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It is believed that the viburnum received its name due to the fact that the bright red berries, as if glowing with scarlet light, look like iron heated in the fire. Red viburnum looks especially noticeable against the background of the first rapidly melting snow. The berries of this shrub ripen closer to September, but are usually picked later, after the first frost: frost makes the bitterness of viburnum berries not so strong.
Most often, viburnum is consumed in the form of jam and jam or added to tea. Nutritionists believe that the second method is preferable: after all, long-term heat treatment, which involves making jam, deprives the berries of some of the nutrients, and the addition of a significant amount of sugar makes this dessert quite high in calories. It is best to consume viburnum fresh, in tea or fruit juice, or freeze it for the winter, especially since it is during the cold season that this berry will be especially useful. Because? Let’s see it below.
Many benefits with a minimum of calories.
Viburnum berries do not contain protein or fat and contain only 7 grams of carbohydrates per 100 g of product. Therefore, viburnum is very low in calories – from 100 grams of berries you will get only 26 kcal. But the content of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances in this bitter berry is very impressive.
In particular, viburnum contains a lot of vitamin C: 70% more than lemon! This makes it an excellent immune booster. The berries also contain vitamins K, D, T, P, carotene, tocopherol, as well as magnesium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, iron, pectin, tannins and essential substances and organic acids.
All this gives viburnum berries a number of beneficial properties:
assistance in preventing viral infections, in restoring the body after a cold, relieving sore throat and cough;
mild diuretic effect;
a slight hypotensive effect (ie, the ability to lower blood pressure), which helps the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
helps in the fight against insomnia, mild calming effect;
reduce the intensity of pain due to the antispasmodic effect;
antibacterial effect (however, if the doctor prescribed antibiotics, you should not replace them with viburnum, it is better to supplement your diet with this berry).
There is also information about the benefits of viburnum berries for premenstrual syndrome and menopause due to the content of phytoestrogens, plant substances that act similarly to female hormones.
Who should avoid drinking viburnum?
People with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular peptic ulcers, high acidity of the stomach and kidney diseases, especially during periods of exacerbation, should be careful with the consumption of viburnum. Also, doctors do not recommend this berry to those who suffer from gout, arthritis and thrombophlebitis. Since viburnum lowers blood pressure, hypotensive people should be careful with it. You should not consume viburnum during pregnancy and lactation and if you have an individual intolerance or allergy to this berry.
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