Sea buckthorn: useful properties and contraindications

Sea buckthorn is a sprawling shrubby plant, the fruits of which contain many useful substances. It is bred both as an ornamental plant and for the sake of berries, with breeders constantly working on the development of new varieties. Below we will consider the useful properties of the plant and its competent use in medicine and cosmetology, as well as a number of culinary recipes.

How does sea buckthorn look like and where does it grow?

In its wild state nowadays, sea buckthorn is distributed practically all over Eurasia, including not only Mongolia and China, but even partially the tropical regions of India and Pakistan. It should be noted that on the territory of Russia sea buckthorn has long been successfully growing not only in the European part, but also in the Altai, and even in Siberia.

This shrub prefers floodplains of rivers and lake shores, provided that there are loose soils containing a lot of phosphorus and organic matter. But overly wet soils are not suitable for it.

Almost all species of sea buckthorn are deciduous shrubs. Less common are tree species, which can reach a height of 3-6 m. Most forms of sea buckthorn differ in height, shape and size of the crown, color of leaves, and appearance of fruits, which can be both round and oblong. As a rule, sea buckthorn is a double-headed plant. This means that these shrubs have both female and male individuals. In order for sea buckthorn to take root in the garden and bear fruit, you need at least one male bush per 4-5 female ones.

The fruits are knuckles of yellowish, appetizing golden or orange color, having a peculiar taste and aroma. But not all species have fruits that are edible.

Types of sea buckthorn

There are three species of sea buckthorn, which differ both in appearance and their chemical composition of the fruit and even the area of growth.

1. Tibetan sea buckthorn. It grows mainly in the highlands of the Himalayas, but is also found in the lowland part of China. It is a low shrub covered with thorns. The fruits of this plant are edible, and the local population uses them as medicine for gastric pathologies. Tibetan buckthorn is a hardy plant, but it is practically not found in Russia.
2. Sea buckthorn is willowy. There are no thorns on the plant. It mainly grows in India and China. Its leaves are used for making tea and its fruits are used for cleaning gold and silver items.
3. Buckthorn. A bush that can grow to 6 m tall. It is characterized by silvery young shoots, perennial branches covered with a dark bark and numerous long prickles.

In Russia sea buckthorn is cultivated for decorative and food purposes. This is what we will talk about next. It has round smooth fruits, yellow or orange in color (depends on cultivar). Their smell can be called pineapple, because it resembles this particular tropical fruit.

How to distinguish between male and female sea buckthorn

As already mentioned, sea buckthorn is a dicotyledonous plant. Female specimens are characterized by unisexual pistillate flowers. Male plants have staminate flowers. However, it can be quite difficult to distinguish one type of plant. The fact is that flower buds are laid in late summer, when intensive growth of annual shoots in length stops. And until the buds emerge, there are no signs to help distinguish between male and female plants.

It is the buds that need to be looked at when buying seedlings. Female buds (pistillate buds) are the smaller of the two. They produce only 2-3 scales, which are quite large. Male buds (staminate buds) are larger, about 2-3 times larger and have 5-8 scales, sometimes up to a dozen.

Later on, after the buds open, the female plants are characterized by more intensive growth. They also have larger leaves, which is how the plant adapts to wind pollination, since bees and other insects do not pollinate these flowers. Sometimes you can see them collecting pollen, but there is no pollination.

Composition and calories

The energy value of sea buckthorn is quite high - 82 kcal per 100 g. On the other hand, these berries contain so many vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fats that it is not worth giving it up even because of its high caloric value. In particular, sea buckthorn is one of the few berries that retain vitamin C even after cooking juice or morsels, not to mention freezing.

So, sea buckthorn berries contain the following useful substances:

1. Ascorbic acid - up to 1300 mg, depending on the variety. It is believed that it provides the immunomodulatory properties of this berry. And in terms of content of this vitamin, sea buckthorn far outstrips even black currant, which for a long time was considered the champion. Ascorbic acid is contained not only in the fruits of sea buckthorn, but also in its leaves.
2. B vitamins, which are involved in metabolic processes and are very beneficial to the nervous system.
3. Provitamin A (60 mg) and vitamin E (140 mg) are antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties and prevent premature aging. In addition, vitamin A is essential for vision and E is essential for puberty.
4. Vitamins K and P, which help normalize blood circulation.
5. 15 different minerals, all of which are important for the normal functioning of the body. These include iron (to prevent anemia), magnesium (eliminates cramps), sulfur, silicon and many others.
6. Up to 8% fatty oil.
7. Organic acids and sugars.
8. Useful for the human body tannins.

Interestingly, in dark orange and red fruits of sea buckthorn there are much more antioxidants and carotenoids than in yellow and light orange berries. The importance of antioxidants is difficult to overestimate, since science has proven that they increase the body's immunity to some cancers. And very rarely are there such products in which tocopherol (vitamin E) would be present in such large quantities, and even in combination with carotenoids.

Sea buckthorn berries also contain phytoncides, but in insignificant amounts. However, in combination with vitamin C they are still beneficial to the immune system.

Health benefits of sea buckthorn

General benefits

The main advantage of this berry is that it helps to maintain health in the season of colds and viral diseases, when no other natural products are simply impossible to get. Its benefits boil down to the following:

• Improved immunity;
• improvement of vision;
• normalization of the skin;
• Strengthening of heart muscle;
• increasing the elasticity of blood vessels due to the high content of antioxidants.

Sea buckthorn fruits are used to produce oil, which also contains vitamins and various useful biologically active substances, including phospholipids, choline and sterols. The content of some of them in sea buckthorn oil is much higher than in fresh fruits, so it is considered an effective medicine.

For women

For the fair sex, sea buckthorn is useful for several reasons. First, its use helps to prevent pelvic inflammatory diseases.

Secondly, during menopause, sea buckthorn significantly alleviates its effects and prevents unpleasant effects like hot flashes. This is due to the so-called unsaturated fatty acids that are part of its ripe berries.

Thirdly, biologically active substances contained in the berries grown on the bushes and subsequently produced from them oil are very beneficial for hair and skin. And they can be considered a universal "cure", because the consumption of berries in a few weeks dry skin becomes smoother, more moisturized, irritation and peeling go away. And for owners of oily skin, unaesthetic shine disappears, because these substances regulate the sebum production.

For men

For men, sea buckthorn is useful for several reasons.

1. It prevents erectile dysfunction.
2. The berry is generally useful for the reproductive system, given the large amount of vitamin E that it contains.
3. Sea buckthorn can be considered a natural energy drink. It is very important for those who do physical labor or spend a lot of time in the gym, because it helps maintain strength. In Japan, they even make energy drinks based on it for athletes.
4. Finally, sea buckthorn contains serotonin, so it helps to improve the mood and relieve stress, which itself is often the source of various troubles.

In Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the most important substance is vitamin E, because it normalizes the production of hormones that help to carry the baby normally. It improves placenta maturation, reduces the risk of placenta detachment, and prevents premature delivery. In addition, it improves the well-being of the expectant mother by acting as an antispasmodic. Finally, it helps to avoid unsightly stretch marks. The champion of vitamin E content is sea buckthorn. It also contains a lot of folic acid, which is very important for the development of the nervous system of the fetus.

You should drink sea buckthorn juice only after consulting your doctor, just like consuming berries. But in general during pregnancy it is the best cure for such troubles as anemia, headaches, muscle weakness, deterioration of concentration and cognitive abilities. Sea buckthorn oil can be used regularly at home as a very effective external remedy for stretch marks.

Breastfeeding

During lactation, sea buckthorn is used with caution, so as not to cause allergies in the baby. You should start with a very small amount of juice or tea - in this form there is less chance of provoking an unwanted reaction.

A young mother needs sea buckthorn to fix her skin and hair, the condition of which deteriorates significantly during pregnancy. In addition, the berry allows you to fully compensate for vitamin deficiencies in the postpartum period and normalize weight.

For children

Young children are not given sea buckthorn in the form of berries. However, sometimes folk medicine recommends to use directly sea buckthorn oil for those babies who suffer from constipation. At the same time it is not taken internally. Rectal suppositories containing sea buckthorn oil are needed to normalize the process.

Children over 3 years old are given sea buckthorn tea, juice or morsels in the absence of allergies. These remedies help to increase immunity, they are also taken during colds and for home therapy for coughs.

When losing weight

Sea buckthorn not so much allows you to get rid of extra pounds, but creates favorable conditions for this. In particular, it accelerates metabolic processes, as well as reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood.

It is best consumed in the form of juice or tea. You should drink a glass of this drink before each meal. By the way, it will help to withstand even the most stringent diet. In addition, it can be combined with ginger, cinnamon or pineapple juice to enhance the effect. Such juice will also be useful before a workout, so that it will give the maximum effect.

The benefits of the leaves, branches and seeds of sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn seeds, more precisely, those dark pips that can be seen in the berries, contain a lot of fatty acids. They are used to produce sea buckthorn oil, the properties of which will be considered separately.

Not only sea buckthorn berries are considered useful for the human body, but also its branches and leaves of the bush. In particular, the bark contains tannins that help normalize blood pressure and improve the condition of the gums.

The leaves contain the same vitamins as the sea buckthorn berries. Therefore, they are also used as a remedy, and from them often make decoctions, which have pronounced healing and soothing properties.

Sea Buckthorn oil: properties and uses

Sea buckthorn oil is recognized by official medicine as one of the most effective natural remedies. It has antibacterial and regenerating properties, which allows its use by virtually everyone to restore damaged tissues - skin or mucous membranes. Thanks to this it not only heals wounds on the skin, but can also be used to restore the affected epithelium in gynecological diseases of various etiologies. And most importantly - it actually does not have any strict contraindications for external application. The ether may well be used for home treatment of diaper rash that has appeared, even for young children.

In gynecology to this day, sea buckthorn oil is widely used by folk healers in the treatment of various pelvic inflammatory diseases, as well as for the prevention of such a common ailment as cervical erosion (the more that its constituent antioxidants reduce the risk of dysplasia and cancer). It is also effective in cervicitis and endometritis.

Sea buckthorn oil in permissible (small) quantities can be used to heal the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines without risk to the health of the patient. It contains many vitamins that regulate metabolism and improve the absorption of nutrients, and in these pathologies with this can be a problem.

What is the usefulness of sea buckthorn juice

In general, the juice of sea buckthorn is useful for the same reasons as its berries. After all, it contains all the same substances, and if it was cooked together with the seeds, then the fatty acids.

Sea buckthorn juice is the best remedy for those who spend a lot of time at the computer. After all, it contains provitamin A, which supports normal vision. This vitamin is best absorbed in combination with fats, so it is better to drink the juice not by itself, but to add it to smoothies, mixing with yogurt or milk.

Tea from sea buckthorn: benefits and harms

Tea from sea buckthorn is considered an excellent natural antiseptic and immunomodulator. It is prepared in different ways, including on the basis of juice or syrup from these berries, which recipes will be discussed below. You can also make it from a berry puree, pureed with sugar and poured with boiling water (the concentration of berries can be adjusted at will). In addition, the tea is useful against overwork, because it provides the body with all the necessary vitamins.

However, tea should be used with caution. It is contraindicated in the presence of urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, because it has a strong choleretic effect. It should also be used with caution in the presence of allergies.

Sea buckthorn in medicine

Sea buckthorn and the oil obtained from it are used both in official and in folk medicine, but only after consultation with the attending physician.

In diabetes.

Sea buckthorn leaves contain substances that normalize blood sugar levels. Therefore, in this disease, it is recommended to take an infusion of them - take 1 tbsp. per glass of boiling water and insist for an hour.

Important: The glycemic index of sea buckthorn is 30 units.

In colitis

In the acute form of this disease, sea buckthorn is strictly contraindicated. In the stage of stable remission, you can drink compotes and morses to normalize digestion and improve the condition of the mucosa.

In pancreatitis

In the acute phase of the disease, sea buckthorn is contraindicated in any form. In the stable remission phase, sea buckthorn oil is recommended, because it has enveloping, regenerating and anti-inflammatory properties. Also from fresh berries can be prepared decoctions, which are recommended to drink a small amount before meals to provide the body with vitamins and accelerate tissue healing.

With gastritis

If used judiciously, sea buckthorn is recommended for this ailment. It is especially useful to consume the juice of its berries. It helps to activate the process of regeneration of the mucosa, as well as its faster recovery.

For the intestines

In acute forms of inflammatory intestinal diseases, it is not recommended to use fresh sea buckthorn berries and even oil from it. They can be used only in remission. And the oil helps to fight constipation and at the same time promotes healing of the affected areas of the mucosa.

In constipation

When constipation is recommended to use rectal suppositories with sea buckthorn oil, which contribute to a gentle and painless cleansing of the intestines. Regular consumption of sea buckthorn berries (unless there are no contraindications) will help normalize bowel function. The course of treatment is usually two weeks.

With gout

Sea buckthorn berries remove excess uric acid from the body. Therefore, a handful of such fruits can be eaten for the prevention and treatment of gout. Also in this disease, you can drink tea from it.

For the liver

Sea buckthorn berries and juice from them help to remove toxins from the body, improve fat metabolism, improve the protective function of the hepatobiliary system. But although it is believed that sea buckthorn has a generally beneficial effect on the liver, it is worth consulting a doctor before consuming it.

In hemorrhoids

In this disease, not the berries themselves are usually used, but ointments and suppositories with sea buckthorn oil. The substances that are included in their composition, first, prevent constipation (and they often contribute to the development of this disease), and secondly - help the rapid healing of fissures.

In cholecystitis

In this disease, sea buckthorn is contraindicated in any form, whether it is fresh berries, juice, tea or compotes.

With colds.

Sea buckthorn strengthens the immune system. Tea, morsels or juice from sea buckthorn are the best preventive measures against seasonal colds. They can be drunk throughout the winter instead of taking synthetic vitamins and immunomodulatory drugs.

In cystitis

In folk medicine, sea buckthorn is often considered as a remedy against cystitis. In fact, this disease is most often bacterial in nature, so you need to take antibiotics to treat it. Baths with sea buckthorn oil simply help to enhance their effect, to relieve irritation and inflammation. To do this, pour 40 ml of oil into a container of warm water, stir it, and then pour it into a basin so that you can sit in it the lower half of the torso for 20 minutes. At the same time you need to cover your legs with a plaid or towel so that they do not freeze, and the liquid in the basin does not cool down. After that, you should wipe yourself with a towel and lie under a warm blanket, so the procedure is best carried out before going to bed.

The duration of the course of treatment - at least 10 days for acute cystitis and about a month for chronic form.

How sea buckthorn affects your blood pressure

About sea buckthorn can not be said that it unambiguously has a beneficial effect on blood vessels. On the one hand, it strengthens their walls, so it can be considered a useful product in terms of normalizing blood pressure. On the other hand, sea buckthorn and the juice from its berries have a strong tonic effect. People who already suffer from a predisposition to hypertension, this can cause an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, the use of sea buckthorn tea or juice can be used only after consulting with your doctor.

Recipes of folk medicine based on sea buckthorn

1. In gastrointestinal diseases, it is recommended to take such a decoction - 1 tbsp of crushed dried sea buckthorn leaves per glass of boiled water. Cook according to the usual pattern - bring to a boil, held over low heat for 5 minutes, cooled and filtered. Take remedy is recommended to 200 ml 1-2 times a day.
2. Another option - decoction of fresh berries. Take 3 tbsp. of hot water to 0.5 l, bring to a boil and leave for 10 minutes over low heat. Then strain and drink warm, but not hot, 2-3 glasses a day.
3. From sea buckthorn berries make a pulp, which is used for applications designed to treat burns, abscesses and frostbite. Fresh sea buckthorn leaves are used to make compresses to treat rheumatism. They are also brewed as a regular tea, first rinsed under running water. They help relieve joint pain.
4. In dermatological diseases decoction of dried sea buckthorn leaves (10 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) is added to the bath to heal and eliminate irritation in the affected areas.

Sea buckthorn in cosmetology

For cosmetic purposes, both sea buckthorn berries and juice and oil are used, which can be independent means or the basis of masks and lotions.

For the face

1. You can wipe cleansed skin with sea buckthorn juice for a toning effect. It is also recommended to use it as a lotions, soaking in the juice of cotton pads and put on the skin for 12-20 minutes. It is recommended to repeat this procedure 2-3 times a week. It will give the skin a healthy look, eliminate irritation and redness.
2. For dry skin, the berries themselves can be used, as they contain fatty acids. They are crushed in a mortar, add fresh egg yolk and apply to the skin for 5-10 minutes and then rinse off.
3. For dehydrated or withered skin, sea buckthorn oil can be used. It is added a few drops to a regular night face cream.

For hair

Sea buckthorn oil helps to make the hair thicker and more manageable. It can be added to ready-made hair masks and balms. Sea buckthorn berries contain many B vitamins, so they also prevent hair loss. This is especially important in winter, because in the cold season such problems usually increase.

1. Take 300 grams of fresh berries, crush them to the consistency of puree, then apply to wet hair, cover it with plastic wrap and keep for an hour. After that, wash off the mask with regular shampoo.
2. To improve circulation, to ensure the flow of blood to the hair follicles and at the same time give them all the necessary vitamins, make a decoction of sea buckthorn berries (3 tbsp. water to 0,5 l.). It is rubbed into the scalp while still warm, then rinsed off. You can also make a decoction of the buds in the same proportion, it contains useful substances even in an even higher concentration, but this remedy is available only in the spring.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the fact that sea buckthorn contains many valuable substances and has a wide range of healing properties, it can cause allergic reactions. In addition, sometimes it contributes to the deterioration of health in chronic liver diseases.

Therefore, sea buckthorn in all its forms is contraindicated in acute hepatitis, biliary and urolithiasis, cholecystitis. Do not use it and with allergies. Berries are contraindicated in all forms of gastritis, pancreatitis and ulcerative bowel disease. But with the same pathologies in remission stage sea buckthorn can be used in the form of juice.

When to harvest and how to store sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn can be stored in several ways - dried or frozen, in the form of jam, jam, marshmallow, compote or juice. Theoretically, you can even make oil at home by grinding the berries in a coffee grinder and pouring in calcined olive or sunflower oil.

How to harvest

It is recommended to pick sea buckthorn in September or early October. It is very important to keep the berries intact so that they can be processed and harvested for the winter. Various tools are used to automate this process. For example, it can be a special wire loop called a "cobra", a tube of thin tin, to one end of which a harvest bag is attached, and a special scraper made of a slingshot and a thin string stretched on it. These devices help speed up the work, but do not guarantee that the berries remain whole and beautiful.

Therefore, in many cases, manual harvesting is considered the preferred option. It is slower, but it can be accelerated by cutting off the ripe "cobs" from the tree, in which the berries are collected. From a biological point of view, these are annual branches, whose shoots dry out, so next year they will not give a crop anyway. In home conditions, it will be easy to separate berries from such a "cob".

If you do not want to collect the berries intact, because they will still go for juice, you should wait for the first frosts, spread a clean piece of polyethylene under the tree and rub the branches. The ripe berries will fall off, and all that is left is to pick them.

If you plan to make juice from sea buckthorn, you can wash the berries directly on the bush, if only to direct a hose at them. Then you need to put on tight gloves and squeeze the fruit without separating them from the branch. Juice from them should drain into a pre-prepared container. The resulting juice should be brought to a boil. This method is usually used in October, if the berries are in no hurry to fall off.

Can I freeze

It is interesting that sea buckthorn berries, even in natural conditions, are not afraid of frost. Studies show that they retain all their useful properties. Therefore, sea buckthorn can be frozen, pre-washed and dried berries. Then they are poured into plastic food containers or tightly closing plastic bags and sent for a quick freeze. Such preparations will be perfectly stored all winter.

How to eat sea buckthorn correctly

Sea buckthorn berries can be eaten fresh, but their sour taste is not to everyone's liking, so they are often preferred to be used in the form of marmalade, jam or marshmallow. The berries are taken whole for preparation, and the pips are not discarded.

Can I eat berries with seeds?

Many people think that it is not necessary to eat sea-buckthorn berries with seeds, otherwise the risk of appendicitis increases. In fact, it's just a popular myth, which grandmothers scare kids grabbing and pulling in their mouths all in a row. Appendicitis inflammation is not related to ingestion of berry seeds. On the contrary, in the case of sea buckthorn they are even useful, because they contain many healing substances.

What can be made from sea buckthorn: recipes

From sea buckthorn berries make marmalade, jelly, marshmallow, jam and jams. And from the leaves and twigs you can make tea, which will have unique medicinal properties.

Tea

While fresh or dried sea buckthorn berries can be brewed with regular tea, the leaves and sprigs of the plant are actually much more useful. They are dried for the winter and crushed, and then make tea. The recipe is simple - 1 tsp. dried raw materials per glass of boiling water. You can add honey to improve the taste. Such tea has a strong tonic effect and provides the body with vitamins. It contains a lot of tannins, which help normalize blood pressure. In addition, this tea gives beauty and promotes elasticity of the skin.

If you do not add honey to this drink, it can be used as a cure for herpes virus on the lips. It is also used to rinse the mouth for gingivitis.

Juice

To make juice, you need to pick and rinse the berries, allow the water to drain, then squeeze the juice in a juicer. If there are few berries, you can squeeze them even through a sieve or gauze. Strain the resulting liquid and add sugar in the ratio of 1.5:1. It takes sugar to dissolve, so it is advisable to stir it. Ready juice pour into pre-sterilized glass jars and store in a cool place.

The second option - sea buckthorn juice with pulp. Berries should be washed and dried. Then add 100 ml of water for each kilo of berries and heat in a bowl over low heat for 10 minutes. After this sea buckthorn rubbed through a sieve and add sugar to 0.8 kg for each kilo of raw materials. Then bring the mixture to a boil and pour into pre-washed and sterilized bottles. Recommended throughout the day to drink 100 ml of juice in order to improve immunity and normalize the digestive system. Juice is quite concentrated, so it can be diluted with water.

Compote .

To prepare it, take 1 kg of sea buckthorn (fresh), 1 kg of sugar and 1.5 liters of water. It is best to choose for this slightly unripe berries. This compote is usually made in September. The berries are washed, dried, poured into prepared jars, then pour hot sugar syrup, and put on pasteurization. For a liter of jars - need heating at 90 degrees for 15-17 minutes, but for a smaller volume is enough and 10 minutes at the same temperature.

If desired, you can make a compote more concentrated, reducing the amount of water and sugar - up to 0.5 kg per 1 liter.

Jam

There are several variants of jam from sea buckthorn. The simplest recipe looks like this: for 1 kg of sea buckthorn berries take 1.2 kg of sugar. The berries are pre-selected, leaving only ripe, whole and undamaged. Then they are washed and dried on paper towels.

The syrup is prepared as follows: Bring 400 ml of water to a boil, add all the sugar and boil again for 2 minutes. Then pour the prepared berries with the hot syrup and cook for 10 minutes over low heat. The syrup is poured off, boiled for another 10 minutes, cooled, pour it on the berries, and cook until tender. Then pour the jam into pre-sterilized glass jars and close with an airtight lid.

Smoothie

As a rule, smoothies are prepared not only with sea buckthorn, but also with some additional ingredients that improve the taste of the drink. For example, you can make a smoothie from sea buckthorn, banana and pumpkin pulp. Take 150 grams of sweet pumpkin pulp, one banana, 100 ml of water and a pinch of cinnamon for 100 g of fresh berries.

The berries are mixed with water, ground in a blender to the consistency of puree and strained. Dice pumpkin flesh and throw it in the sea buckthorn juice. Add chopped banana and a pinch of cinnamon powder. All this is whipped in a blender until a homogeneous mass is obtained. This makes an excellent autumn cocktail.

Morses

To prepare the morsel you will need 300 grams of sea buckthorn berries (fresh or frozen), 1 liter of water and 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar. It is recommended not to crush the berries in a blender, but to grind them in a ceramic or marble mortar. When a sufficiently large amount of juice is released, it is carefully poured into a separate container, and the remaining mass is poured with clean water. A pan with this cake and water is placed on the fire, but do not bring to a boil, and when the container appears bubbles - immediately turn off and strain.

Pour sugar in the still hot pestle and stir until dissolved. Then pour the filtered from the beginning of juice and stir everything again. The resulting morsel is recommended to drink chilled.

Wine

The simplest version of wine from sea buckthorn is as follows: for 3 kg of berries take 1 kg of sugar and 2 liters of water. The berries are undesirable to wash. They should be immediately pounded into a pulp (a mixture of skin and pulp). it is not necessary to do this manually, you can use a blender or juicer. The juice is filtered through gauze, and then poured into a pre-sterilized jar. At the same time, the pulp is mixed with sugar and pour water. All this insist for 2-3 hours, then strain again and mix with sea buckthorn juice.

After that, a bottle set water trap (for example, in the form of a medical glove with a hole made in it through which the gas will flow out). This container is left in a dark and warm place for about a month and a half.

After 40-45 days the fermentation stage is completed, a sediment is formed in the container, and the wine is poured from it, using a filter for this purpose. After that the sea buckthorn drink is poured into glass bottles, corked and aged for 60-90 days in a cool place in order to stabilize the product and make the taste more saturated.

Marmalade

Sea buckthorn marmalade is prepared in two ways. If agar-agar is available, then you can prepare according to the following recipe: for 250 ml of sea buckthorn juice with pulp (it can be made in a blender from both fresh and frozen berries) you need 80 g of granulated sugar, 5 g of agar-agar and 100 ml of water. Agar-agar is soaked in water, using a saucepan.

Juice is mixed with sugar, put on the fire, bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Then separately bring to a boil agar-agar mixed with water. After boiling it on low heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. The result should be a mass of viscous consistency. After this, remove the saucepan with agar from the stove, pour the berry syrup into it and mix thoroughly. The resulting product is poured into forms and left to cool - during this time it should stabilize.

Delicious marmalade can be made without agar-agar, but to use apples containing pectin. If desired, you can also add gelatin, then the marmalade will be more elastic. But apples themselves give a more delicate flavor. For 600 g of sea buckthorn berries take 350 g of apple puree, 2 tablespoons of sugar. Buckthorn is crushed in a blender to extract the juice, which is then filtered through a coarse sieve. The remaining mass of berries is mixed with mashed apples and boiled down to about 1/3 of the original volume. Then pour the resulting mass in a glass container, cool, tightly covered with lid and put in the refrigerator.

Pastila .

This traditional Russian dessert can be made even from the squeeze of sea buckthorn. They are made in the following way - take 1 kg of berries, pour a glass of juice from quince, red currant or apples, as it has gelling properties. The juice with berries is heated until they become soft, then they are rubbed through a sieve, and the resulting mass is also passed through a meat grinder. To this volume of product add 600 g of sugar and mix it all with a mixer so that the granules finally dissolve.

Then the prepared mass is spread on a wooden board, so that a layer of 1 cm thick is formed. After a while, when it hardens as a solid layer, you can put it in the oven, where it will need to dry at a temperature of 45 degrees. The oven door should be kept ajar. When the marshmallow has reached the right condition, it should be sliced into cubes or rhombi and pour over powdered sugar, and then put in a prepared dish or box (if the sweet is prepared as a gift for a holiday).

Can we give animals sea buckthorn

Some cat and dog foods contain small amounts of dried sea buckthorn berries, which serve as an additional source of vitamins and minerals.

Some veterinarians recommend giving dogs and cats sea buckthorn oil, but only in small amounts. It is best to do this as a course twice a year, in the spring and fall. In the spring - because at this time there is the least amount of vitamins (provided that the animal does not eat ready-made food). In the fall - to prevent seasonal diseases, which pets can also suffer from. The main thing is not to overdo it, as the contraindications here are the same as for inclusion in the human diet. The oil can also be used in grooming, but also without overdoing it. Occasionally, 1 capsule per large breed dog will be more than enough.

Interesting facts about sea buckthorn

1. The healing properties of sea buckthorn have been known since ancient times. However, in Ancient Greece it was called the "glossy horse". It is not known how widely it was used back then in cosmetology, but people noticed that horses that ate these fruits acquired healthy glossy skin and a thick mane. Some legends have it that the famous horse Pegasus gained his ability to fly precisely because he ate sea buckthorn. However, this is just a myth.
2. In ancient China sea buckthorn was used as a medicinal plant. Its regular consumption was believed to ensure its health and longevity, long before the discovery of its antioxidant properties. However, despite such a long tradition of use, it was not officially listed in the pharmacopoeia until the 1970s.
3. In Japan, sea buckthorn is used to make energy drinks that are popular with athletes. In the 1980s, when requirements were not so strict, such drinks were consumed by South Korean Olympic athletes. Currently, sea buckthorn products are included in the ration of the Russian space team. And this is not surprising, because only 100 g of these berries a day can provide the human body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, as well as a unique combination of organic acids.
4. Sea buckthorn contains serotonin, known as the hormone of happiness. And its concentration in berries is 10 times higher than in chocolate and bananas, which are considered the leaders in the content of this substance.

Photo of sea buckthorn