The composition of black currant and the benefits!
Black currants are healthier, larger, and generally sweeter than red currants. Apparently, this is why it is more popular with gardeners in our country and everyone knows about the benefits of its fragrant fruits for health. In addition, modern scientific studies confirm its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-radiation, anti-inflammatory and other healing properties.
Black currant: description and chemical composition
Black currant is a perennial woody shrub with a height of 1.5-2 m, which grows in temperate climates and is one of the brightest and most widespread representatives of the Gooseberry family. In total, there are about 150 species of black currant in the world, many of which grow in North America, Europe and Asia.
The leaves and twigs of the shrub have a specific, but pleasant aroma. Blackcurrant bushes begin to bloom in May-June. The flowers of this plant are collected in a brush and have a pink or purple hue. The harvest in the form of black or dark purple berries of large size and spherical shape is collected in July-August.
Nutritional value of black currant (per 100 g of product):
fats-0.4 g; proteins-1 g;
carbohydrates-7.3 g;
water-83 g;
organic acids – 2.3 g;
fiber (dietary fiber) - 4.8 g;
ash – 0.9 g. 100 g of fresh black currant contains about 44-45 calories.
In its composition, black currant contains the following vitamins:
vitamin a (RAE, µg 17),
beta carotene (0.1 mg),
vitamin B1 (thiamine, 0.03 mg),
vitamin B2 (Riboflavin, 0.04 mg),
vitamin B4 (choline 12.3 mg),
vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid, 0.4 mg),
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, 0.13 mg),
vitamin B9 (folates, µg 5),
vitamin C (ascorbic acid, 200mg),
vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol, 0.7 mg),
vitamin H (Biotin, 2.4 mcg),
vitamin K (phylloquinone, 0.1 µg),
vitamin PP (ne, 0.4 mg),
Niacin (0.3 mg).
The composition of black currant includes such minerals (macro-and microelements):
potassium (350 mg),
chlorine (14 ppm),
calcium (36 mg),
phosphorus (33 mg),
silicon (60,9 mg),
sulfur (2 mg),
magnesium (31 mg),
sodium (32 mg),
aluminium (µg 561,5),
Zirconia (10 µg),
boron (55 mg),
zinc (0.13 mg),
vanadium (4 µg),
chromium (0.8 µg),
iron (1.3 mg),
fluoride (17 mg),
iodine (1 mg),
strontium (14,4 g),
cobalt (4 g),
selenium (1.1 µg),
Li (0,9 mg),
rubidium (11,8 g),
manganese (0.18 mg),
Nickel (1.6 µg),
copper (130 µg),
molybdenum (24 µg).
In addition to vitamins and minerals, berries contain starch and dextrins (0.6 g), fructose (4.2 g), sugars (mono - and disaccharides, 7.3 g), sucrose (1 g), dextrose (glucose, 1.5 g), saturated fatty acids (0.1 g) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega‑3 fatty acids, omega‑6 fatty acids, 0.18 g).
Black currant leaves are rich in vitamin C, essential oils, phytoncides, pectin, and various tannins.
Benefits of black currant for the body
Black currant is a storehouse of useful vitamins, minerals and other biologically active substances that our body needs for normal functioning.
The product is very useful for health, as:
strengthens the immune system;
struggling with vitamin deficiency and anemia;
normalizes the work of the stomach in gastritis with low acidity;
improves appetite;
normalizes the work of the intestines and digestive system as a whole; improves metabolism; fights constipation;
tones the body and gives an extra boost of energy;
prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the urinary tract and helps to get rid of them;
relieves the symptoms of psoriasis;
it has hematopoietic and blood-purifying properties;
increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
lowers the level of "harmful" cholesterol in the blood;
reduces the likelihood of developing many diseases of the cardiovascular system;
relieves inflammatory processes in colds, sore throats, and many respiratory diseases;
improves mental abilities;
it has mildly expressed diaphoretic and diuretic properties;
helps fight certain diseases of the lymph nodes;
lowers blood pressure; helps to cleanse the body affected by radiation;
it helps to naturally remove toxins, slags, heavy metal salts and carcinogens from the body;
increases the level of resistance of the body to various infectious and colds;
normalizes the adrenal cortex;
improves kidney function; promotes faster and better recovery of the body after serious diseases or surgery;
fights various diseases of the joints;
removes excess uric acid from the body;
helps prevent the occurrence and development of many eye diseases; reduces eye pressure in glaucoma;
eliminates the symptoms of visual fatigue;
slows down the process of vision loss;
improves sleep quality;
helps fight insomnia and debilitating feelings of increased anxiety;
promotes weight loss;
restores and protects the cells of the nervous system from the negative effects of external factors;
Decoction of black currant
Decoction of black currant berries in folk medicine is widely used for the treatment of duodenal and stomach ulcers, hypertension, anemia, gastritis, bleeding gums, severe cough. The drink will help calm the nervous system, relieve the symptoms of many neurological diseases, normalize sleep, get rid of severe headaches.
A decoction of black currant berries also helps with diarrhea, rheumatism, gout, polyarthritis, psoriasis, rashes and other skin diseases, allergies, sore throats, hoarseness, etc.