Blueberries effectively inhibit diarrhea, they are used in food poisoning, because they soothe abdominal pain and nausea. They also lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. And they are also delicious!

Blueberriescan be found in almost every forest. When their navy-black fruits ripen on them in summer, they are perfectly visible both in sunny clearings and in shady forest nooks. It doesn't take much effort to collect a jug of them full.

What do the berries hide?

Blueberries have long been used as an effective remedy for diarrhea - this is mainly due to the large amount of tannins. But in these tiny fruits there is much more - procyanides, anthocyanins, various types of acids, large amounts of sugars, pectin. They also contain vitamins: C, group B, carotenoids and numerous mineral s alts. Thanks to this composition, the berries have bactericidal properties (they destroy staphylococci and streptococci) and are even used in food poisoning, because they have anti-inflammatory properties on the intestinal mucosa, inhibit capillary bleeding, and soothe abdominal pain and nausea. In addition, they have a positive effect on the eyesight and the circulatory system, dilate the coronary vessels and seal the walls of capillaries, accelerate the disappearance of inflammatory changes in the gastrointestinal tract. When you have diarrhea, reach for dried blueberries or make an infusion of their leaves - their strong anti-diarrheal properties will quickly eliminate the problem. Raw fruit, on the other hand, has a laxative effect, so it is ideal for constipation. Berry leaves have no less advantages, which are also rich in e.g. in tannins, anthocyanins, procyanidins, flavonoids, iridoids, triterpene compounds, mineral s alts. In addition to their soothing, fungicidal and regulating effects on the gastrointestinal tract, they lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Wild forest fruits

Important

Washing the berries is essential!

Regardless of how the berries are used, they must be thoroughly washed before use. They can be a source of infection with echinococcosis, a dangerous parasitic disease caused by echinococcosis - the coronary tapeworm. The larvae of echinococcosis are most often spread by foxes - warns Elżbieta Lejbrandt, head of the Epidemiology Supervision Department at the Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station inWarsaw.

Berries can be frozen, dried, and used in preserves

July is the best time to pick blueberries because then they are fully ripe. You have to pick them gently to prevent them from crumpling and pour them into a shallow, flat basket. Berries intended for preserves - juices, jellies, preserves, etc. - are best processed quickly, because they are not very durable. But they can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or frozen. Dried berries should be firm but flexible and remain black in color. The leaves, which are also a valuable herbal material, are harvested at the end of fruiting - only green leaves are picked and they should retain this color after drying.

You must do it

Leaf decoction

Pour a tablespoon of blueberry leaves in a glass of hot water, bring to a boil, covered, and keep it on low heat for 5 minutes. Set aside for 10 minutes, strain. Drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day between meals as an anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic medication.

Blueberry juice

Pour 1/4 cup of water a liter of blueberries, add 40 grams of sugar. Bring to a boil and keep on low heat for 10 minutes while stirring. Rub the berries through a sieve, pour into bottles, pasteurize for 20 minutes. Drink 2-3 tablespoons of juice a day for a glass of water if there is a tendency to burst blood vessels or elevated blood sugar levels.

Blueberries from the pharmacy

You can buy both dried berries and leaves in herbal stores. There are also many preparations that contain them, primarily anti-diarrheal and improving the ability to see in the evening.

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