Raspberry is a type of semi-shrub that has a perennial root and developing stems. This is a very common and useful plant. It bears fruit in the second year of life and then dries up. Her berries are red with complex bones that are easily separated, very tasty, and very useful.
Doctors discovered the healing properties of raspberries in ancient times. In its raw form, the berry has several healing effects, but people have adapted to make delicious drinks from it. They preserve the vitamins and minerals contained in raspberries.
In this article, we will consider the options for preparing various drinks from raspberries, as well as consider their useful properties.
HOW TO MAKE RASPBERRY JUICE
Every year raspberries are born in different ways, so when there is a lot of it, having made the necessary preparation of raspberry jam, you can stock up on raspberry juice for the winter, which will become one of the favorite drinks for both children and adults. To prepare a unique raspberry drink, you can use various cooking methods. The easiest way of harvesting for the winter is carried out without cooking berries. You will need:
- 1200 gr. raspberries
- 150 ml. water
- 130 gr. sugar
STEPS:
- Sort through the berries, separating only ripe, red, and soft raspberries. Rinse the raspberries well and put them in a saucepan.
- Use a blender to bring the berries to the consistency of a thick mixture and put them on fire.
- Preheat the resulting raspberry puree to a hot state and remove it from the heat. Close the pan with a lid and let it stand for 15-20 minutes.
- Strain the frozen mass through a gauze sieve.
- Pour the resulting purple liquid back into the saucepan, add sugar, stir the juice thoroughly, and boil it for five minutes.
- Ready hot juice, it is necessary to pour into pre-sterilized cans, or bottles and tightly tighten the lids.
- Throw a warm towel over the twisted cans and leave for a few days. The finished juice should be stored in a dark place.
Another method of preparing raspberry juice is carried out with the help of a special unique invention of mankind – a juice cooker consisting of three main departments: a mesh basket for berries, a juice collector, a water bowl, as well as with a tap and a hose through which the resulting liquid consistency is drained.
Here, the juice will be exactly believed, which will help to get a product of long storage, which will not lose its excellent properties and taste qualities for several years.
Since the calorie content of raspberries is only 36 kcal per 100 grams, raspberry juice can be successfully used for dietary nutrition to reduce weight and treat concomitant diseases. In small quantities, it can be consumed by diabetics, since it is not able to increase blood sugar levels with a small number of calories. It is useful to drink a small amount of nectar in the morning: it will work to cleanse the body.
Raspberries help to get rid of the inevitable vitamin deficiency in dietary nutrition. Natural juice from the berry can be used for pancreatitis. But it is necessary to use it only during the period of remission. With an exacerbation, the drink can only worsen a person’s condition.
A decoction of berries and juice diluted with water will be useful for severe diarrhea, inflammatory phenomena in the large intestine. In this case, it has a fixing effect. It is necessary to use a decoction to prevent stomach upset.
How often to use it?
Special restrictions in the use of raspberries are available only for people who suffer from chronic diseases (stomach, liver, kidneys, diabetes mellitus) or are prone to food allergies.
For everyone else, fresh and processed berries can be consumed daily in individual doses. It is usually recommended not to exceed the volume of 200-300 grams per day to avoid unexpected health problems.
Due to the content of salicylates, which dilute the blood, and vitamin K, which is also involved in the processes of blood clotting, it is worth using raspberries with great caution for people with blood clotting disorders and taking medications against blood clotting.
The restrictions also apply to people suffering from arrhythmia, blood pressure disorders, and other cardiovascular diseases.
The high content of organic acids makes raspberries an undesirable guest on the table of people with exacerbations of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, and peptic ulcer, as well as metabolic disorders, in particular, suffering from gout.
In the case of kidney diseases, especially in the presence of kidney stones, it is worth remembering the diuretic properties of raspberries. It’s not worth the risk. Because of their rich composition, raspberries are a strong allergen, so they can be given to children in small quantities and refuse to use at the first signs of allergies — urticaria, redness of the skin, etc. People with intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid should also refrain from eating raspberries.
Raspberry Juice Chemical Composition
Raspberries are distributed all over the world – from Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to Hawaii. We call the fruits of raspberries – berries, but this does not correspond to their definition in the botanical classification. In raspberries, the concentration of antioxidants that prevent damage to the body’s cells and stop the aging process is very high. Therefore, we often call raspberries “the berry of health and longevity”.
Raspberries are famous for their high content of vitamin C, the concentration of which can increase even more with a decrease in the temperature of the growing season. Salicylic acid occupies a special place in the list of organic acids, thanks to which raspberries have numerous medicinal properties that have helped people to maintain health since ancient times.
One of the key qualities of raspberries is their antioxidant activity. The combined effect of several adverse factors (from electromagnetic and ultraviolet radiation to radioactive and toxic pollution) leads to an excess of free radicals in the body and the oxidation of macromolecules, which disrupts the balance of the natural antioxidant system and leads to the destruction of body cells.
Foods with high antioxidant activity, including raspberries, restore this balance. The main natural antioxidants are flavonoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, vitamins C and E, carotenoids, etc. They are present in all varieties of raspberries, but different proportions.
Per 100 gm. raspberries account for:
– 52 kcal
– proteins (1.2 g)
– fats (0.65 g)
– carbohydrates (11.94 g)
– potassium (151 mg)
– phosphorus (29 mg)
– calcium (25 mg)
– magnesium (22 mg)
– sodium (1 mg)
– vitamin C (26 mg)
– vitamin B (complex)
These and other useful substances create prerequisites for the manifestation of numerous medicinal properties of raspberries: bactericidal, diaphoretic, analgesic. The antipyretic effect of eating raw raspberry fruits is relatively weak, but thanks to salicylic acid, it can also be present.
Fresh berries effectively quench thirst and activate digestion. The fruits owe their smell to raspberry ketone, which increases the secretion of gastric juice, bile, saliva and generally stimulates the appetite. Often the fruits are used as a sobering agent.
According to some reports, the use of raspberry ellagitannins (ellagic acid esters and sugars) at a dosage of 40 mg per day can prevent the development of cancer cells by slowing their growth or destroying them (with a high concentration of ellagitannins). Ellagic acid also has the property of lowering blood pressure.
Useful properties of Raspberry Juice
The raspberry bush is a plant of beauty and longevity. The positive effect of its fruits on the body, with regular intake of food, consists of many points.
- The skin becomes more elastic and elastic, healthy in color, and young in appearance. Skin cells are renewed, the aging process is restrained with the onset of menopause.
- Skin pigmentation decreases and fine wrinkles disappear.
- The hair becomes strong, lush, and healthy, its structure is restored.
- The hormonal level is restored, pains and spasms are relieved during critical days.
- The premenstrual period passes without unpleasant symptoms.
- The disturbed menstrual cycle is normalized, uterine bleeding stops.
- Copious menstruation becomes moderate.
- Raspberry has a positive effect on reproductive function, it is used in the treatment of infertility.
- Infusions and decoctions are used in the form of baths and douches for the treatment of inflammation of the genitals.
Also, raspberries and drinks made from it are very useful for pregnant women:
- Daily intake of raspberries makes it easier to tolerate toxicosis.
- Folic acid, which is present in the berries, has a positive effect on the formation of the child’s nervous system and minimizes the risk of premature birth.
- Tea and raspberry decoction relieves mild and moderate pain, relieves cramps in the legs, eliminates diarrhea and nausea, normalizes the work of the intestines, and prevents constipation.
- It helps the body to absorb calcium, which is so necessary during pregnancy.
- It helps to cope with colds and high fever without antibiotics and undesirable drugs for pregnant women.
- It strengthens the immunity of a woman and her unborn baby.
Useful properties of raspberries for children are as follows:
- Salicylic acid in the composition of berries quickly eliminates pain and fever in colds
- Strengthens the immune system, makes the body stronger and more resilient
- Improves memory and brain activity, increases attention
- Increases appetite and promotes proper digestion
- Eliminates fungi, germs, infections, worms
- Calms the nervous system, it is recommended for apathy and depression
- Strengthens the heart and blood vessels
Raspberry lemonade
Lemonade with raspberries at home is easy to make in 5 minutes, all the necessary ingredients are cheap and affordable. This soft drink is a wonderful substitute for store-bought soda, and much more useful, thanks to natural berries and moderate sugar content. The cocktail has a bright berry taste, you need to drink it chilled, immediately after cooking.
The most popular option for making raspberry lemonade is with the addition of mint. This is the most popular version of the raspberry summer cocktail. To make it prepare:
- 200 g of fresh raspberries
- 2 medium-sized lemons
- a large mint branch with young leaves
- a glass of granulated sugar
- 1 liter of water
HOW TO MAKE raspberry lemonade
- Throw mint leaves into a saucepan with water, add sugar. Put it on the stove, wait for it to boil. Stir until the sugar grains are dissolved.
- Turn off the fire. Filter the mint brew after cooling down.
- Squeeze the juice from the berries through a fine-mesh sieve. Hold the juice container on the refrigerator shelf for 30-40 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice from the lemons. Also, put it to cool.
- Pour mint syrup and chilled juices into the serving dish. Stir it up.
For a beautiful presentation to the guests, insert a skewer with large raspberries strung on it and a small sprig of mint into the glasses. If desired, throw 3-4 ice cubes into the drink.
General conclusions
Raspberries are very useful berries, they help with a huge number of diseases, strengthen the immune system and protect the body. In cosmetology, experts use raspberries as a refreshing agent that can improve skin tone and moisturize it. In medicine, doctors use the berry as an antiseptic, for the prevention of colds. As we found out, raspberries also help pregnant women.
Constantly eating raspberry fruits is boring, it is better to diversify your diet with various drinks. Raspberry juice, lemonade, syrup – all this can be easily prepared at home. No need to spend a lot of money on purchased and harmful drinks – make healthy vitamin drinks from raspberries yourself!
