In the northern regions of Russia, wonderful sister berries grow - cranberries and lingonberries. Due to their beneficial properties and excellent taste, they are used both in cooking and in traditional medicine. Plants belong to the heather family, therefore they are very similar, however, they also have a number of significant differences.
Cranberries are larger than lingonberries and have a darker red color. Cranberries taste more sour, and lingonberries have a denser, slightly mealy pulp with a sweet and sour taste with a slight bitterness. The calorie content of cranberries is 26 kcal, in lingonberries this figure is at the level of 43 kcal.
What is the difference between cranberries and lingonberries
Cranberries and lingonberries are equally rich in vitamins B1, B2, B9, C and trace elements - calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, iodine. These berries also contain niacin, pectin and acids: citric, benzoic, malic, ursolic.
Although these berries are from the same family, they grow on different soils. Cranberries prefer moist places: marshy and mossy areas. Lingonberry is found in dry and humid forests - mixed and coniferous.
Berries are also picked at different times. Collecting cranberries in autumn and spring. In the second case, the berries will be sweeter, but less healthy. Lingonberry ripens in August-September. The root systems of lingonberry and cranberry are densely penetrated by the mycelium of the fungus, whose filaments facilitate the reception and transfer of soil solutions with minerals to the plant roots. Because of this, it is necessary to collect berries only far from civilization, since plants are capable of accumulating radioactive substances.
What's more useful
Both berries have a truly huge range of applications in traditional medicine and have an effect:
• antimicrobial;
• antiviral and antipyretic (for colds and flu);
• diuretic, which allows them to be successfully used for infections of the genitourinary system;
• antihypertensive;
• hepatoprotective;
• lowering blood cholesterol;
• increasing the secretory function of the digestive system.
However, a doctor's consultation before using them is required, since there are contraindications:
• any exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, especially with high acidity;
• hypotensive conditions;
• acute inflammatory conditions of the liver.
Thus, we can conclude that both berries are equally useful. However, their healing properties must be properly preserved.
How to preserve nutrients in a berry
To preserve the beneficial properties of healing plants, you need to take care of their correct preparation for future use. If intact berries are carefully selected, then cranberries and lingonberries can be stored for a relatively long time in a cool dry place. Can be harvested using quick freeze, however, after thawing, they should be used immediately. These berries can be ground in a meat grinder and covered with sugar, or you can prepare jam and compote. But we must remember that heat treatment reduces the amount of nutrients.
Berries are used to prepare fruit drinks, jelly, add when fermenting cabbage, to salads, like fillings in baked goods, prepare original sauces. For example: in mashed cranberries or lingonberries, add peeled apple pieces, cook until soft, cool. Great sauce is ready.
Thus, given all the benefits of these sister berries, it does not hurt to have a supply of them at home, providing yourself with natural medicines and just a very tasty product.
