Dogwood is shrouded in many legends. According to one of them, Jesus was crucified on a cross from this tree, according to another, the tree appeared as a result of Romulus hitting the ground with a spear. But the main thing is that the benefits of this plant have been known since ancient times. Now dogwood is even grown on an industrial scale, despite the fact that this is a rather laborious process. The tree begins to bear fruit only at 10-16 years.
An interesting fact is that after the first frost, the taste of the berries only improves. And the name in translation from Turkic means “red”.
| Calories per 100 g, (kcal): | 44 |
| Protein in 100 g, (g): | 1.0 |
| Fats in 100 g, (g): | 0.0 |
| Carbohydrates in 100 g, (g): | 10.5 |
| Glycemic index: | 25 |
What does dogwood look like and where does it grow
Dogwood is a heat-loving plant. In our country, it can be found in the Caucasus and Crimea. It also grows in China, Japan, in the eastern part of Europe.
The fruits of the plant are oblong, small in size. Some tree varieties produce round fruits. To date, 4 species are cultivated.
Dogwood berries are covered with a smooth skin that can be red or dark purple. The taste of the fruit is sweet, with a slight sourness.
The composition and caloric content of dogwood, vitamins and minerals
There are a lot of vitamins in dogwood, in particular, C, A, PP. Iron, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and calcium are present. There are many acids in the fruits, especially malic, succinic and citric acids. Most of all, ascorbic acid, 120% of the daily dose can be obtained from 100 g of the product. There are phytoncides, essential oils and flavonoids.
The calorie content of fruits is low – 44 units. However, after drying, this figure increases by 5 times.
What is useful dogwood
Dogwood has a slight diuretic effect, choleretic and antipyretic. It is recommended for use in the presence of anemia and gout, it helps to speed up the healing process in case of typhoid and dysentery.
Pectins contained in fruits accelerate metabolic processes and cleanse the body. Macronutrients help stabilize blood pressure and improve brain function.
Berries are useful for the fragility of the walls of blood vessels, stimulate appetite and prevent the development of diabetes.
Dogwood is useful for people who are engaged in hazardous work. It also helps to cope with dermatological problems and bleeding.
Fruits help with diseases of the cardiovascular system, due to the large amount of vitamin C. It lowers cholesterol and contributes to the normal movement of blood through the vessels.
The benefits of dogwood for women
Dogwood fruits help to establish a hormonal background, it is especially recommended to use them before the onset of menstruation.
Berries help to lose weight, as they remove excess fluid from the body.
The benefits of dogwood for men
For men, dogwood is useful as a tonic that allows you to recover as quickly as possible after hard physical labor.
It helps to cope with diseases of the urogenital area. Berries are used for kidney problems and as a detoxifier.
Dogwood during pregnancy and breastfeeding
If there is no allergy to dogwood or other contraindications, then it even needs to be consumed while carrying a child. It will help strengthen the immune system and prevent the occurrence of colds.
Dogwood is an effective antianemic prophylactic. However, you will have to abandon the fruit if the acidity of the stomach is increased.
During breastfeeding, dogwood is a natural source of trace elements and ascorbic acid, which the mother’s body needs. Therefore, berries are recommended for use during lactation.
Is it possible dogwood for children
For children, dogwood is a natural immunomodulator. Before the onset of 1 year, it is given to babies in a grated form, no more than 30 g per day. From the year it is already possible to give berries as a whole, but it is better to remove the bone. The number of fruits can be gradually increased to 100 g per day.
Berries will help to improve the functioning of the stomach, increase appetite and help muscles and bones develop properly.
Is dogwood good for weight loss
Dogwood can be used as a prophylactic against obesity. It helps to lose weight, as it improves metabolic processes and removes excess fluid. The main thing is to consume berries 30 minutes before the main meal. Do not eat fruit before bed. If you make compote or another drink from berries, then do not put sugar there.
dogwood for diabetes
The low glycemic index, which is equal to 25 units, allows you to include dogwood in the diet of a diabetic. Moreover, it is even useful in this form of the disease, as it helps to reduce blood glucose levels and improves metabolic processes.
You can use it in any form: fresh, dried, in the form of compote.
How to take dogwood for medicinal purposes
The rich vitamin composition allows the use of dogwood as a hemostatic agent. To do this, 10 g of dry fruits are steamed in a glass of boiling water and drunk throughout the day.
In childhood, in the presence of diarrhea, it is recommended to give dogwood jelly to the baby. Kissel is also recommended in the presence of gastroenterocolitis.
Decoctions are made from the leaves, which have a diuretic and choleretic effect. A glass of boiling water will require 2 tablespoons of leaves, which are boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. After that, they still insist 8 hours. Take the mixture in half a glass 3 times throughout the day.
From the bark of the plant, decoctions are made for the oral cavity, which can eliminate inflammation of the gums and cope with stomatitis. This rinse will freshen your breath.
Decoctions of berries are used to treat sore throats, measles. For medicine, 3 tablespoons of fruit are boiled in 300 ml of water. The fire should be weak, the cooking time should be 30 minutes. The composition is filtered and brought to the original volume with boiled water. Take a decoction should be 3 times a day for 100 ml.
The use of dogwood in cosmetology
Thanks to organic acids and tannins, dogwood helps to improve the condition of the skin. It has a wound healing effect. From the branches and leaves of the plant, decoctions are made for washing.
The pulp of the fruit is a tonic that will cleanse the skin and make it fresh and supple.
Fruit juice can be frozen and used as cosmetic ice.
How to dry dogwood at home
Unripe fruits are selected for drying . They must not be defective or damaged. Drying is subjected to whole fruits with seeds. It is desirable to dry the berries in the open air, but if this is not possible, then it is possible in a room where there should be no humidity. The fruits are distributed on paper in one layer. They should be stirred periodically. In warm and dry weather, they can dry out in just 5 days. Then they are hidden in glass containers and stored in a dry place, away from sunlight.
You can dry the fruits in an electric dryer. In this case, they are washed.
Berries can be stored for a long time, but more than 12 months is not recommended, as the beneficial properties of dogwood disappear.
Dogwood at high pressure
With increased pressure, berries are not prohibited for consumption, but you should not eat them often and in large quantities. No more than 50 g per day. If we are talking about juice or fruit drink, then during the day you can drink up to 150 ml.
A hypotonic, on the contrary, you can lean on these berries, it is allowed to eat up to 150 g per day. The main thing is not to eat them before bedtime.
Cornel bones benefit and harm
Dogwood has very useful bones. They contain about 35% essential oils. The bones are used as a medicine for diabetes and liver pathologies. For cosmetic purposes, the bones are used to rinse hair as a remedy for seborrheic dermatitis.
It is not recommended to use dogwood tinctures in the presence of constipation.
Dogwood harm and contraindications
It is better to refuse the use of dogwood with increased excitability, as the berries stimulate the nervous system.
You will have to abandon the use of fruits with increased acidity of the stomach, ulcers and chronic constipation. Naturally, if individual intolerance manifests itself, then you will have to refuse to eat fruits. Overripe fruits can cause indigestion.
To make up for the deficiency of vitamins in the body, only 10 fruits per day are enough.
How to choose and store dogwood
Dogwood ripens in autumn, so this is the most favorable time for buying or picking fruits. Give preference to bright red berries. Dark color indicates that the fruits are already overripe.
Discard fruits that have obvious skin damage, defects. If the product is sold in packaging, then it should not be damaged.
Berries can be stored at room temperature for about a week. In the refrigerator up to 14 days.
Fruits can be frozen, by the way, their taste only improves after that. Dogwood can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. Dogwood can be dried.
In fact, dogwood is one of the most beneficial plants on the planet. To improve health, you can use not only fruits, but also leaves, flowers and bark. Dogwood is able to replace a home first aid kit, is useful in the presence of diabetes and as an immunomodulator. Rated consumption of berries is the way to a healthy lifestyle.