Lingonberries: benefits and harms for the health of men, women, children

It turns out that lingonberries are not only a northern Russian berry. It was collected back in Ancient Greece. They were just called “grapes from Mount Ida” - from the highest part of the island of Crete.

You can buy fresh berries in Karelia, the Murmansk region, and some regions of Siberia and the Urals. It is usually exported to other parts of the country after being subjected to shock freezing. But this does not prevent you from preparing delicious drinks, desserts and sauces from red berries. Lingonberries are called a healthy product by default. But is it? Let's look at the health benefits and dangers of lingonberries together with your doctor.

The history of lingonberries in nutrition

Scientists do not undertake to name a clear framework for when lingonberries appeared in the human diet. But judging by the mentions of “lingonberry water” in the same literary monuments of Ancient Rus', people noticed the red berry a long time ago.

The year 1745 appears in historical documents closer to us. Then Empress Elizaveta Petrovna ordered lingonberries to be planted in the royal gardens so that there would be as many dishes and drinks from this berry on the table as possible. Catherine II later demanded that lingonberry plots be established in Peterhof.

In the middle of the 20th century, agricultural engineers discovered that lingonberries can grow not only in northern forests. If you create special plantations and cultivate them, the yield will be tens of times higher. Since then, the bushes have been planted by farmers from different regions of Russia, the CIS countries, Europe and America.

Composition and calorie content of lingonberries

Around the world, scientists continue to study the chemical composition of lingonberries. It contains several dozen different acids, minerals, alcohols and phenols. Of the substances with proven benefits, berries contain the most (1):

benzoic acid - has an antiseptic effect;
betaine - reduces cholesterol in the blood, protects the liver from excess fat;
ascorbic acid - increases the body's resistance;
fruit acids - have a positive effect on fat metabolism and the digestive tract;
vitamin K (phylloquinone) - responsible for the rate of blood clotting;
carotene - improves immunity;
potassium - responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, muscles, maintaining water balance, blood pressure and blood sugar;
pective substances - remove toxic metals and radionuclides from the body;
iron, copper, cobalt, manganese and magnesium - participate in the process of hematopoiesis and affect the functioning of the heart;
iodine - promotes the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Lingonberries contain provitamin A and vitamins B and E in small quantities.

Calorie content per 100 grams	41-46 kcal
Squirrels	0.5-0.7 g
Fats	0.3-0.5 g
Carbohydrates	8-10 g

*Indicators may vary depending on the age of the berry and place of growth

Contraindications for consuming lingonberries

No matter how useful lingonberries are, there are also contraindications to its use. It is recommended that people:

with allergic diseases;
diseases of the digestive system with increased acidity;
threat of abortion;
bleeding (including in the postpartum and postoperative period);
low blood pressure.

People suffering from diabetes should exclude lingonberry dishes with sugar (jams, fruit drinks, marmalade) from their diet. They are recommended to use fructose and other sweeteners.

Recipes for healthy eating

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cheese

4.2 g Protein
6.1 g Fat
9.3 g Carbohydrates
120.1 kcal

30-40 min.

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#Brussels sprouts
#second course
#baking
#greenery
#lemon
#low calorie
#dinner
#vegetables
#cheese
#dinner

Other recipes

Benefits of lingonberries

Infusions and fruit drinks based on lingonberries are recommended by doctors all over the world for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, genitourinary infections and enhancing immunity.

— Lingonberries have very great potential for use in medicine due to the presence of acids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, minerals and other biologically active compounds. In addition, benzoic acid is a powerful natural antioxidant, superior in activity to vitamins C and A, says endocrinologist, nutritionist, health coach Anastasia Tarasko .

Benefits of lingonberries for women

The use of 25 mg of lingonberry extract for 12 weeks by healthy women significantly improved skin elasticity and hydration, reduced the depth of wrinkles, and can be recommended as an anti-aging agent. The extract can be bought in pharmacies and stores that specialize in proper nutrition.

Photo: pixabay.com

— Lingonberries are also recommended in the diet of pregnant women: they contain pectin substances. They are not absorbed by the body, but contribute to the implementation of many positive functions: they remove toxic metals and radionuclides from the body, suppress the development of putrefactive bacteria, prevent excessive fermentation of carbohydrates, promote the binding of endogenous and exogenous toxins, which has a beneficial effect on a woman’s metabolism and the course of pregnancy, says Anastasia Tarasco.

Benefits of lingonberries for men

Statistics show that heart disease affects men more often. Due to its chemical composition, lingonberries have a positive effect on the functioning of the heart muscle. Lingonberry juice will be useful for men for whom visual acuity is important in their work.

Benefits of lingonberries for children

— Fruit drinks, juices, purees, porridges using lingonberries are actively used in baby food. First of all, due to the large amount of vitamin C and microelements. Vitamin C, contained in lingonberries, is a generally recognized antioxidant, the importance of which for the body is difficult to overestimate, says the expert.

Photo: globallookpress.com

Ascorbic acid takes part in the redox processes that continuously occur in a living cell. This is a powerful stimulating factor for strengthening the immune system, increasing the body's resistance to aggressive environmental influences.

Scientific research has shown that lingonberry juice has antimycotic properties and can be used in the treatment of candidal stomatitis in infants.

For children

If your child has a poor appetite, and it takes all your time, energy and reserves of imagination to feed him, lingonberries will become your indispensable assistant. It increases appetite, and at the same time increases the body's defenses and immunity of your baby.

Reference. In folk medicine, berries are used to prevent and treat colds and a tendency to constipation and intestinal obstruction in children. If you have kidney problems, you can benefit from a decoction based on lingonberry leaves, which can be given even to children under one year of age.

Harm of lingonberries

— Due to the high acid content, lingonberries are contraindicated for exacerbation of gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as for gastritis with high acidity. For normal digestion, you should not exceed a single serving of fresh berries - 100-200 g, and for dried berries the norm is 30-70 g. With all the wonderful properties of lingonberries, remember that berries are an excellent addition to nutrition, but not its replacement. Before using decoctions and infusions of lingonberry leaves as medicinal therapy, you should consult your doctor and do not replace already prescribed treatment with drinks, explains endocrinologist Anastasia Tarasko.

For men

Recently, thanks to the research activities of scientists in the field of medicine, another beneficial property of lingonberries has become known. The leaves and fruits of the plant began to be widely used for the prevention of prostatitis, and were included in many medications for prostatitis.

This is easily explained by the fact that lingonberries and their components have diuretic properties, as well as antiseptic and disinfectant properties. In order to prevent such a disease as prostatitis, eat a handful of lingonberry berries every day, this will help strengthen the body, saturate it with vitamins and nutrients and maintain male strength.

Use of lingonberries in medicine

The biological value of lingonberries is recognized not only in folk medicine, but also at the official level. If we dig back centuries, the widespread use of lingonberries in folk medicine is due to the presence of biologically active components. They have antimicrobial, hypotensive, hypocholesterolemic, cytotoxic, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and other important properties (2). If at first a person simply drew conclusions about the benefits of the berry from his own experience, then in our time the hypotheses of ordinary people have been confirmed by scientific research.

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“It is recommended to drink lingonberry juice with honey after meals for general weakness, colds, constipation, headaches, flu, hypertension, neuroses and anemia, as well as to maintain visual acuity,” advises Anastasia Tarasko.

Let's figure out how lingonberries are useful in different forms (3).

Fresh berries : antiseptic, anthelmintic, diuretic, vitamin deficiency, to reduce blood sugar.

Fresh and soaked : for gastritis with low acidity, lack of vitamins C and P.

Fresh, soaked and boiled : arthritis of metabolic origin (rheumatoid, infectious, nonspecific), gout, enuresis, kidney disease.

Fresh and dried : those undergoing chemotherapy.

For women

The influence of lingonberries on a woman’s reproductive functions

In folk medicine, lingonberry fruits are widely used to improve women's reproductive health. If you cannot get pregnant for a long time, this berry will become a lifesaver for you and will help you speed up the process of conception and make your dream come true.

The berries of the plant help regulate the menstrual cycle and normalize a woman’s hormonal levels.

Benefits of berries during pregnancy

Such a wonderful time as pregnancy is usually accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, such as swelling, toxicosis, neuroses and a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood. Lingonberries will help you prevent all of the listed symptoms and reduce them if they have already appeared.

Also, during pregnancy, it is recommended to regularly drink freshly squeezed lingonberry juice in small quantities. It can help in the treatment of colds and relieve muscle fatigue. Another useful property directly for the baby is the correct formation of the bone apparatus.

Lingonberry fruits during menopause

Thanks to its rich composition, lingonberries reduce the overactive work of the sweat glands and are a preventive measure for diseases such as varicose veins, and fight neurotic symptoms that occur during menopause.

Lingonberry and skin pigmentation

Regular consumption of the plant's berries will be an excellent preventive measure against age-related changes in the skin and severe pigmentation. Berries have this property thanks to the arbutin they contain. They “turn off” the enzyme that activates the skin pigmentation process.

Skin protection

Lingonberry fruits protect the skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet rays thanks to zeaxatin, which is a powerful antioxidant of natural origin. Also, this useful substance cleanses the body of accumulated toxic substances and free radicals.

Skin condition

Lingonberries contain many antioxidant substances that nourish the skin, improve blood circulation and tighten the skin. The fight and prevention of acne and early wrinkles is carried out thanks to vitamins E and A. A mask made from lingonberry fruits perfectly moisturizes and nourishes the skin, and also prevents its premature aging.

The effect of lingonberries on hair condition

Hair masks based on lingonberry leaves will heal and moisturize your hair, giving it shine, volume and softness. If you suffer from constant dandruff, include plant berries in your daily diet. They will help you in the fight against this disease.

Use of lingonberries in cooking

Due to the presence of phenolic acids, lingonberry berries have bactericidal and antibacterial properties, due to which lingonberry juice can be stored for up to 20-25 weeks.

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— Lingonberries retain their properties best when frozen or dried. Although various options are used in cooking: fresh, boiled, soaked, dried, candied. It is used to prepare sauces and seasonings for meat and fish dishes, various drinks: tea, juices, fruit drinks, compotes, jelly, liqueurs, liqueurs. Lingonberries are put in vegetable salads, marinades of various preparations, used as a filling for pies, preserves, syrups, jams and jams are made from it, and desserts are made: mousses, ice cream, candies, says doctor Anastasia Tarasko.

Scandinavian dessert “Troll cream” made from lingonberries

A light dessert that can be served with tea or instead of ice cream on a hot day

Photo: pixabay.com

Egg white	2 pcs.
Sugar or powdered sugar	taste
Cowberry. You can use frozen berries or replace them with lingonberry jam. Then you won't need sugar	300-500 g
Cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom	taste

Crush the berries and pour in the egg whites, add sugar and spices. Beat everything in a mixer or blender. You will get an airy cream. You can decorate with mint leaves and a couple of fresh lingonberries.

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Pie with lingonberries and apples

Variation of charlotte on shortcrust pastry

Photo: shutterstock.com

For the test:

Butter	100-150 g
Sugar	3-4 tbsp. spoons
Salt	0.5 tsp
Flour	150-200 g
Egg yolk	2 pcs.

For filling:

Large apples	2-3 pcs.
Cowberry	300-500 g
Milk	100 ml
Eggs	2 pcs.
Sugar	4 tbsp. spoons

Mix butter with sugar. Add salt, flour and yolks. Mix the dough well until it turns into a single lump. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes. Then distribute it into the pan and bake for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

While the base is in the oven, cut the apples into wedges. It is better to peel them. The apples should be fried in a frying pan in a small amount of butter for five minutes over medium heat.

Remove the pie base from the oven and place the apples on it, adding generously of lingonberries. Pour everything with a mixture of 100 ml of milk, two eggs and four tablespoons of sugar. Place in the oven for another 30 minutes at 180 degrees.

How to select and store lingonberries

In the age of semi-finished products, a person who thinks about the benefits of lingonberries is distrustful of frozen foods. However, in the case of this berry, there is nothing fatal in storing it in the freezer. The main thing is that the harvest is fresh. Shelf life - up to one year. The same applies to soaked lingonberries - when the berries are stored in water, sometimes with the addition of sugar syrup. A fresh berry can last a month at most, but more often it “lives” for one or two weeks.

Brief summary

The berry is a close relative of the plant called cranberry and has a rich vitamin and mineral composition.
Beta-carotene serves as the basis for the synthesis of vitamin A in the body, ascorbic acid - collagen, which is a building protein.
The seeds contain polyunsaturated fatty acids - a powerful tool for preserving youth.
You should not eat the berry if you have hypotension, impaired kidney function, individual intolerance, cholelithiasis and other abnormalities without first consulting a doctor.
The leaves of the plant have a therapeutic effect; they should be collected before flowering or after the fruits ripen.