Black currant belongs to the gooseberry family, it is a small deciduous shrub with fragrant round fruits. Black currant has found great use in cooking, as well as in folk medicine.
Useful properties of black currant
The composition of black currant includes B vitamins, carotene, vitamins K and P, sugars, pectins, tannins, essential oil, potassium, phosphorus and iron salts. Blackcurrant is a real champion in vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content. To satisfy the body's daily need for this vitamin, it is enough to eat only 15-20 black currant berries a day.
Regular consumption of black currant can reduce the risk of diabetes, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and cancer.
This berry helps to cope with headaches of neurogenic and vascular origin. Its inclusion in the daily diet helps to get rid of fatigue, insomnia, and problems with blood pressure.
Fresh blackcurrant juice has a healing effect on the inflamed gastric mucosa, it is used to treat colic, gastritis with low acidity. Currant juice has a beneficial effect on the body in case of liver diseases, it is rinsed with a sore throat in case of colds. This drink is useful for restoring strength after the treatment of long-term debilitating diseases.
To strengthen nails, rub fresh currant juice into the skin around them.
To remove excess uric and puric acid from the body, an infusion of black currant leaves is used. It also improves metabolism, has a mild laxative effect and improves digestion. Hot infusion has a diaphoretic effect, so it is used during colds and flu.
Fresh and dry currant leaves can be added to regular tea leaves to flavor and fortify tea.
Baths with the addition of a strong decoction of currant leaves have a positive effect on the condition of the skin. Such water treatments help get rid of irritations and acne on the body. Whitening masks for the skin are made from fresh mashed currant berries. They are very effective against freckles.
Contraindications to the use of black currant
You can not use black currant for thrombophlebitis, gastritis with high acidity, hepatitis. The constant intake of large doses of currant juice and fruits can lead to increased blood clotting.
Children are not recommended to drink concentrated blackcurrant juice, otherwise an allergic reaction may occur.
