberry is prescribed to pregnant women, especially in the first half of pregnancy, when the likelihood of developing toxicosis is especially high. By improving liver function, chokeberry can eliminate toxicosis with such manifestations as nausea, increased salivation, vomit. When taking chokeberry, toxicosis is less pronounced or disappears completely.

Equally important is the ability of this plant to improve the condition of blood vessels and normalize blood circulation. Under the influence of chokeberry components, the risk of placental abruption, sudden uterine bleeding and spontaneous miscarriages. In the second half of pregnancy, when the load on female body becomes quite large, kidney function often fails and urinary system, causing the woman to suffer from high blood pressure blood pressure and edema of the lower extremities.

Chokeberry preparations help remove excess fluid from the body without causing harm to the mother and her unborn child, and also bring blood pressure levels to physiological norms. However, it is not recommended to use chokeberry for the treatment of edema accompanied by low blood pressure.

Doctors recommend that pregnant women suffering from diabetes take chokeberry to improve metabolic processes and stabilize blood glucose levels. Chokeberry normalizes digestion and helps control appetite.

During breastfeeding, chokeberry improves lactation processes, and also helps mother and baby improve immune defense and normalize vitamin and mineral balance. Restoration of the mother's body after long pregnancy and the stage of childbirth occurs much faster while taking chokeberry preparations.

The duration of reverse involution of the uterus is reduced, bleeding stops, healing is better and faster postoperative sutures, your mood improves, and you feel a general surge of strength.

For various diseases

At diabetes mellitus 2 types. Taking chokeberry improves the functioning of the internal secretion organs, including the pancreas. Adequate production of enzymes helps control blood sugar levels and also normalizes the functioning of all organs of the digestive system. As the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and liver improves, the intestines become less clogged and the consequences of the disease, which is characterized by difficult-to-heal trophic ulcers, decreased vision function (diabetic retinopathy), exudative diathesis, high blood pressure, and bleeding gums, are reduced. To treat this endocrine disease chokeberry preparations are prepared using sugar substitutes - xylitol, sorbitol, fructose, stevia.
In the postoperative period. When recovering from surgery, chokeberry preparations reduce the risk of breakthrough bleeding and also improve the regenerative functions of the body. Wounds heal faster without risk postoperative complications and inflammatory processes.

In addition, the body recovers faster from blood loss, and resistance to nosocomial infections increases.

Breast cancer. Experts in the field of oncology believe that taking drugs from chokeberry significantly inhibits the growth of atypical tumor cells, and also enhances the effect of chemotherapy. Chokeberry improves the overall tone of the body and increases its resistance to unfavorable factors. Chokeberry is often prescribed as a prophylactic for women suffering from fibrocystic mastopathy, which can degenerate into cancerous tumor, or an ovarian cyst. Chokeberry preparations improve hemodynamics and are good antioxidants.
Intestinal diseases. Chokeberry is an excellent treatment for hemorrhoids, especially those forms that are accompanied by bleeding. The use of drugs from this plant in combination with other drugs helps to ensure that extended hemorrhoids stop bleeding and significantly decrease in size. At the same time they leave painful sensations, and the inflammatory processes that, as a rule, always accompany this disease are eliminated.

However, for constipation, ulcers and colitis, it is not recommended to take chokeberry, since such conditions are considered contraindications for the use of drugs from this plant. But with diarrhea - this effective remedy, which helps improve bowel function and normalize stool.

Varicose veins veins Aronia chokeberry is often used for varicose veins; thanks to this plant, vascular hemodynamics improve, pain, heaviness in the legs and swelling go away, and the risk of bleeding and the appearance of long-term non-healing ulcers is reduced.
Treatment of colds. When you have a cold, you gargle with chokeberry juice or a decoction of the leaves of this plant, and low concentration solutions are dropped into your nose for sinusitis and sinusitis. These products have an antimicrobial effect and also perfectly eliminate inflammatory processes, promoting cleansing and speedy healing of the affected areas. bacterial infection fabrics.

Ready-made products are used to treat various diseases. pharmaceutical drugs or medicinal fees, which, in addition to chokeberry, contain a combination of other natural plant components. Homemade chokeberry products are considered no less effective.

Is it possible to lose weight?

Modern nutritionists recommend that overweight women eat chokeberry berries to lose weight. A properly formulated diet in combination with chokeberry berries gives excellent results in losing weight. extra pounds. It has been noted that the plant is able to maintain blood normal level glucose content, as a result of which there is no strong desire for an extraordinary meal.

Besides, active ingredients, which are part of the berries, improve metabolism and the removal of toxins from the body, thereby accelerating metabolic processes. Accelerated Metabolism, in turn, contributes better absorption food and allows you to achieve quick and long-term satiety of the body with small portions of food.

The use of chokeberry is also justified by the fact that the berry has a low calorie content, so it can be safely included in the daily diet.

Recipes

In the process of manufacturing a variety of medicinal products, freshly picked, frozen or dried chokeberry fruits are used. In the pharmacy you can find preparations prepared from chokeberry in following forms release:

dried chokeberry fruits;
chokeberry syrup;
chokeberry alcohol balm;
chokeberry oil;
powder in capsules from dried berries chokeberry;
cosmetic cream containing juice of chokeberry fruits.

On the shelves of grocery departments of modern hypermarkets you can easily find food products that contain components of chokeberry fruits:

juice under the brand “Gardens of Pridonya” - “Chokeberry with apple”;
chokeberry jam;
soluble chicory with extract from chokeberry berries;
jelly in the form of a soluble concentrate with chokeberry, ginger and cinnamon.

If chokeberry grows on your summer cottage, you can make preparations for the winter from its berries yourself at home.

Traditional medicine knows a lot of the most variety of recipes, which help with certain diseases.

Aronia berry decoction

You need to take 25 grams of dried chokeberry fruits and fill them with 250 milliliters of water. Cook the mixture over low heat until it boils, then remove from the heat and cover with a lid. The broth is allowed to brew for 2-3 hours, after which it is filtered. Chokeberry decoctions are taken 150 milliliters three times a day as a general tonic.

Vodka tincture

For 1 kilogram of fresh rowan fruit, take 1000 milliliters of vodka and 500 grams of granulated sugar. The chokeberries and sugar are mixed, and then the ingredients are poured with vodka. The container is tightly sealed and left in a dark place for 70 days. Periodically, the tincture must be taken out and shaken. At the end of the infusion period, the liquid is filtered and placed in a dark glass bottle for storage. The shelf life of this tincture is several years.

Alcoholic medicinal composition from chokeberry, 5-10 milliliters are used during meals to improve appetite and digestion.

Black chokeberry syrup

Take one and a half kilograms of berries and pour 2000 milliliters of boiling water over them. Add 15 grams to the hot mixture citric acid and mix the ingredients until the citric acid is completely dissolved. The container with the composition is covered with a lid and left to brew for about one day.

Then the composition must be filtered and syrup must be prepared from the resulting juice. For this purpose, add one kilogram of granulated sugar to one liter of juice and cook the composition over low heat, the cooking time should be no more than 10 minutes. The finished product is poured into sterile containers and sealed with lids. The syrup can be stored in a dark place at room temperature. Take black chokeberry syrup 5 milliliters before meals three times a day; it helps well in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Rowan honey

You will need 300 grams of freshly picked chokeberry fruits and 500 milliliters of honey. The washed berries are crushed into berry puree and poured with melted honey. The composition is thoroughly mixed and poured into jars for subsequent storage in the refrigerator.

Take one tablespoon of rowan honey three times a day for high blood pressure and diseases of the cardiovascular system. The course of treatment should not exceed 40 days

Chokeberry juice

If you want to preserve as much of the valuable biologically active components of fresh chokeberry berries as possible, make a fruit drink from them. For this purpose, take 500 grams of freshly picked berries and finely mash them or crush them in a blender. Add 300 grams of granulated sugar to the resulting berry puree and stir well until it is completely dissolved. Add 500 milliliters of boiled water to the resulting mass.

Before use, fruit juice must be passed through a fine-mesh sieve. It is recommended to take 250 milliliters of fruit drink three times a day. You can store the drink in the refrigerator, but its shelf life should be no more than a day. For this reason, you need to prepare a small portion that will be used during the day. The drink tones well, stimulates the immune system and reduces colds for acute respiratory diseases.

Pureed chokeberry with sugar

To use another method of preparing fresh chokeberry berries for the winter, it is not at all necessary to heat them. You can make berry puree with sugar. For this purpose, take freshly picked chokeberry fruits and granulated sugar in proportions of 1:1, that is, 1 kilogram of sugar is needed for 1 kilogram of berries.

The berries need to be crushed and mixed with granulated sugar, and then the finished mixture should be placed in clean storage containers. From such a preparation in winter you can cook compote, make fruit juice or jelly. This option is often used as a filling for pies. It is best to store chokeberry with sugar in the refrigerator.

Chokeberry jam

To make jam we will need:

one kilogram of berries;
one and a half kilograms of granulated sugar;
250 milliliters of ready-made fruit juice;
500 milliliters of water;
juice of one lemon;
50 milliliters of rum.

First, the fruits are placed in a container with a lid and placed in the oven at a temperature of 50-60 degrees for approximately 4-5 hours. The berries will burst and release juice, which needs to be poured into another container and water, fruit juice and granulated sugar added to the juice. The berries that have released their juice should be set aside; they will be needed later.

Place the mixture on low heat and cook for 10 minutes from the moment it boils. Then berries are added to the syrup and the composition is boiled again for about 10 minutes. Next, add rum to the jam and boil it until the chokeberry fruits become transparent, and then add lemon juice. After adding lemon juice the jam is removed from the heat and immediately poured into clean jars for storage

Frozen chokeberry

Freshly sorted fruits are placed in small bags or plastic containers and placed in the cold for subsequent freezing. The optimal freezing temperature is considered to be minus 15 degrees. If the temperature is lower, many nutritional components and fruit sugars will be affected. low temperatures are transformed into starchy compounds, and during defrosting, chokeberry will lose its valuable medicinal properties.

For further use, it is advisable to defrost chokeberry fruits naturally at room temperature. Frozen berries can be stored for up to three years without losing their properties.

Dried chokeberry

The berries need to be sorted, damaged ones removed and rotten fruit and remove the stalks. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and scatter the berries in one layer. The baking sheet is placed in the oven, where the heating temperature does not exceed 50 degrees. The oven door should remain slightly open throughout the drying process so that the moisture from the berries can evaporate.

The drying process takes 8-10 hours, while the berries need to be stirred on a baking sheet from time to time to ensure even drying. The finished raw material should be dense and wrinkled. You should not overdry the berries to such a state that when pressed they would crumble into dust - the skin of properly dried fruits should spring slightly under your fingers when pressed. After the fruits have dried, they are collected in cardboard containers, which must be left open for another 2-3 days so that any remaining moisture evaporates. The box is then closed and placed in a place protected from moisture and direct sun rays place.

Aronia juice with honey

To reduce high blood pressure and stop attacks of hypertension, it is useful to drink freshly squeezed juice from the fruits of chokeberry. For this purpose, 60 milliliters of freshly squeezed juice are mixed with 40 milliliters of honey.

The resulting composition is consumed 5 milliliters 3 times a day for one month. Portions are prepared fresh each time, as they are consumed. For hypoanacidic gastritis, freshly squeezed black rowan juice is taken 50 milliliters on an empty stomach 30 minutes before the start of a meal.

It is advisable to take preparations from black rowan in courses, taking breaks to rest the body. The duration of use and dosage must be selected together with your doctor, taking into account your state of health and the problem that you want to solve by taking chokeberry preparations.

Here are a few useful tips which will be useful to you when planting a plant:
The place for planting chokeberry should be sunny and spacious, since the crown of an adult bush tends to branch strongly.
For planting, an area with groundwater close to the soil surface is best suited.
It is best to plant cuttings in May or September, so that the plant has time to take root and adapt to new conditions before winter.
Chokeberry seedlings are buried in light loose soils by 6-7 centimeters, and in heavy loamy soils by 2-3 centimeters, while the root collar of the seedling should be at a level not lower than 3 centimeters from the soil level.
Chokeberry chokeberry loves regular fertilizing with organic fertilizers and timely watering. An adult plant requires a volume of water of at least 30 liters when watering.

The shrub is propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering, and the simplest and most reliable method is considered to be propagation by layering from an adult plant.
Every year, adult chokeberry needs crown formation to increase productivity. Old, frostbitten and weak shoots must be removed.
When picking berries, you need to remember that you need to pick the cluster without grabbing the leaves, since the axil of the leaf contains flower buds that will provide you with a harvest of berries for the next year.
The berries of chokeberry do not fall off until frost arrives, remaining hanging in clusters on the branches.

Chokeberry begins to bear fruit at the age of 2-3 years, the yield remains for 20-25 years, after which the plant must be replaced. For the winter, young seedlings are covered with spruce branches, and adult plants overwinter without shelter. It is important to remember that when a large amount of nitrogenous components is added, the winter hardiness of mountain ash is significantly reduced.

When buying chokeberry at the market, ask where it was collected, and also pay attention to its appearance. Berries that grew in a clean place will not look dusty in appearance; their skin should be shiny with a slight waxy coating.

In the next video, the expert will talk about how to properly plant and care for chokeberry.

Chokeberry (or chokeberry), the medicinal properties and contraindications of which have been well studied, has attracted the attention of nutritionists, herbalists and cosmetology specialists due to its unique properties and high nutritional value.

How is chokeberry beneficial for humans?

It is necessary to talk about the benefits of this plant based on the fact that each part of it is endowed with properties unique to it, since the composition of substances in the berries and leaves varies, although it is used both in medicine and cosmetology. Chokeberry, the beneficial properties of which we will consider below, is a good alternative to many medicines, especially if we're talking about about the prevention of certain diseases.

Chokeberry berry

Aronia berries (as chokeberry is also called) are unique in their composition, which makes this plant an excellent assistant in combating many ailments. The fruits of chokeberry are a storehouse of valuable substances, vitamins and micronutrients, including:

anthocyanins and leucoanthocyanins;
flavonoids;
routine;
quercetin;
catechins;
acids of organic origin;
carotene;
pectins;
vitamins C, PP, K, E, B (1, 2, 6);
trace elements: iodine, fluorine, manganese, copper, molybdenum, iron and boron;
nicotinic acid;
tannins;
fructose, sucrose and glucose.

Considering such a rich chemical composition, one can only imagine the entire spectrum of influence on the human body and its vital organs and systems. Thus, chokeberry has the following medicinal properties:

Brings blood cholesterol levels back to normal.
If the pressure is high, it normalizes it.
Strengthens the immune system.
Prevents the occurrence of neurological diseases.
Thanks to its iodine content, it normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland and organs that directly depend on its health.
An excellent natural antiseptic.
Significantly increases acidity.
Fights pathogenic flora.
Anthocyanins prevent the development of cancer.
Promotes the discharge of bile and improves liver function.

Chokeberry leaves

The medicinal properties and contraindications of chokeberry, which have been well studied, are beneficial not only as fruits. The leaves of chokeberry are not inferior in usefulness to berries. List of useful properties they are endowed with:

choleretic;
diuretic;
anti-inflammatory;
diaphoretic;
laxative;
hemostatic;
hepatoprotective.

Chokeberry juice

Chokeberry, the benefits of which are beyond doubt, is used in medicine and cosmetology in various options, but it is worth considering separately the properties of chokeberry juice. Before using it, you should familiarize yourself with the information about what this product is, how it is prepared and how it is used.

Beneficial properties of chokeberry juice:

Improves the quality of blood due to the content of B vitamins, copper and iron.
Used for prophylactic purposes to prevent hypovitaminosis.
Useful for problems with the heart and blood vessels.
Improves the functioning of the liver, bile and bile ducts.
Helps remove heavy metal salts and radionuclides.

Recipe for natural chokeberry juice

Ingredients:

fresh fruits – 1 kg;
water (in proportion).

Preparation

Chop the berries as much as possible.
Pour ¾ cup of water into the resulting raw material, heat it to a temperature of 60 degrees (over low heat) and put it under a press.
Squeeze out the pulp, transfer it to an enamel container, add water (1:10) and leave for 3 hours (stirring occasionally).
Combine both spins and pass through any filter you have at hand.
Warm up to 80 degrees and pour into sterilized jars.

The juice is usually taken in two ways:

The first option is with honey. Add 1 tbsp to 50 g of juice. spoon of honey and drink half an hour before meals.
The second option is without honey. Identical to the first, but without honey sweetening and you can replace the prepared juice with fresh fruits in the amount of 100 g.

Chokeberry - contraindications

Before moving directly to the methods of using chokeberry for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, it is important to consider the question of who is not recommended to take products prepared from the leaves and berries of chokeberry. So, chokeberry, the contraindications of which we are considering, is not recommended for:

increased blood clotting and;
stomach ulcers and;
heart failure;
oxalates in the urinary tract.

Chokeberry - recipes

Traditional medicine has been using this plant for hundreds of years to get rid of various ailments. Chokeberry, the recipes for which we will offer below, is an indispensable assistant for those who try to maintain health not only with the help of pharmacological means. What medicinal properties and contraindications does chokeberry have? Based on this information, herbalists offer many unique and healing remedies.

Chokeberry for weight loss

Chokeberry is often used for weight loss, because this plant can help burn subcutaneous fat and normalize blood sugar levels (proven empirically). Chokeberry for the stomach is also often used, but if we talk about weight loss, then the ability of the berries to quickly saturate the body plays a big role (that’s why it is recommended to take it before meals). You can find many pharmacy options that contain chokeberry for, but we will look at recipes for home preparations.

Chokeberry tea for fasting days

Ingredients:

dry chokeberry fruits - 1 tbsp. spoon;
green or black tea – 1 teaspoon;
boiling water – 300 ml.

Preparation and use

Pour boiling water over the fruits and leave for 15–20 minutes.
Add a teaspoon of tea (of your choice), leave for the same amount of time and then strain.
Use throughout fasting day in small doses.

Slimming drink made from chokeberry and rosehip

Ingredients:

rosehip and chokeberry berries - 1 tbsp. spoon;
boiling water - half a liter.

Preparation and use

Pour boiling water over the berries and leave overnight in a cool place (after cooling completely).
Take a drink to cleanse the body, 50 ml three times a day.

Chokeberry for pressure

Remedies prepared from chokeberry are used in the fight against hypertension. Black rowan helps against pressure not only when it is higher than normal, but is also powerful prophylactic, preventing the appearance or exacerbation of problems with the heart and blood vessels, by improving the elasticity of the latter.

Chokeberry tincture with vodka

Ingredients:

black rowan berries – 1 kg;
sugar – half a kilo;
cloves - several inflorescences (to taste);
vodka - liter.

Preparation and use

Mash the berries, add cloves, sugar and mix thoroughly.
Cover with gauze and leave in a dark place for several days.
Add vodka and steep for two months in a dark place.
Strain and pour into clean containers.
Can be taken in two ways: adding to tea or in pure form. Dosage – 1 tbsp. spoon.

Chokeberry for diabetics

Preparing chokeberry remedies for reduction does not require much time or any special skills. For natural medicines use only berries (fresh or dried) and water. Chokeberry for diabetics is prepared in a primitive manner.

Method 1. Art. spoon of fruits pour 1 tbsp. water, boil and leave to cool under the lid. Drink 150 - 200 g three times a day.
Method 2. Identical to the first, but crushed grape or mulberry leaves (1 tablespoon each) are added to the main ingredient (optional).

Chokeberry for raising hemoglobin

With low hemoglobin and iron deficiency anemia prepare drinks based on chokeberry fruits, rich in iron, iodine and - everything that is needed to cope with this problem. This composition and determines the properties of chokeberry necessary in this case.

Regular consumption of chokeberry berries will help get rid of problems associated with low hemoglobin.
For those who cannot consume the bitter-tart berries, regular consumption of chokeberry juice can be suggested.

Chokeberry for the thyroid gland

Iodine - this element largely determines the performance of the thyroid gland, because it is known that against the background of a lack of this element, iodine deficiency diseases develop. Chokeberry is an excellent source of iodine for the thyroid gland, which is why it is successfully used both in traditional therapy and in treatment folk remedies, preparing various infusions and decoctions, often enhancing the effect by using other useful plants and fruits in recipes.

Infusion for the thyroid gland

Ingredients:

chokeberry fruits - 4 tbsp. spoons;
boiling water 400 ml.

Preparation and use

Pour boiling water over the berries and leave the container sealed for several hours.
Take one glass half an hour before meals.

Ground chokeberry with sugar for the thyroid gland

Ingredients:

kilogram of washed berries;
sugar (in equal proportions, but it can be reduced if desired).

Preparation and use

Grind the berries in a meat grinder and mix with granulated sugar.
Drink 1 teaspoon three times a day.

Chokeberry for the liver

We found out why chokeberry is so useful, the medicinal properties and contraindications of this plant. But it is worth noting that some of its properties can be enhanced if other components are used in the recipe. So, there are several recipes for restoring liver function that will help heal, strengthen and protect this vital organ. An excellent tandem: St. John's wort and chokeberry, the medicinal properties of which double when used together.

Infusion of chokeberry and St. John's wort

Ingredients:

chokeberry berries and St. John's wort (chopped) - 10 g each;
boiling water - one glass.

Preparation and use

Leave the raw materials for several hours, pour boiling water over them.
Take a tablespoon three to four times a day.

Black rowan for vision

The properties of chokeberry also extend to the organs of vision. Anyone who has encountered this problem has most likely come across preparations in pharmacies for, which, along with other ingredients (usually blueberries and lutein), also included chokeberry. If we talk about the use of black rowan in its “pure” form, then to prevent problems and improve performance visual organ, you just need to use some recommendations to choose from.

Take chokeberry juice regularly.
There are berries in their natural form (at least 5-7 pieces daily).
As often as possible, prepare various compotes, jelly, and preserves from black rowan.

Chokeberry for face

Storehouse unique substances– chokeberry, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which must be taken into account equally, is also used in cosmetology. So, based on chokeberry, you can prepare facial masks that will restore purity, youth and radiance to the skin. Black rowan is used for industrial preparation cosmetics, but we offer recipes that you can easily make yourself.

Chokeberry and salt scrub

Ingredients:

chokeberry fruits - half a glass;
salt (fine) - depending on the desired consistency.

Preparation and use

Blend the berries and add salt so that you get a paste that is convenient to apply to your face.
Using your fingertips, gently, in a circular motion, apply the scrub over your entire face.
Wash it all away warm water or chamomile decoction.

Chokeberry for hair

Aronia fruits are included in the list of mega-healthy products for health and beauty, which was compiled by representatives of leading cosmetic companies engaged in new developments for youth and beauty. Chokeberry for hair is often used in the form of masks.

Rub crushed berries into the root zone and leave for half an hour, then rinse. This procedure will normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands and prevent hair loss and brittleness, but on the condition that it is carried out at least once a week.
To get rid of dandruff, puree a glass of chokeberry fruits and 3 cloves of garlic. Distribute the resulting mixture evenly over the entire length of the hair and leave for an hour. Wash off with water and rinse with a low-concentrated vinegar solution (to get rid of the smell of garlic).

Adherents of a healthy diet and everyone who suffers from vitamin deficiency in the off-season are interested in the benefits of chokeberry and why it is so actively recommended not only traditional healers, but also representatives of official medicine, and even lovers of berry desserts.

Description of the plant

Chokeberry is a low tree or branched shrub. This is different medicinal plant called black rowan, chokeberry, chokeberry. Its berries are deep black, slightly purple, round shape, the taste is sweetish-tart, astringent, with sourness. The flesh of the ripe fruit is deep ruby in color, the leaves are shiny, and resemble cherry leaves in appearance.

Chokeberry is a fairly common berry. You can meet it in gardens and summer cottages. Beneficial properties and contraindications have been known since ancient times. Homeland medicinal plant Canada is considered to be where chokeberry grew in huge quantities. The wild species of chokeberry came to Europe, and then to Russia, in the 19th century. The fruits of the bushes were inedible, without any special taste qualities, and the trees themselves had more of a decorative purpose.

Such rowan began to be perceived as a fruit crop plant only after the breeding work of the Russian scientist I.V. Michurin. It differs from the wild variety in increased frost resistance, unpretentiousness and improved taste properties. Chokeberry began to be consumed en masse when the benefits and contraindications of the berry were studied. Now it is officially included by the Ministry of Health in the list of medicinal and medicinal herbs

Fruit composition

Beneficial properties of chokeberry and its beneficial effect on the human body due to rich biochemical composition. Berries contain a lot useful substances.

Phenolic antioxidants - found in more, than in or .
Vitamins - groups B, C, E, K. The fruits of the plant contain twice as much vitamin P, which is recognized as an anti-aging substance.
Tannins, beta-carotene, starch.
Glucose, sucrose, fiber.
Microelements - iodine, manganese, bromine, phosphorus, copper, potassium, fluorine, iron, sodium, magnesium.
Organic acids - oxalic, malic, citric in small quantities.

This is interesting!
The benefits of black rowan are undeniable: it contains vitamin P in such quantities that it can replenish daily requirement in this natural compound. To do this, it is enough to eat 3 tablespoons of berries.

The calorie content of chokeberry is quite low - 55 kcal per hundred grams of fruit. Not only the rowan bunches, but also the leaves have medicinal properties.

Useful properties

Due to its beneficial properties, black rowan is popular in folk medicine. It is worth considering what it is positive properties, the activity of which organs it normalizes and which body systems it strengthens.

Eating chokeberry reduces the risk of developing individual diseases cardiovascular system.
It has a positive effect on the digestive system, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, improves and accelerates the process of food digestion. Fruit-based products are taken as stimulants for weight loss.
Black rowan berries are considered a natural source of multivitamins. They are used to boost immunity during seasonal illnesses, strengthen it, and help with hypovitaminosis.
They reduce blood pressure and thin the blood, which is indicated for those with a tendency to thrombosis.
Thanks to unique composition Rowan is able to cleanse the body from the inside, activate protection against different types radiation.
Applying compresses and ointments based on chokeberry to the skin improves the condition, rejuvenates, heals wounds, skin diseases facilitates the course of the disease, cleanses the skin surface.
A large amount of iodine in fruits helps with diseases of the thyroid gland and is necessary to cure radiation sickness.
Reduces cholesterol levels.
Fights depression, apathy and weakness.

The benefits of chokeberry are priceless, but the harm from using the berry for some diseases is colossal.

Contraindications

Having studied everything positive qualities chokeberry, worth considering possible harm and contraindications to its use.

Diseases that berries can aggravate:

hypotension - due to the property of the plant’s fruits to reduce blood pressure, which is not necessary for such a disease;
increased blood clotting;
varicose veins;
cystitis;
thrombophlebitis;
an ulcer that occurs against a background of increased acidity (chokeberry has the ability to increase acidity);
stones and sand in the gall bladder, kidneys.

Chokeberry berries can cause heartburn, discomfort, and possible allergic reactions. It has an astringent effect, which can lead to constipation.

Unacceptable use medicinal plant children under 3 years old.

The harm of chokeberry has not been fully studied. Therefore, when deciding to eat it or prepare tinctures, compresses or masks based on the berries, you should carefully monitor your well-being.

Harvesting fruits

A distinctive feature of the fruits of the plant is that with the onset of the first cold weather the amount of sugar in them increases. The berries become more palatable and sweetish.

Chokeberry berries are good for health in any form. They retain their properties fresh, frozen and dried. Fresh fruits can be stored in clusters for several months in a cool, dark place. To preserve valuable berries for a longer period of time, they need to be dried properly.

Only whole, unspoiled fruits, carefully separated from excess debris, are suitable for drying. They need to be washed and dried on a towel. Then place the rowan berries in bulk on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven at a temperature of at least 40°, the door should be slightly open.

After the drying process, chokeberry should be left on fresh air for cooling. Ready berries can be stored in paper bags more than a year.

Aronia is used to make jam, jam, compotes, nectars, fruit drinks, infusions, decoctions, liqueurs and wine.

The benefits of rowan for the female body

Chokeberry, whose beneficial properties have a beneficial effect on the female body, will become a storehouse of vitamins during pregnancy. Its use will make up for the lack of important nutrients and will provide valuable compounds necessary for the development of the child.

Black rowan is called a cure for old age. It is widely used in cosmetology. There are recipes for preparing face masks based on berries; the most popular ones are presented below.

Take a glass of chokeberry fruit, grind it, add olive juice (1 tbsp) and dry yeast (25 g). Mix all ingredients thoroughly, apply on face for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water. The use of such cosmetic home remedy will have a positive effect on the skin.
Grind 2 cucumbers on a grater, put 1 tbsp in a container. l. grated berries, add 1 drop of lemon juice. Mix everything and apply to face for 15 minutes. This nourishing mask will disinfect the skin.

Healthy recipes with chokeberries

General strengthening decoction

To prepare, you need to take 20 berries of the plant, put them in a container, pour boiling water (200 ml) and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat. Afterwards, the liquid should be cooled and strained. This decoction stimulates activity immune system, you need to take 100 ml three times a day.

Remedy for hypovitaminosis

Every day you need to eat 250 g of chokeberry with and. The product will help cope with “vitamin starvation”.

Black rowan wine

Place unwashed chokeberry fruits (2 kg) into a container, add granulated sugar or sugar (0.5-0.6 kg) and add black varieties (200 g). Fill the contents of the container with water up to half and close. Place in a dark, dry place for 2 weeks, but do not forget to stir the mixture daily and gradually add the remaining amount of sugar. Afterwards, do not touch the wine for 30 days. When the berries are completely lowered to the bottom of the container, strain the liquid and leave for 10–20 days.

To prepare a healthy treat, you need to take 1 kg of chokeberry berries, add a little to the container hot water and boil for 2 minutes. Prepare syrup for jam as follows: Dissolve 0.5 kg of granulated sugar in 400–450 ml of water. Pour syrup over boiled rowan and boil for several minutes. Leave the berries to sit overnight, add sugar (700 g) in the morning and cook for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, pour the still hot jam into jars.

The benefits of chokeberry are undeniable with a responsible approach to therapy. When deciding to be treated with valuable berries, you need to contact a specialist - he will determine which method of treatment is suitable for each person individually.

Chokeberry is a small shrub or tree, about 1.5 meters high, with leaves somewhat reminiscent of cherry leaves. The berries are sweet, tasty and slightly tart, especially when unripe. Chokeberry is often grown as an ornamental and fruit plant, and also as a medicinal plant by amateur gardeners, summer residents, and on specialized farms.

The homeland of chokeberry (chokeberry) is the eastern part of North America. Chokeberry grows there on dry rocky soils and on steep river banks, in dunes and forests, and even in swamps. At the beginning of the 18th century, chokeberry was brought to Europe, and about another hundred years later it came to Russia. Chokeberry was grown until the beginning of the 20th century only as an ornamental crop. Indeed, the white shields of chokeberry flowers and the dark green dense leaves look very elegant. In autumn, clusters of black shiny fruits stand out clearly against the background of orange-red leaves.

The berries are collected in the fall and dried outdoors in dryers. Store dry berries in a dry place for no more than 2 years. Compotes, jam, wine and much more are also made from chokeberry berries.

Calorie content of chokeberry

Low calorie, dietary product. 100 g of raw rowan contains only 52 kcal. Indicated for overweight people and those watching their figure.

Nutritional value per 100 grams:

Beneficial properties of chokeberry

Chokeberry berries have a pleasant sour-sweet, tart taste. Chokeberry is a real storehouse of useful substances. It contains a rich natural complex of vitamins (, , , , , , , , beta-carotene), macro- and microelements (boron, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, fluorine), sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose), pectin and tannins .

For example, chokeberry fruits contain 2 times more vitamin P than black currants, and 20 times more than oranges and apples. And the iodine content in chokeberries is 4 times higher than in strawberries, gooseberries and raspberries.

Thanks to the finely balanced nature of the combination in the fruits of chokeberry (chokeberry) many biologically active substances, they have valuable medicinal properties. Chokeberry berries and juice from them are used for the treatment and, most importantly, the prevention of hypertension and atherosclerosis. They are prescribed for gastritis with reduced secretory function, some vascular diseases accompanied by increased permeability and fragility of the vascular wall (capillary toxicosis, allergic vasculitis, measles, scarlet fever, eczema).

Pectin substances contained in chokeberry remove heavy metals and radioactive substances from the body, retain and remove various types pathogenic microorganisms. Pectins normalize the functioning of the intestines, eliminate spasms and have a choleretic effect. The medicinal properties of chokeberry help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improving their firmness and elasticity.

Also, one of the most useful properties of this berry is normalization blood pressure and lowering blood cholesterol levels. Chokeberry fruits are prescribed for various disorders of the blood coagulation system, bleeding, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, diabetes and allergic diseases. Research recent years have shown that chokeberry improves liver function, and regular consumption of this berry improves immunity and has a positive effect on the functioning of the endocrine system.

Chokeberry is used as an antispasmodic, vasodilator, hemostatic, hematopoietic, appetizing, choleretic and diuretic.

Drinking juice or decoction of chokeberry berries helps to dilate blood vessels, resulting in increased permeability and activation of the functions of the hematopoietic organs, which is useful for radiation sickness and bleeding.

Chokeberry helps regulation of digestion, improves appetite, increases acidity, activates liver function, promotes the formation and discharge of bile.

» Rowan

Black (chokeberry) and red rowan are distant relatives. Both plants belong to the same family, but different genera. Red - to the genus Rowan (Sorbus), chokeberry - to the genus Aronia.

Rowan is called “chokeberry” only due to the external similarity of inflorescences and fruit: juicy false drupes collected in a brush. Another unifying feature is the benefits and medicinal properties of the fruits.

Cultural chokeberry, widespread in Russian gardens, is the brainchild of Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin. Its ancestor is a wild North American shrub (Chokeberry) with inedible fruits, which is considered a harmful weed in its homeland. Having received its seeds, the Russian breeder began lengthy experiments on the hybridization of the “American”.

According to various sources, the crossing took place either along the line Aronia chokeberry - Chokeberry plum-leaved, or along the line Aronia chokeberry - Rowan. As a result, a new plant appeared with tart, slightly dry fruits, which in fruit growing are called “apples.” In honor of its creator, it received the name Aronia Michurina.

Composition of chokeberry

Let's start with the question: what are the benefits of chokeberry? The dark purple, almost black color of chokeberry fruits speaks for itself: they contain a lot of anthocyanins. These substances in the plant not only play the role of pigment, but also protect tissues from oxidative stress. Why is this important for a person? Because anthocyanins are those same notorious antioxidants that have entered the vocabulary of cosmetologists and pharmacists. They neutralize oxygen free radicals that can cause cellular mutations.

The astringent taste of chokeberry is due to tannins. These are so-called “tannins” that bind carcinogens and reduce the risk of tumor formation.

The fruits of chokeberry, despite their sweetness, are quite low in calories - only 55 kcal per 100 g. The vitamin and mineral composition is rich:

Chokeberry fruits accumulate iodine, which is absorbed by the roots from the soil. Thus, the content of this microelement depends on the region of growth: the richer the soil in iodine, the more of it there is in the fruits. And the greater the usefulness of the berries.

Treatment with black rowan

Now let’s look at the medicinal properties of chokeberry. The fruits of chokeberry have long been used as medicinal raw materials. People with cardiovascular problems and diabetics should pay special attention to them. If you eat just 100 grams of chokeberry daily, you can quickly regulate your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The use of these fruits in medicinal purposes indicated for many diseases:

Hypertension. Chokeberry has a diuretic effect, which reduces blood volume and blood pressure.
Atherosclerosis. Flavonoids and vitamins C, E and A strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Decreased immunity and inflammatory processes. Aronia anthocyanins can also help with infectious diseases bacterial etiology.
Hypoacid gastritis. Chokeberry fruits increase the acidity of gastric juice.
Sleep disorders, nervousness. Chokeberry reduces excitability, acting as a natural sedative.
Toxicoses of pregnant women. The hepatoprotective effect of chokeberry fruit helps to cope with nausea.
Diarrhea. Tannins have astringent action, normalizing digestion.
Visual impairment. Vitamin A, which is part of visual purple, normalizes many processes. Chokeberry is especially useful for “senile eyes,” reducing the risk of glaucoma and cataracts.
Aronia fruits recommended for people exposed to radiation or living in areas with poor ecology. In this case, you need to ensure that the fruits consumed are grown in safe regions.

The benefits of chokeberry are obvious, but we should not forget about precautions. People with thrombosis, ulcerative processes of the stomach and intestines, colitis, constipation, hyperacid gastritis and hypotension should use these fruits with caution.

Red rowan

Red rowan is a common element of Russian phytocenoses. It is found everywhere, includes many species and two life forms: shrub and tree. But on personal plots it is almost never planted on purpose. And in vain.

Firstly, mountain ash lends itself well to shaping and can become an interesting accent in decorative plantings. Secondly, its fruits are no less useful than the widely used chokeberry fruits.

Composition of red berries and benefits for the body

The fruits of red rowan are bitter, and this is good. Their bitterness comes from parasorbic acid, a substance with very high antimicrobial activity. Back in the middle of the 20th century, the legendary biochemist Mikhail Mikhailovich Shemyakin conducted experiments with mice infected with salmonella. After injection of 1 mg of diluted parasorbic acid into the peritoneum, the experimental animals recovered.

Other valuable substances, found in rowan “apples”, are flavonoids that can increase the body’s resistance to radiation, and pectins. The jelly-forming properties of the latter are used not only in cooking, but also in medicine - to bind and remove toxins.

Calorie content of rowan fruits is 50 kcal per 100 g. They are invaluable as multivitamin raw materials. Rowan is a record holder among other plants in many respects.

The chemical composition of red rowan fruits clearly shows that in terms of the content of carotene and vitamin A, this plant will give a head start to carrots. Rowan juice contains greatest number vitamin C among all fruit juices.

The percentage of vitamin C in rowan leaves is even higher than in the fruits. During the flowering period, they contain 108 mg of ascorbic acid per 100 g of raw material.

Medicinal properties and contraindications of red rowan

Now let’s look at what diseases rowan treats. In ancient medical books you can find many recipes for treatment from the fruits of red rowan. Since ancient times, they were considered a panacea for dysentery, scurvy and hemorrhoids, and were used as a disinfectant, diuretic, laxative, choleretic and anti-inflammatory agent. WITH Modern research confirms the conclusions of traditional medicine. Today, red rowan (dried and fresh) is used in cases where:

required rapid strengthening immunity during a viral or other infection;
need complementary drug therapy anti-inflammatory agent for tonsillitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, otitis and so on;
it is necessary to strengthen the vascular walls;
a remedy for anemia is needed;
it is necessary to stimulate appetite and increase intestinal tone;
a natural wound healing or antimycotic agent is required.

Contraindications to the consumption of red rowan fruits are hypotension, thrombosis, hyperacidous gastritis, peptic ulcers Gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, ischemia, heart attack, pregnancy and early childhood.

Unripe red rowan fruits should not be consumed. You can eat them “from the branch” only after the first frost.

Harvesting and storing rowan fruits

Chokeberry fruits are harvested from mid-September until frost. It is better not to delay too much in picking, because these berries are readily pecked by birds and fall off when overripe. They are collected by cutting off the whole fruit from the branch, and then picking the berries into a bowl. Then they are washed and sent to dry.

Red rowan is best harvested at the end of October or November, when it is slightly affected by frost. Such fruits are not stored, but they are guaranteed not to be toxic. After collection, they should be processed immediately. For example, you can make rowan juice with pulp for the winter.

RECIPE. The berries, freed from the stalks, are washed and blanched for 3-4 minutes in boiling water, after which they are rubbed through a sieve. Add sugar to the blanching water and boil 20% syrup. Combine it with rowan puree and heat it without letting it boil. Pour into sterilized jars and seal.