Blueberries: useful properties and contraindications

Everyone knows the dark blue, almost black berry with a distinctive taste, the juice of which is difficult to wash away. Most people associate blueberries with good vision, but in addition to the positive effect on the eyes, the berries of this plant have a significant therapeutic effect on other human organs as well.

Where blueberries grow

The plant is a perennial small shrub with nutritious and medicinal fruits. The height of individual bushes of the plant reaches from 20 to 60 cm, depending on the climatic conditions of the environment. Most often the plant can be found in the mixed forests of northern Europe, North America and Asia.

In our country bilberry can be found in coniferous or mixed forests near swampy areas.

Types

Blueberries are divided into two species: wild and garden. Wild shrubs grow in natural conditions without the involvement of human activity. The garden berry variety is bred by human crossbreeding. The hybrid shrubs are largely superior in taste and size to the wild berry.

Among the human-bred blueberries, the following varieties are most famous:

1. Bluecrop - can grow in temperatures as low as -35 degrees.
2. Chanticleer - one of the earliest varieties, whose flowering begins immediately after the end of spring frosts.
3. Herbert is a variety with great fruiting ability and resistance to hot climates.

In our country, such berry varieties as Zorky Eye, Pearl of the Forest, Elizabeth and Sadovaya have been bred.

What is the difference between blueberries and blueberries

Both berries have similar origins, they belong to the Heather family. An inexperienced person will find it difficult to distinguish the fruits of blueberries and blueberries from each other.

The main differences are:

1. Blueberry bushes differ in their smaller size - their height is up to 5 times less.
2. Blueberries form bunches of fruit, while blueberries grow by the piece.
3. The color of blueberries has a lighter shade, unlike blueberries, whose berries have a dark blue color.
4. The juice of blueberries has a rich color and is quite difficult to wash off unlike blueberries, which have no hue.
5. Blueberries have a more bland taste.

Composition and Calories

Blueberries have a low nutritional value. 100 g contains only 55 kcal. Of these, proteins are 1.0 g, fats - 0.5 g, carbohydrates - 7.5 g. In addition, the fruit has a significant water content of 86 g. The amount of ash is 0.5 g.

Blueberries are rich in content of useful components, which determine their healing properties. Among them, tannins, ascorbic acid, carotene, acids of organic origin and a high content of B vitamins deserve special attention.

Useful properties of blueberries

General benefits

What is good about blueberries:

1. Promotes blood thinning and prevents the development of thrombosis.
2. Is the prevention of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
3. It normalizes the amount of cholesterol.
4. It has the ability to slow the aging process.
5. Promotes immunity.
6. Restores visual acuity.
7. Regulates the level of glucose in the bloodstream.
8. Restores vitamin and mineral balance in the body.
9. Removes harmful toxic and waste compounds from the body.
10. Helps maintain normal hemoglobin levels due to the presence of iron.
11. It has antimicrobial properties.

For women

The benefits of blueberries for the female body are as follows:

1. Reduces pain during the menstrual cycle and during PMS.
2. Is a good prevention of diseases of the genital system.
3. Reduces the likelihood of diseases, which predispose the urinary system of the female body, in particular cystitis.
4. It has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, improves mood, and reduces the risk of mental illness and depression.
5. Promotes skin rejuvenation and hair strengthening.

For men

The daily consumption of blueberries has a beneficial effect on the male body:

1. Improves brain function while reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
2. Normalizes heart activity and helps dissolve excess cholesterol.
3. Due to the ability to reduce blood clotting, it helps strengthen the prostate gland and reduces the risk of diseases of the genitourinary system.
4. Reduces the inflammatory process.
5. Increases the male libido.
6. Calms the nervous system.

When pregnant

During pregnancy, it is important for a woman to receive only the most useful and necessary components for the healthy development of the fetus. Blueberries can cope with this task no worse than any vitamin complex, but the future mother should not forget that during the third term of the "interesting situation" it is necessary to limit the products that have a predisposition to allergic reactions. Blueberries are just one of them. At the same time, you should not completely refuse to eat the useful berry, there will be no harm from a eaten handful.

The benefits of the berry for pregnant women are as follows:

• raises the mood;
• promotes the excretion of harmful substances;
• normalizes the level of hemoglobin;
• Has a mild choleretic and diuretic properties;
• removes excess moisture from the body, thereby preventing the development of edema;
• Normalizes the cardiovascular system.

Many pregnant women experience decreased visual acuity during pregnancy, blueberries help to reduce the likelihood of developing this disease.

When breastfeeding

The lactation period implies the observance of a proper diet and rest. The quality of milk depends largely on the food that the nursing woman consumes. If during pregnancy the mother did not include these berries in her diet, the lactation period is not the most appropriate time to introduce new products, as blueberries can cause the development of allergic reactions.

It is recommended to start eating berries with a few pieces, while observing the skin and the general condition of the baby during the day.

Blueberries are useful during breastfeeding for the following reasons:

• Saturates milk with useful vitamins and minerals;
• improves your mood;
• It calms the nervous system and thus prevents the development of postpartum depression.

For children

Since the berry can cause an allergic reaction, it is not recommended to give it to children younger than six months. It is better to start complementary feeding with one berry, gradually increasing the volume, provided there are no rashes or other signs of allergies. Blueberries can be a great addition to children's compote, the berry will give the drink not only an interesting shade, but also saturate with useful components.

The benefits of blueberries for children's bodies:

• promotes the strengthening of the nervous system;
• Regulates the concentration of iron;
• develops visual acuity;
• controls the level of glucose;
• is the prevention of stomatitis.

When losing weight

Any diet is a stress for the body. Thanks to its healing properties, blueberries are able to calm the nervous system and improve your mood. In addition, the fruit has low calories, so they can safely be consumed by people who are watching their figure.

During weight loss the body can lack of useful components, blueberries easily make up for the vitamin and mineral balance no worse than pharmacy preparations.

Blueberries help to eliminate toxins and impurities and also increase the metabolism.

Dried blueberries are useful

Dried fruits retain quite a few of their useful substances, in addition, they can be included in the diet throughout the year, without waiting for the season of fresh berries. They are characterized by low calories, the lack of cholesterol and the content of important vitamins and minerals.

Differences from fresh berries:

1. Dried berries contain several times more sugar, so patients with diabetes should refrain from eating them.
2. After drying, berries lose up to 50% of their antioxidants.
3. Calcium, potassium and phosphorus are the best absorbed from dried berries.

The useful properties of dried berries are largely similar to those of fresh fruits:

• strengthen blood vessels;
• activate the brain cells;
• Prevent the growth of cancer cells;
• Normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Reduce inflammation.

Benefits of blueberry juice

Juice made from blueberry fruits is considered a good source of useful trace elements and vitamins. Due to its rich composition, the drink has the following beneficial effects on the human body:

• strengthens the eye retina;
• Supports a toned immune system;
• Nourishes the nervous system;
• is used to eliminate inflammation;
• has a diuretic and choleretic effect.

Blueberries in medicine

Blueberries are a treasure trove of useful elements, so they are widely used in medicine for the treatment of many diseases.

With diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus refers to the number of diseases for the treatment of which to date there is no universal cure. But with the observance of certain recommendations, it is possible to live a full life. First of all, this applies to nutrition. When composing the diet of a diabetic, the glycemic index is taken into account. Blueberries have a low index (43), so fresh fruits in limited quantities can be included in the menu of the patient. In addition to berries, the leaves of the plant have useful properties. On their basis, infusions and decoctions are prepared.

To normalize the state of the body in diabetes, the following properties of blueberries allow:

• The ability to control blood sugar levels;
• low glycemic index;
• antimicrobial properties.

In pancreatitis

Treatment of inflammatory process of the pancreas largely depends not only on the timely use of medicines, but also on compliance with a balanced diet. Many berries are not recommended to eat during an exacerbation of the disease, but this restriction does not apply to blueberries. At the same time, in order to get all the necessary benefits from berries, it is important to pay attention to some features of this product.

During the acute form of the disease, blueberries should be excluded from the diet. Fiber, which is contained in berries, can further aggravate the course of the disease.

During remission, it is allowed to eat blueberries, besides, they can be an excellent alternative to sweets, which patients with pancreatitis have to give up. Blueberries normalize digestive processes, control secreted enzyme substances, restore microflora, help to reduce inflammation and provide rapid regeneration of damaged glandular tissue.

When the disease, any alcohol is under the strictest prohibition, but on holidays you can afford a glass of wine. The drink can be prepared at home using blueberries. For this purpose, 50 g of fresh berries are poured over a small amount of water (100 ml) and boiled over medium heat for 10 minutes. Then you should add to the berries 300 ml of grape wine and continue to boil for another five minutes. Strain the wine drink, use it warm.

With gastritis

One of the important features of blueberries is their ability to normalize the digestive processes. This ability allows you to accelerate the process of withdrawal of toxins, thus reducing their deleterious effects on the tissues of the stomach. That is, the regular use of blueberries prevents the development of such a disease as gastritis.

The disease is divided into two types: with low and high acidity.

With low acidity
Tannins, which are contained in the fruit, normalize the level of acidity, eliminate the inflammatory process and get rid of nausea and vomiting.

With gastritis, it is recommended to take blueberry juice. The drink should be made from fresh fruits. The berries should be thoroughly washed and crushed with a blender. The resulting pulp pass through gauze. Dilute the separated concentrate with water in a ratio of 1 to 2 and use up to three times a day for 200 ml.

With increased acidity
In the case of high levels of acidity of gastric juice is recommended to completely limit the use of not only blueberries, but all other fruits and berries.

For the bowel

Inflamed bowel brings a lot of discomfort. The ailment is accompanied by symptoms such as sharp pain, bloody stools, and diarrhea. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to the development of more serious diseases, including cancer. Blueberries have an anti-inflammatory effect that heals damaged intestinal mucosa.

In addition, the use of fruit promotes the removal of dangerous toxins and slags, prolonged presence of which in the intestines can cause an inflammatory process.

In case of constipation

Fresh blueberries have a mild laxative effect, dried ones fix the stool.

To relieve constipation will help infusion. To prepare it, pour 30 grams of fresh berries with a glass of boiling water. After two hours, you can begin to apply. The remedy is recommended to drink 50 ml three times a day until the elimination of the ailment.

With gout

To suspend the accumulation of urea in the body, it is necessary to follow a strict diet. Nevertheless, blueberries are not included in the list of banned products due to their rich composition.

The plant helps to strengthen the immune system and to eliminate toxic substances gently. In addition, the use of berries removes excess moisture from the body, thereby reducing swelling and reducing the load on the joints.

Blueberry infusion for gout
To eliminate the symptoms of gout, a blueberry infusion can help. It is prepared from fresh berries. 20 grams of fruit pour a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse for 4.5 hours. Healing drink take 50 ml three times a day.

In colitis

Experts claim that the use of blueberries helps to eliminate the symptoms of colitis. This is due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Thanks to the content of dietary fiber, stool is normalized, bloating passes and the general condition of the patient improves.

Cold infusion
To eliminate the symptoms of colitis, it is recommended to use a cold infusion of dried berries. 15 g of fruit pour a glass of cold water in the evening and leave it overnight. During the next day, consume the resulting infusion in several servings.

For the liver

The liver is one of the most important organs of the human body, which emits bile, necessary for digestion. Stagnant bile can lead to the development of cholelithiasis. Regular consumption of blueberries prevents the development of this dangerous disease. In any case, before starting self-treatment it is necessary to visit a gastroenterologist.

To prepare a choleretic infusion, pour 30 grams of fresh or dried berries in the evening with a glass of boiling water and allow to infuse. Use during the next day 50 ml before each meal.

Important: The use of blueberries is contraindicated for hepatitis.

For vision

The positive effect on the health of blueberries vision is largely due to the content in its fruits of polyphenols - anthocyanins. They have important properties for the eyes:

• Have the ability to concentrate in the eye retina;
• accelerate the healing process of damaged retinal tissue;
• Strengthen the capillaries of the retina by stimulating the synthesis of connective tissue components.

Thanks to these abilities, there is a partial restoration of visual acuity, as well as relief from eye strain received during prolonged reading, exposure to sunlight or work at the computer.

To achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to consume blueberries for a long time. This is due to the fact that anthocyanins accumulate in the retina gradually.

In what doses to use blueberries to improve vision:

1. If fresh berries are used, the therapy should be carried out three times a day with one teaspoon.
2. The dose of dried fruits should not be more than one tablespoon per day.
3. Blueberry juice is excellent for therapy. For its preparation, it is necessary to squeeze the fresh fruits of blueberries and dilute the resulting concentrate with water in the proportion of 1 to 3.

With a cold

Regular use of blueberries will protect the immune system from the effects of harmful bacteria and simply will not allow the development of colds. If the unpleasant ailment still caught unawares, the blueberry infusion will help to cope with the symptoms. For its preparation, it is most convenient to use a thermos, which speeds up the process of infusion.

Methods for preparing an infusion for colds
Send 100 g of berries into a thermos and pour 500 ml of hot liquid. Close with a lid. After 30 minutes, you can start taking the infusion by 150 ml three times a day.

Therapeutic properties of blueberry leaves

Proponents of traditional medicine consider the use of blueberry leaves inappropriate. Their opinion is based on the fact that leaves contain fewer useful components than fruits. Adherents of folk methods of treatment have a different point of view on this matter. Experts urge not to refuse the use of blueberry leaves, because they contain all the same useful components as the berries. Due to the lower concentration of medicinal substances leaves have the most mild therapeutic effect and, therefore, have fewer contraindications.

In folk medicine, blueberry leaves are used to treat many ailments:

1. The tannins found in the leaves have a hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effect. Adding them to tea reduces pain during menstruation and improves a woman's general condition.
2. Regular consumption of blueberry leaf tea increases visual acuity.
3. Drinking from blueberry leaves improves the condition of the patient suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as pancreatitis, cholecystitis, dysbacteriosis.
4. The leaves are also used to reduce high blood pressure.
5. During weight loss, an infusion of leaves normalizes metabolism and supports the mineral and vitamin balance.

Blueberries in cosmetology

The healing berries have found wide application in the beauty industry because of their rich composition and beneficial properties. In addition to antioxidants, which give the skin and hair a healthy look, blueberries contain the following important components:

1. Vitamin A reduces sebum activity and eliminates excess shine.
2. Flavonoids smooth the contour of the face.
3. B vitamins activate chemical processes, improving cellular regeneration and reducing skin damage.
4. Vitamin C ensures an increase in collagen production and also protects the skin from negative environmental influences.
5. Magnesium supports vascular tone and provides improved blood flow.
6. Tannins have a positive effect on pores and prevent the development of acne.

For the face

The berry is valued in the beauty industry largely for its complex effects on the skin. Mask with blueberry extract not only promote rejuvenation, but also eliminate unpleasant defects, giving the skin a healthy look.

Fresh Berries Mask
For its preparation you should mash 50 grams of fresh berries with a fork. The resulting porridge applied to the face and leave for 7 minutes, then rinse.

The mask helps to eliminate acne, shine and circles around the eyes.

Pore tightening mask
Ingredients:

• 30 g fresh berries;
• 25g flour.

Crush washed berries with a fork and add flour. Thoroughly mix until homogeneous. Apply the mixture to problem areas and wash off in 10 minutes.

Mask to eliminate fine wrinkles
Ingredients:

• 20 g blueberries;
• 20 g sour cream;
• 10 g strawberries.

Grate berries until mushy and add sour cream. The resulting mixture is thoroughly whipped in a blender. Apply it to face without touching areas of eyes and lips. Keep for 15 minutes, then rinse with water. It is best to use a cleansing foam, as the mask is quite difficult to wash off due to the sour cream content.

Acne Mask
Ingredients:

• 50 g of fresh berries;
• 25 ml of nonfat cream.

Combine the components and whip in a blender until smooth. Apply the mask to problem areas and leave for 15 minutes. After the time has passed, rinse the skin with running water. Regular use of this simple mask reduces the number of pimples and moisturizes the skin well.

For Hair

The use of blueberries has a beneficial effect on the scalp and improves the condition of the hair. However, the use of berries should be refused to representatives of blond hair, otherwise the curls will get a bluish tint.

Mask for nourishing hair
Ingredients:

• 50 g of fresh berries;
• 25 grams of sour cream.

Combine the ingredients and mix thoroughly until homogeneous. Apply the composition evenly to the hair and head. Wrap your head in cellophane wrap. After half an hour, rinse the mask and shampoo your hair and head again.

Decoction for rinsing
Ingredients:

• 100 g of fresh or dried berries;
• 1 liter of water.

Put berries into a pot, pour water and bring to a boil. Turn off the stove, cover and leave to infuse. The cooled infusion is ready for use. It should be used to rinse pre-washed hair. After a few treatments, dark hair will get a rich shine and a healthy look.

Harms and contraindications

As with any product, blueberries have several contraindications to use.

1. Because of the tough skin, the berries are difficult to digest and can remain in the body for a long time. This can lead to putrefactive processes and cause upset stomach and intestines.
2. Blueberries can cause severe allergic reactions.
3. The use of berries is contraindicated in acute pancreatitis and gastritis with high acidity of gastric juice.
4. Blueberries are prohibited for children under the age of six months.
5. The berries accelerate the outflow of bile, for this reason, their use is contraindicated in calculous cholecystitis.
6. You should refrain from eating the delicacy in the presence of bladder stones.
7. Berries have the ability to accumulate heavy metal salts, so it is important to be sure of the place of origin of the fruit. Blueberries growing near industrial facilities can cause severe poisoning.

Bilberry picking and storage

The gathering of blueberries is in late July and early August. The process requires observing some important subtleties.

1. The berries should be collected in dry weather, so you can significantly increase their shelf life.
2. Do not pick blueberries one berry at a time, this method takes a lot of time and reduces the shelf life. It is best to pick whole twigs with berries or use a special harvester. The device has the form of a scoop, the front of which is equipped with a special metal or plastic comb. You need to bring the combine to the bush with berries and carefully remove the fruit. The berries harvested in this way will contain a large number of leaves and stems, but at the same time the collection process will take much less time.
3. Fruits have the ability to accumulate heavy metal salts, so it is worth refraining from picking berries growing near dumpsters, large industrial facilities, highways and metropolitan areas.
4. Fresh berries should not be stored for a long time and should be sold as soon as possible.

Can you freeze them?

To increase the shelf life of fresh berries, it is recommended to freeze them.

1. Rinse the berries, pick them, and dry them thoroughly on a paper towel or kitchen towel. Insufficient drying will turn the frozen berries into one solid lump.
2. Prepared berries put into storage containers, which will work well in food containers, silicone molds and special bags for freezing.

To prevent the berries from sticking to each other, it is recommended to freeze them in small batches, laying them out on a flat surface. Only then they are placed in storage containers. This method allows you to preserve the original shape of blueberries. This method of storage allows you to enjoy useful berries throughout the year.

How to dry

Another way to extend the shelf life of berries is to dry them. However, this will require a large crop, as the volume of used raw materials decreases by almost 10 times in the process of drying. To do this, you can use an oven, a special dryer for fruits and vegetables, or place the berries on a baking tray and leave in the fresh air.

In order not to spoil the healing fruit, in the process of preparation it is necessary to observe a number of recommendations.

1. Do not dry berries at very high temperatures, since it loses a lot of useful components.
2. During the drying process, the berries should be placed in a single layer.
3. Do not expose berries to direct sunlight and allow moisture, otherwise bacterial growth may begin, which will end in the appearance of mold.

What can be cooked from blueberries: recipes

A huge number of delicious and useful desserts can be prepared from the fruit, many of which are stored for a long time. Below will be considered the most popular of them.

Compote

Ingredients:

• 300 g of blueberries;
• 150 g of granulated sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. Wash and dry the berries on a paper towel, then transfer them to glass sterilized jars. The fruit should fill the prepared containers by one third.
2. Combine 1.5 liters of water and granulated sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. The sugar has to dissolve completely.
3. Pour the syrup over the berries and close the jar. Cooked in this way compote can be stored for one year.

Kissel

Ingredients:

• 300 g of berries;
• 4 tbsp. starch;
• 150g granulated sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. Transfer the selected and washed berries to a saucepan. Add granulated sugar, bring to a boil and continue cooking on low heat. For a nice sour-sweet taste you can add a pinch of citric acid.
2. After five minutes, strain the broth.
3. The resulting strained berries chop in a blender and send back to the pot.
4. Dissolve the starch in a glass of cold water and add gently to the pot to avoid lumps.
5. Bring to a boil and remove from the stove.

Kissel is recommended to use in diseases of the stomach. Limit its use should be during weight loss, as the drink because of the starch content has an increased nutritional value.

Mors

Ingredients:

• 600 g of blueberries;
• 200 g of granulated sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. Picking and rinsing the fruits thoroughly.
2. Crush the berries with a fork and pass through a sieve or gauze. The mass of berries transfer to a pot and pour 2 liters of water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes.
3. Add granulated sugar and stir well. The sugar should be completely dissolved.
4. Strain the drink and add the freshly squeezed juice.

The flavour can be varied with cinnamon or citrus fruit juice.

Blueberry juice contains ascorbic acid, which supports the immune system. Also the drink perfectly quenches thirst.

Smoothie

Due to its rich composition, blueberries have the ability to activate the brain cells, so a smoothie drunk before a day of work will give energy for productive work.

Ingredients:

• 100 g of fresh or frozen berries, dried fruit will also do;
• half a banana;
• 1 tbsp. coconut shavings;
• 200 ml of milk.

Method of preparation:

1. For cooking, be sure to take a blender, it will save a lot of time.
2. All the ingredients dip into the bowl of the device and whip until homogeneous.

For a smoothie, instead of milk, you can use yogurt or kefir, for more nutritional value, nutritionists advise adding nuts and dried fruits.

Jam

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of blueberries;
• 400 g of granulated sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. For jam, select the ripest fruits, and discard the twigs and leaves. The most delicious treat comes from whole berries, not squashed.
2. Rinsed berries dry on a paper towel. Then pour them into a deep enamel bowl and add sugar. Gently stir with a wooden spoon or spatula.
3. Return to the stove. You should start it on a low flame, and as soon as you get some juice out, increase the temperature. It is important to constantly stir the mass of berries and sugar.
4. Continue boiling until the sugar has completely dissolved.
5. Hot jam spread into sterilized jars, seal with lids and store in a dark cool place or in the refrigerator. Shelf life of such a delicacy is 12 months.

Wine

Properly prepared wine drink from the fruit of blueberries in many ways resembles wine from grapes. The main problem that the winemaker may encounter is related to the weak fermentation ability of the berry.

For the drink, it is important to use only the freshest fruits, which after collecting not more than one day.

Ingredients:

• 2 kg of berries;
• 1 l of water;
• 500 grams of granulated sugar;
• wine yeast.

Method of preparation:

1. Blueberries should be carefully picked and rinsed. It is necessary to take care about sterility of hands and used utensils, otherwise the drink will not get the proper flavor features.
2. Transfer the berries to a glass bottle and add wine yeast (you can find it in stores). Close the container with cloth or gauze and send it to infuse in a dark place at a temperature no higher than 25 degrees. Once a day you should stir the mass of berries and yeast.
3. If you notice a sour smell and effervescence, strain the mass, usually after 3-5 days. Pour the liquid component back into the bottle, and after straining pour water over the separated berries and leave for 10 minutes. Then squeeze with gauze. Add the resulting liquid to the fermentation bottle.
4. Add 150 grams of sugar to the bottle and put a rubber glove on top, make a puncture on one finger.
5. After 5 days, add the rest of the sugar.
6. When the homemade water seal in the form of a glove stops bubbling, you can consider that the wine drink is ready. This process usually lasts for one month.
7. If the taste of the drink seems sour, you can add a little more sugar.
8. To extend the shelf life of homemade wine, you need to fix it with vodka. The drink prepared in this way can be stored for up to three years.

Can animals be given blueberries

Our little brothers are susceptible to many diseases typical of humans. Therefore, it is important to monitor their condition in order to provide all the necessary assistance in a timely manner. Animals have a weak liver, which takes all the hit during the use of medical drugs to treat diseases. The best solution is to use folk medicine remedies. They have mild healing abilities and have far fewer side effects. One such remedy is blueberries.

Experts believe that pets can be given up to 50 g of fresh berries per day for diseases of the digestive organs. Tincture of blueberries is also used, with its help you can eliminate pain in the intestines and stomach.

To prepare a healing infusion of 1 teaspoon of berries pour 100 ml of cold boiled water and allow to infuse. The resulting drink is given to the animal during the day. For watering animals weighing up to 4 kg, the dose is reduced by half.

If the pet has problems with blood sugar levels, the infusion is prepared slightly differently. Half a teaspoon of finely chopped berries is steeped in 100 ml of hot water.

You can give some fresh berries to the animal to relieve constipation. It is important not to forget that dried fruits have a hardening effect and can make the situation even worse.

How to paint eggs for Easter with blueberries

Blueberry juice has a dark blue color with a burgundy hue. Almost everyone knows how difficult it is to remove blueberry stains from clothes. This peculiarity has found application in everyday life.

Easter traditions have not changed for two millennia, the most popular of which is the coloring of eggs. The most familiar color for many centuries was considered red and brown, obtained with the help of onion husks. Nowadays, in the run-up to the holiday, you can find synthetic dye of any shade. The best solution would still be to use a natural dye, which is suitable blueberry juice. Easter eggs dyed with it acquire a nice bluish hue.

Ingredients:

• 500 g fresh or frozen blueberries;
• 3 teaspoons salt;
• 25 ml of vinegar;
• 25 ml vegetable oil.

Method of preparation:

1. Before boiling, it is better to keep the eggs for some time at room temperature, so that they do not crack in the process. For dyeing it is better to choose white eggs, the color will look richer on them.
2. Boil the eggs until tender with the addition of salt, it is used to prevent cracking. After boiling, let them cool.
3. If frozen berries are used, defrost them beforehand. Put the fruits in a dish covered with gauze or a wide bandage and squeeze the juice. From the used quantity of blueberries you will get about one glass of juice. The eggs will be dyed in it.
4. For dyeing, you will need to soak the eggs in the juice with vinegar for 30 minutes.
5. Painted eggs that have not yet dried should not be washed or wiped with a cloth, such actions will lead to spills.
6. Rub dried eggs with vegetable oil to give a shine.

Bilberry Facts

1. The plant is native to the territories of the North American continent.
2. The healing properties of the black berry were praised in his odes by the poet of ancient Greece Publius Virgil.
3. Blueberry bushes are propagated by cuttings.
4. The juice of the berry is used as a natural dye.
5. Blueberries have the ability to accumulate salts of heavy metals, so you need to pay special attention to the process of its collection. It is better to refuse berries that grow near roads, garbage dumps and industrial facilities.
6. Life expectancy of the shrub can reach 200 years.
7. Fruits from ancient times are used to restore visual acuity.
8. The use of the berry in cosmetology helps to improve the condition of the skin and hair.
9. Regular consumption of blueberries reduces the growth of cancer cells.
10. The berry is good for brain activity and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
11. Ancient shamans endowed the berry with magical powers and used it during their rituals.

Photo of blueberries