Chokeberry or black chokeberry is a perennial shrub with small dark berries. The homeland of the blackberry is considered to be North America, or rather, Canada. From the fruits of this plant, jelly, compotes, juices, tinctures, wine, preserves and jams, pies and much more are made. Chokeberry dishes and drinks are not only tasty, but also healthy.
Chokeberry contains a large amount of vitamins: C, B, E, K, R. Also in berries there is a lot of iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, pectins, tannins, sorbitol, ascorbic acid. The rich composition of the blackberry helps the human body to cope with many diseases. For example, regular consumption of chokeberry juice controls blood pressure levels. Dark berries protect the body from radiation exposure. Chokeberry is useful for kidney diseases, eczema, neurodermatitis, diabetes mellitus and bleeding.
It is useful for people suffering from hypertension and atherosclerosis to drink tea with chokeberry and rosehip or black currant. Fresh berries are recommended to be eaten for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the liver, thyroid gland, and also as a choleretic agent. Thanks to pectins, blackberry removes heavy metals and toxins from the body. Reduces the effects of the harmful effects of chemotherapy. In addition, it normalizes bowel function, copes with spasms. Chokeberry helps to strengthen the immune system and the endocrine system, improves digestion, and protects against heart attacks.
The Indians in the homeland of chokeberry called this berry the blood of nature, believing that it helps women to maintain youth, as well as to produce healthy offspring.
To strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to drink a decoction of chokeberry. Pour 40 g of dried fruits with 2 cups of boiling water. Place on low heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Let the broth cool and drink half a glass 4 times a day.
In case of hypertension, it is useful to use chokeberry with honey. Mix 50 ml of freshly squeezed juice with a tablespoon of honey. Take the resulting mixture half an hour before meals 3 times a day for a month. Also, the tincture will not harm hypertensive patients. Pour 100 g of berries with 1, 5 tbsp. sugar and pour 1.5 liters of water. Bring the syrup to a boil and continue to simmer for 15 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly. Then strain the broth and pour 0.5 liters of quality vodka or rubbing alcohol.
It is worth noting that not all people will benefit from chokeberry. It is contraindicated in large quantities for patients suffering from angina pectoris, with a tendency to thrombophlebitis. Chokeberry is not recommended for gastritis, duodenal and stomach ulcers, with increased blood clotting.
Chokeberry wine tends to lower blood pressure. Therefore, it should be used with caution in case of hypotension.
It is necessary to collect chokeberry in September-October. By this time, the berries will fully ripen and will absorb all the necessary minerals and vitamins.
Dried chokeberry fruits do not lose their healing properties for a whole year. 3 tablespoons of dried berries per day will save you from vitamin deficiency and ailments.
Fresh fruits can be stored for a long time as follows: hang bunches of mountain ash on a wire under the ceiling in a cool dry place, for example, in a garage, shed or on a loggia. Alternatively, you can dry the berries by spreading them out on a windowsill or in a special drying chamber. Then pour the dried fruits into a glass container and close the lid tightly.
