Gooseberry is a small berry that often goes unnoticed but has excellent properties for the well-being of our body. Let’s find out its benefits and how to use it in the kitchen and as a natural remedy. As we can imagine from the name, the gooseberry is similar to the normal grape but with thorns.
This plant, recognizable by the scientific name of Ribes grossularite, is a climber with many thorns that produces transparent and green berries with darker veins completely similar to grapes. However, the botanical family of belonging is not that of the grape plant but belongs precisely to the current family. In these varieties, we have modifications of the berry both in the shape that can be round, oval, or elongated and in the color that can change from green to yellow, from red to white.
Properties Of Gooseberries
Gooseberry is made up of most of the water, like grapes, and therefore, we will have up to over 87% of water. In addition, gooseberries are rich in dietary fiber up to 55%, in proteins at 1%, and in a small part of good vegetable fats at 0.6%. The presence of fiber greatly helps intestinal transit, and the simultaneous water company encourages more evacuation, greatly helping with constipation problems. The mix of soluble and insoluble fiber present in gooseberries thus helps reduce the risk of diabetes and controls blood cholesterol levels.
In addition, gooseberries are an excellent reservoir of minerals and vitamins, making them a great natural supplement. It is rich in sodium, calcium, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and phosphorus, among the minerals. Instead, the presence of vitamins sees in the first place vitamin A, those of group B(B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6), and vitamin C. The gooseberry Phyto complex contains flavonoids, beta-carotene, polyphenols, folates, and anthocyanins which are all active ingredients useful for the well-being of our organism.
The presence of vitamins and other active ingredients with antioxidant properties allows gooseberries to have a targeted action on free radicals, the main cause of cellular aging. In particular, the co-presence of vitamin C and antioxidants helps protect the DNA and the cells of our body from damage by free radicals by stopping the oxidative process. Furthermore, vitamin C serves to maintain skin health thanks to collagen production and is essential to lower the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Finally, as we all know, vitamin C helps and supports our immune system’s activity.
Another main property of gooseberries is diuretic, thanks to a lot of water and specific active ingredients. The action aimed at facilitating urination helps eliminate toxins from the body and thus lowers the acidosis of the whole organism, one of the factors that lead our body most at risk of incurring inflammation and disease. Finally, the gooseberry has a natural astringent and antibacterial action that helps both the immune system do its job and lower any infections present. It is even capable of increasing the presence of white blood cells that defend our body from attacks by bacteria and other substances that are harmful to us.
Gooseberries: How To Use It
Gooseberry is a fruit, so it is eaten fresh as a snack or in a fruit salad with other types of fruit. Gooseberry can also be used to prepare jams and syrups, and its small shape and its streaked and transparent green color also make it an excellent decoration for dishes or garnish for cakes and desserts. Gooseberries are not readily available, especially fresh, and their processed food products such as jellies, jams, or ice creams are usually available. Gooseberries are also used as a natural supplement that can be purchased in herbalist shops or other stores for the person’s well-being.
It is usually also included in those natural herbal remedies that help against constipation and urination problems related to inflammation of the urinary tract. Thanks to its Phyto complex, the gooseberry has been used since ancient times for its diuretic properties. In particular, its flowers, roots, and fruits are also used to produce herbal teas and natural remedies. Tonic and adjuvant of liver function and blood cholesterol balance, you can use 1 tablespoon of gooseberry powder for drinking dissolved in water. Instead, against gout and arthritis problems, we can use a decoction of gooseberry fruits. If we combine honey with herbal tea, we can also use it to relieve iron deficiencies and anemia problems.
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