Increasingly, barberry appears in health food stores. And here the question arises in the mind of many people: include it in your diet or not? We advise: SWITCH ON! Why? It turns out that this inconspicuous plant has many health-promoting properties. It is worth reaching for it, especially now, in the autumn and winter period. After all, fruit, dried leaves or barberry bark are health at your fingertips. Let's check what is worth knowing about this plant.
Barberry, also known as barberry, is an evergreen, thorny shrub that commonly grows in the fields. It is also a frequent guest in our gardens, because its leaves, fruit and flowers have unique decorative qualities. Folk medicine has long appreciated the qualities of barberry. Home remedies for various ailments often use fruit, bark or dried leaves of this plant.
What does barberry contain?
Barberry fruits contain alkaloids, organic acids, sugars, pectins, tannins and mineral salts. They support the work of the lungs, spleen and liver as well as metabolic processes. They help remove fat deposits and purify the blood, so they are recommended for people who are slimming and want to de-acidify the body.
Due to the high content of vitamin C (80 mg in 100 g), barberry is called "Polish lemon". Decoctions of barberry fruits have antibacterial, antipyretic and diaphoretic properties, so they are recommended for colds and autumn / winter infections. Dried fruit added to regular tea will have a similar effect.
Multi-purpose use of barberry
Interestingly, different parts of the plant exhibit different healing properties. And so, decoctions from the roots and bark are recommended as a support in digestive problems, jaundice, and problems with the gallbladder. Leaf infusions, on the other hand, have calming properties, so they can be recommended to people who live in a hurry, stress, and need peace and relaxation.
Barberry should be avoided by pregnant women. It has been proven that eating fruit or barberry tea can induce labor. Barberry should not be used for a long time, because berberine accumulates in the pancreas, liver and heart.
Barberry in the kitchen
The slightly sour fruit of barberry is an excellent addition to many dishes. Can be converted into:
- juice,
- mousse,
- marmalade,
- be an addition to meat sauces,
- muesli.
Leaf teas and barberry tinctures or wines are also popular. In our stores, we can usually buy barberry in the form of dried fruit , which can be added to tea, oatmeal or other dishes. It's also worth trying pasta with pesto made from barberry fruit.
Tasty pesto with barberry fruit
Ingredients:
- a handful of dried sunflower seeds
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 50 g arugula leaves
- 30 g of Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon of sweet mustard
- 1 tablespoon olive pesto
- pinch of thyme
- a teaspoon of dried basil
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 10 g of dried barberry fruit
Put sunflower seeds, which you can find in our store , into a hot frying pan without fat, add finely chopped garlic, and toast briefly. Add the remaining ingredients and blend. The fruit of the barberry gives the pesto a fruity, fresh note. They can be added to pasta (enough for two people), as an addition to sandwiches or meats.
Barberry has been used as a home remedy for various ailments for decades for a reason. It is worth taking an interest in it today, because this plant, popular in our climate, is a real treasure of health and a really tasty addition to many dishes.
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