Black currant
Currant is a perennial bushy plant, reaching up to 1.5 meters in height and belonging to the gooseberry family, which is why it is also known as black currant.
Nutritional value of 100 grams of currants
• Proteins – 1 gram;
• Fats – 0.4 grams;
• Carbohydrates – 7.3 grams;
• Mineral salts – 0.9 grams;
• Water – 83.5 grams;
• Energy value – 63 kilocalories;
Blackcurrant is considered a low-calorie food, as it contains 63 kilocalories in its raw form. But it is not desirable for overweight people to abuse it because of the sugars it contains.
Beneficial properties
Black currant is considered a kind of storehouse of useful substances and vitamins, as it contains the following vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, B9, E, K, P, A and D and also pectins, carotenoids, sugars, organic and phosphoric acid, tannins, essential oil, vitamins of group K, salts of phosphorus, potassium and iron.
Blackcurrant leaves are also a very good source of vitamin C, phytoncides, magnesium, manganese, silver, copper.
Fresh blackcurrant fruits, as well as their juice and decoction, are an irreplaceable source of vitamins, they are used for avitaminosis and are suitable food for gastritis with low acidity, stomach ulcer disease and intestinal diseases.
Purée of currants with sugar and mixed with buckwheat flour in a ratio of 1 to 1 is used as a means of increasing hemoglobin levels in the blood.
Black currant is used in folk medicine as a tonic, vasodilator, improving metabolic processes, blood purifier, hematopoietic, vitamin, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and diaphoretic agent.
Black currant improves the function of the adrenal cortex, lowers blood sugar levels in diabetes, is recommended for diseases of the lymph nodes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, anemia and damage caused by radiation pollution.
In addition to making a wonderful tea that has a tonic effect, blackcurrant leaves also have medicinal properties because they contain biologically active and tanning substances, essential oils, vitamins and phytoncides.
From the leaves of the black currant, one can get more vitamin C than the fruit, which is why they are used as a tonic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, diuretic and purgative.
The leaves are also successfully used for cardiovascular diseases, gastritis and gout.
For medicinal purposes, a tincture of currant leaves is usually used.
This medicinal product helps to remove purines and uric acid from the body, and is also used as a mild laxative and diaphoretic and for metabolic disorders and bleeding.
And for gastrointestinal disorders, a decoction of dry fruits is recommended.
Folk medicine recommends a decoction of blackcurrant leaves and buds for the treatment of dermatitis, exudative diathesis and eye diseases. At the beginning of the last century, scrofula in children was treated with blackcurrant leaves.
The blackcurrant fruit decoction helps with anemia, gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers and bleeding gums. In case of a strong cough, it is desirable to take a mixture of blackcurrant juice, honey and sugar.
As a strong antiseptic, blackcurrant helps to deal with sore throats faster.
Contraindications
Black currant is contraindicated in thrombophlebitis and increased stomach acidity. Although raw fresh black currants are recommended for liver problems, they should not be taken for hepatitis.
