Sorrel: useful properties and contraindications

Sorrel is a plant that is familiar to every housewife. It is used for the preparation of first courses, pies, sauces and salads, which is explained by the unique taste characteristics of this plant. However, few people think about the benefits of sorrel for the human body, the features of its composition and unusual properties.

What is the difference between spinach and sorrel

Spinach and sorrel have a similar appearance, but only at first glance. A closer look at the two plants reveals many differences, including:

1. The shape of the leaves. Sorrel is characterized by light green, pointed leaves, while spinach has rounded leaves colored in darker shades of green.
2. Flavor Features. Sorrel is hugely popular because of its unusual taste characteristics. This herb has a sour taste, without any extraneous aftertaste. In spinach, the acid is completely absent. This herb is neutral, with a slight bitterness.
3. Features of the composition. Spinach contains in its composition a large amount of vegetable protein and is perfectly digestible, which cannot be said about sorrel.

Composition and calories

Sorrel is a unique plant that contains many useful substances in its composition. In 100 g of this product contains:

• 2.5 µg beta-carotene.
• 0.06 mg of thiamine.
• 0.16 mg of riboflavin.
• 0.5 mg of niacin.
• 0.25 mg of pantothenic acid, 35 µg of folic acid and 47 mg of ascorbic acid.
• 0.2 mg pyridoxine.
• 1.9 mg tocopherol.
• 0.6 mg of phylloquinone.
• 0.6 µg biotin.
• 362 mg of potassium.
• 70 mg of chlorine.
• 54 mg calcium.
• 71 mg phosphorus.
• 41 mg magnesium.
• 20 mg sulfur.
• 4 mg sodium.
• 2.4 mg of iron.
• 70 µg fluoride.
• 3 µg iodine.
• 0.5 mg of zinc.
• 0.35 mg of manganese.
• 0.2 mg of copper.

As for the caloric content of this plant - it belongs to the low-calorie foods and is allowed to be consumed during the diet, the purpose of which is to lose weight. 100 g of sorrel contains only 21 calories.

How is the sorrel useful?

Due to the large amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements, sorrel is able to have a beneficial effect on the human body. Regular use of this plant helps to improve the work of many internal organs, get rid of some health problems and normalize the overall condition.

General benefits

To the unique features of sorrel can be attributed the ability:

1. Remove accumulated in the human body, toxins and detoxes.
2. Cleanse and thin the blood.
3. Lower the blood pressure.
4. Improve the function of the cardiovascular system.
5. Stimulate brain activity.
6. Have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
7. Stop the development of inflammatory processes in many internal organs, including the liver.
8. Normalize the function of the kidneys.
9. Improve the condition and appearance of the nails.
10. Restore shine and healthy-looking hair.
11. Stop premature aging of the skin.
12. Charge up our energy.
13. Prevent the development of vitamin deficiency.
14. Improve the immune system, nervous system and blood composition.
15. Reduce blood sugar and cholesterol.

For women

Sorrel refers to the food that contributes to the normal functioning of the female body. This plant is characterized by a minimum content of calories, which makes it indispensable for those women who want to get rid of a few extra pounds.

In addition, regular use of sorrel will help increase hemoglobin levels in the blood, prevent the development of cancer, cope with hormonal changes at menopause, minimize the risk of uterine bleeding, as well as maintain youth and attractive appearance for many years.

For men

Sorrel is considered an indispensable part of the daily men's menu. Regular use of the leaves of this plant will prevent the development of diseases of the urogenital system, help improve blood circulation and prostate function.

When pregnant

Pregnancy is the period when a woman needs to consume a lot of vitamins, minerals and other trace elements. All of these components are part of the sorrel and are preserved in it after heat treatment.

In addition, this plant will help pregnant women to cope with such problems:

• Diseases of the urinary tract.
• Angina.
• Disorders of the liver.
• Frequent diarrhea or constipation.
• Severe toxicosis at any stage of pregnancy.

Especially useful in the period of pregnancy is considered the ability of sorrel to prevent the development of colds and improve the immune system. However, you should not use it in large quantities, as it will bring more harm than good.

When breastfeeding

Sorrel is no less useful and when breastfeeding. During this period, it is especially important to protect yourself and your child from colds, to normalize the nervous system, as well as to prevent the development of avitaminosis and exhaustion. All this is possible with the regular use of sorrel.

However, it is not recommended to introduce it into the daily diet of a young mother without first consulting a pediatrician. Only the attending physician can assess all the possible risks for the infant, establish the permissible amount of sorrel and explain when you should give up this product.

For children

Pediatricians allow the introduction of sorrel into the daily diet of children who have reached the age of three. Regular use of this plant ensures:

1. Saturation of the child's body with all the substances that are necessary for normal growth and development.
2. Improvement of the immune system, which is especially relevant for children who suffer from persistent colds.
3. Increase the appetite of the child.
4. Improvement of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. In addition, sorrel is able to have a beneficial effect on the child's nervous system and is one of the best means to prevent the development of anemia.

When losing weight

Sorrel is no less useful and for those people who seek to reduce their weight. This plant helps to improve digestive processes, helps to normalize metabolism and accelerates the digestibility of food. In addition, sorrel will help to prevent the development of avitaminosis and exhaustion of the body, which is also important during weight loss.

The benefits of sorrel soup

Sorrel soup refers to one of the easiest first dishes and has a great taste. At the same time, it does not require special skills or too expensive ingredients.

Regular consumption of sorrel soup helps:

• improve liver function;
• prevent the development of avitaminosis;
• Improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, thanks to the unique composition of sorrel, this tasty dish will prevent bile stagnation in the human body, help to cope with the problem of constipation, improve the condition of the skin and increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

Sorrel in medicine

Sorrel is widely used in modern medicine. Its unique composition contributes to the treatment of:

• avitaminosis;
• colitis;
• hemorrhoids;
• cholecystitis;
• hypertension.

In addition, this plant has anthelmintic, astringent and choleretic properties. Decoctions of sorrel are used to treat skin conditions, runny nose and even coughs.

When diabetics.

Sorrel is among the products that are allowed to people suffering from diabetes. However, when consuming it, it is worth considering:

1. The allowable daily allowance. Only a qualified specialist can calculate the acceptable rate.
2. Quality of sorrel. It is allowed to eat only high-quality sorrel leaves from the home garden.
3. Necessity to refuse any additives. No spices, salt, or sugar should be used in cooking sorrel.

Regular consumption of sorrel will help people suffering from diabetes:

• Improve intestinal peristalsis.
• Speed up your metabolism.
• Improve the immune system.
• Prevent visual impairment.
• Improve the clotting of the blood.

Important: The glycemic index of sorrel is 15 units.

In pancreatitis

Gastroenterologists prohibit the use of sorrel for patients who suffer from pancreatitis, even in the period of remission of the disease. Even a single consumption of dishes that contain in their composition sorrel can lead to:

• Irritation of the mucous membranes of the pancreas;
• Increased acidity;
• bile duct stones.

These and many other unpleasant consequences of eating sorrel leaves are the reason why it is forbidden to people with pancreatitis.

Gastritis

Patients who suffer from gastritis are also not recommended to consume sorrel leaves because of the peculiarities of the course and development of this disease. Otherwise, the risk of developing concomitant pathologies and complications increases.

For the intestines

But for the proper work of the intestines, sorrel is simply indispensable. Therapists say that this plant will help to cope with both constipation and diarrhea. To solve a particular problem, it is necessary to regularly consume a certain amount of sorrel.

In case of gout.

The diet that should be followed by patients suffering from gout involves the complete avoidance of eating sorrel. Neglecting this rule will lead to a deterioration of the general condition, the intensification of unpleasant symptoms and the development of related diseases.

Recipes of folk medicine based on sorrel

Specialists of folk medicine recommend the use of sorrel for the treatment of such diseases:

• Avitaminosis.
• Disorders of the digestive system.
• Dermatitis and other skin diseases.
• Dysentery.
• Hemorrhoids.
• Stomatitis.

In addition, decoction from the roots and leaves of this plant will help to quickly cope with colds. Infusion of sorrel will be able to "negate" the unpleasant symptoms associated with the onset of menopause, and relieve the pain syndrome of rheumatism.

There are many folk remedies that include sorrel, but these are considered the most popular:

A remedy to relieve unpleasant symptoms during menopause

For preparation you will need:

• 10 g of dried sorrel.
• 250 ml of boiling water.

Fill dried leaves with boiling water and let them infuse for 3 hours. Take this infusion for 7 days, half an hour before meals. Divide a glass of infusion into 3 parts and drink before breakfast, lunch and dinner.

An analgesic infusion of sorrel

To prepare it, you will need:

• 10 g of sorrel roots.
• 300 ml of boiling water.

Pour boiling water over chopped sorrel roots and boil on a water bath for 10-15 minutes. After this time, cover the broth with a lid and let it cool to room temperature.

To eliminate pain syndrome in diseases such as rheumatism, drink 30 ml of broth 2-3 times a day.

Decoction to help cure cystitis

For preparation you will need:

• 0.5 kg of sorrel leaves.
• 1 liter of boiling water.

Boil sorrel leaves in the specified amount of water, putting a container with the ingredients on a water bath for 10-15 minutes. Add the finished decoction to the bath.

Before treating any disease with decoctions of sorrel, make sure that there are no contraindications and consult with the attending physician. In case of deterioration or other undesirable reactions from the use of a particular remedy should be abandoned. Otherwise, there is a risk of deterioration of the general condition and the development of pathological processes in the body.

Sorrel in cosmetology

Sorghum is widely used for the manufacture of cosmetics, whose purpose is to lighten the skin and remove unwanted pigmented spots. In this case, care cosmetics, which includes sorrel extract, is considered completely safe for women's skin. In addition, the use of such cosmetics will help prevent premature aging of the skin, stop the development of inflammatory processes on the skin and increase its elasticity.

Cosmetologists recommend using skin care cosmetics that includes sorrel for those women who

• Want to get rid of unwanted pigmentation of the skin;
• Want to lighten their tan;
• Want to prevent skin appearance deterioration;
• suffer from acne.

Care cosmetics containing natural sorrel extract may be contraindicated only if there is an allergic reaction to one of its components.

Mask from freckles and age spots
What will be required:

• Sorrel - 10 g.
• Oatmeal - 5 g.
• Grapefruit juice - 5 ml.

All ingredients are ground in a mortar, at the end you can add a spoonful of warm green tea, if you want to get a more fluid consistency and larger volume to apply to the face, neck, chest. The treatment time is 20 minutes.

Acne Mask
Ingredients:

• Decoction of sorrel - 50 ml.
• Green clay - 10 ml.
• Aloe juice - 1 tbsp.

The recipe for the mask is quite simple: first, prepare and strain the decoction, then, when it cools a little, mix it with cosmetic clay (available at any drugstore, costs inexpensive), add in the end the juice of aloe. Before the procedure, steam the skin, then use a spatula to distribute the composition on the problem areas. Keep the mask on your face until it is completely dry. It takes about 15 minutes.

Hazards and contraindications

Despite the many useful properties of sorrel, experts recommend not to consume it in large quantities, because the acid that is contained in this plant can provoke the development of urolithiasis. In addition, therapists draw attention to the fact that sorrel is forbidden to eat to those people who have observed:

• osteoporosis;
• Ulcers of any part of the gastrointestinal tract;
• deposition of stones in the kidneys;
• disorders of salt metabolism;
• gastritis.

Excessive oxalic acid in the human body leads to the development of diseases such as uremia and gout, promotes acidity levels.

How to choose and store sorrel

Only high-quality sorrel will have useful properties, so it is important to know how to choose it correctly. A good, fresh bunch of greens will have the following characteristics:

• A bright, green hue.
• A rich and slightly sour flavor.
• Excellent flavor characteristics (especially small sorrel leaves).
• Density, uniform coloration, integrity of the leaves.
• Absence of any signs of rot.

You can store sorrel at home in several ways:

1. In a glass with water. If you need to keep the sorrel for a few days, you can simply put it in a glass of water, pre-washing the leaves and removing excess moisture.
2. In the refrigerator. Keeping the sorrel fresh for 20-30 days will help in the refrigerator. Rinsed and dried leaves of this plant should be placed in a clean, dry container and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
3. In the freezer. An equally popular way to store sorrel is dry freezing. The leaves of this plant should be dried at 50 degrees Celsius, sliced, placed in bags and placed in the freezer.

How to cook sorrel for winter

Many young housewives wonder how to cook sorrel for the winter, so that it retains all its nutritional properties. There are many ways to prepare sorrel preparations. It can be boiled and rolled raw, salted, or prepared unleavened. Of the many ways to do this and more, the most popular is the one that does not require heat treatment.

To make the preserves you will need:

• A large bunch of sorrel.
• 300-400 ml of purified water.

Preparation method:

1. Before proceeding with the preparation of the preparation, sorrel thoroughly sorted, selecting all spoiled leaves.
2. Wash each leaf under cold running water.
3. Slice.
4. Place the sliced sorrel in a 0.5-liter jar so that there is no space left.
5. Pour water over the sorrel.
6. Cover with a lid.

Store such a preparation can be at room temperature. Sorrel will last all winter and will not go bad.

What can be cooked with sorrel: Recipes

From sorrel you can prepare not only first courses, but also excellent salads.

Salad "Nourishing"

To prepare it, you will need:

• 50 g of fresh sorrel.
• 100g of pre-boiled potatoes.
• 100g of bacon.
• 100g canned mushrooms of any type.
• 1 small bell bell pepper.
• Small amount of bread crumbs.
• Olive oil.
• Spices.

Method for cooking: Mix fried bacon with sliced potatoes, mushrooms, peppers and sorrel. Add a small amount of salt, croutons and olive oil to the salad. Garnish with greens, if desired.

Spring Salad

Another popular snack made of sorrel is the salad "Spring".

To prepare it you will need:

• 300-400 g of fresh sorrel.
• 2 small apples.
• 400-500 grams of radish.
• 3 cloves of garlic.
• A small bunch of green onions.
• Sour cream with a low percentage.
• Salt and spices.

Method of preparation: Finely chop all ingredients and mix. Dress the salad with sour cream and add salt.

Omelette with sorrel

No less popular are breakfasts that include sorrel. An omelet with sorrel is very popular.

To prepare it, you will need:

• 50 g of fresh sorrel.
• 4-5 pieces of chicken eggs.
• 200 g cheese.
• 20g of butter.
• A little olive oil.
• Salt and spices.

Method of preparation: Add 30 g of chopped sorrel to the beaten eggs. Pour the mixture into a pan with heated oil and add 100g of cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and sorrel on the ready omelet, and then keep for another 2-3 minutes in the oven.

Can we give our animals sorrel?

Sorrel is one of the healthiest foods for rabbits of different breeds. The composition of this plant ensures that the animal is in good health and receives all the nutrients needed for normal development and growth. But it is not necessary to offer sorrel to cats and dogs. It can be dangerous for the body of these pets.

Interesting facts about sorrel

Sorrel is widely used in cooking, it is loved and appreciated by many people. However, few of them know that:

1. Cultivate sorrel and use it to prepare a variety of dishes began in the 12th century.
2. The roots, stems and leaves of sorrel are used to treat many diseases.
3. The Russian people considered this plant as a weed for a long time.
4. Rhubarb is the closest relative of sorrel.
5. This amazing plant can cure both constipation and diarrhea.
6. Only the young leaves of the sorrel can be eaten.
7. Sorrel can help cure allergies.
8. In folk medicine, sorrel is used not only to normalize the human body, but also as a sedative.

Sorrel is an amazing product that can have a beneficial effect on the work of human internal organs and help cope with many diseases. However, it can be as useful as it is harmful. That's why you should use this herb judiciously. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of developing diseases that are dangerous to health and life of a person. Proper dosages (no more than 1 bundle per day) and increased attention to contraindications will minimize all risks and help everyone to appreciate the great benefits of sorrel.

Photo of sorrel