Forest Strawberry

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Video: Forest Strawberry

Video: Forest Strawberry
Video: European Wild Forest Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) 2024, December
Forest Strawberry
Forest Strawberry
Anonim

The wild strawberry / Fragaria vesca L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Rosaceae family. It grows in forests, meadows and bushes throughout the country up to 2000 m above sea level. The leaves of Forest Strawberry have long stalks and consist of three serrated, ovate leaflets. The colors are white.

The fruit of the wild strawberry consists of small seeds that are located on the surface of the fleshy flower bed. It blooms in May-June. Wild strawberry is a tasty, but also very useful fruit with proven health benefits. It has become part of traditional folk medicine in Bulgaria, where not only fruits but also decoctions of the plant are used.

Composition of wild strawberry

The fresh fruit Forest Strawberry contains about 9% sugars / fructose and glucose /, malic and citric acid, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, pectin, essential oil, folic acid, B vitamins, carotene, aromatic esters, phosphorus salts.

Of the trace elements in the largest quantities are iron, chromium, copper and manganese. Wild strawberry leaves contain vitamin C, tannins, flavonoids quercetin and quercetin, traces of alkaloids.

Collection and storage of wild strawberry

Berries
Berries

As we mentioned Forest Strawberry grows in meadows, forests and shrubs. The usable parts are both the fruits and the leaves. The fruits are harvested by removing only the flesh in dry weather.

Collected strawberries are eaten fresh or dried in an oven. Dried fruits should have a dark red color, odorless and sour taste. The leaves are collected with the stalks and dried in a ventilated room.

Fresh fruits are cleaned well and rotten or spoiled strawberries are removed. You can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days by arranging them in a bowl and placing a sheet of paper between each row. If you want, you can freeze them for the winter - sprinkle with sugar and freeze in the freezer.

Use of wild strawberry

Forest Strawberry
Forest Strawberry

Wild strawberry has excellent taste and is also a valuable dietary product. Small sweet fruits can be consumed both fresh and prepared in various jams, compotes and pastries. In addition to cooking, wild strawberry is widely used in folk medicine and in some cosmetic products. The queen of berries, as wild strawberries are called, is incredibly fragrant and useful.

Benefits of wild strawberry

Wild strawberry dilates peripheral vessels and lowers blood pressure in hypertension, increases the amplitude of heart contractions. Decoctions of wild strawberry enhance the contractions of the uterine muscles, which is why they are used in gynecological diseases.

Wild strawberry increases metabolism and has anti-inflammatory effects in diseases such as kidney stones, gallstones and bladder, gout, inflammation of the intestines and stomach. It has a good diuretic effect. Due to the presence of tannins and flavonoids in strawberry leaves, they have a good effect on diarrhea. The leaves and especially the fruits are a good remedy against beriberi and anemia.

The fruit of Forest Strawberry acts as a remedy for ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, gout and arthritis due to impaired water-salt metabolism. Wild strawberry relieves thirst, improves digestion and helps with constipation. In addition, appetizing fruits improve liver function and lower cholesterol.

Wild strawberry jelly
Wild strawberry jelly

Dried tea is very effective for dealing with constipation Forest Strawberry. To do this, pour a handful of dried fruit with 500 ml of boiling water and let them simmer for a few minutes.

Fresh juice of crushed wild strawberries helps with rheumatism and glycemia, has a good detoxifying effect. The treatment with the juice lasts about 10 days.

Crushed wild strawberries can also be used as a valuable healing mask. They slow down aging and the appearance of wrinkles, restore tired skin. Another amazing cosmetic product is the cream with wild strawberries. To do this, pour into a saucepan 250 g of wild strawberries and 100 g of sugar and bring to a boil on the fire. Cool them and bring them to a boil again. Cool again and place the mixture in the refrigerator. A lotion for oily skin is obtained.

Harm from wild strawberry

Some people do not tolerate the consumption of strawberries. If they eat the fruit, they may get urticaria, itching and other signs of an allergic reaction. A doctor should be consulted if such symptoms occur.

Strawberries have an antithyroid effect and if consumed in excessive amounts can reduce the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland.

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