Berries: How To Process Them And Who They Can Harm

In this article, we will talk about the side effects of eating some berries. Who should not eat blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, strawberries? How to properly wash and process berries?

If you are not allergic to any berries or fruits, they are unlikely to cause serious side effects. Nevertheless, excessive consumption of berries can lead to unpleasant consequences. To avoid such consequences, but to get all the necessary useful substances, follow the recommended norm - no more than 2.5 cups of fruits and berries per day.

Strawberries

Strawberries are one of the most delicious and healthy berries, but they also have several side effects. Eating large quantities of strawberries, especially unripe ones, can cause irritation in the mouth, which manifests as white spots on the tongue. This is a rather painful irritation and may not pass for a long time. Another problem is the presence of pesticides in strawberries due to modern farming methods. To protect yourself from pesticides, wash the fruit thoroughly before eating, and also soak for 10-15 minutes in salt water. In addition, allergy to strawberries is also quite common.

Strawberries are a seasonal berry, so it is best to eat them fresh in the summer to get all the nutrients.

Strawberries should be used with caution by people with high acidity of the stomach, as well as people with peptic ulcers. I do not recommend eating strawberries on an empty stomach. In order to avoid infection with helminths, before use, I recommend washing the berries thoroughly and even pouring boiling water over them.

Gooseberry

 

Gooseberries are rich in vitamin C, which makes the berry sour. Eating gooseberry on an empty stomach can cause a disorder. If you suffer from hyperacidity or sensitivity to vitamin C, you should avoid eating this berry.

Gooseberries are definitely a good natural remedy for constipation because of the high amount of fiber they contain. However, if you consume gooseberries in large quantities, it can, on the contrary, lead to constipation.

If you are taking antidiabetic medication, consult your doctor before consuming gooseberry. Some varieties of gooseberry are known to lower blood sugar.

Gooseberry has diuretic properties that dry out the skin if moisture is not replenished in time.

If you are allergic to this berry, certain health problems may occur, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, redness and swelling around the mouth, itching and redness on the face, hives on the skin face, difficulty breathing, headache and dizziness. If you experience any of the above symptoms, see your doctor to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Gooseberry is a powerful cardiovascular stimulant, so people with heart disease should consult their doctors before consuming it.

Bilberry

 

Blueberries contain many useful elements: potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and antioxidants that prevent cancer. Pantothenic acid, which promotes better metabolism, is also found in blueberries, as well as all kinds of vitamins: A, C, B1, B6, vitamin PP.

Blueberries contain oxycoumarin, a substance that reduces blood clotting. Therefore, the use of blueberries is a prevention of thrombosis.

Blueberries contain salicylates, substances naturally present in many plants and also an active ingredient in aspirin. In people sensitive to salicylates, blueberries may cause a rash, headache, nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

When using blueberries, you need to be sure that they are collected in an ecologically clean area, because the berry can accumulate radioactive and toxic substances. Blueberries are contraindicated in the presence of oxalates in the urine due to the presence of oxalic acid in its composition, and it is also not recommended to eat blueberries with pancreatitis.

Raspberry

 

Raspberries can cause irritation of the stomach and intestines, manifested by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

In addition, raspberries can lower blood pressure. You can recognize hypotension by symptoms such as feeling weak, dizzy, or headaches.

Just like blueberries, raspberries contain salicylates in the form of salicylic acid, which can cause an allergic reaction in case of hypersensitivity to aspirin.

Blackberry

 

Blackcurrant juice, leaves, flowers, and berries are safe and often sold as dietary supplements. Black currants should be eaten with caution by pregnant women and young children who may develop allergies.

Black currant is famous for its high content of vitamin C and organic acids, so it can irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and lead to exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers. Also, excessive consumption of berries increases blood clotting - I do not recommend currants to people suffering from thrombophlebitis.

How to wash and process berries

 

All you have to do is give them a good rinse. Immediately after you return from the store, put all the berries in one large container. Then you need to make a "berry wash". It is quite simple to make: 4 cups of water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Pour this solution over the berries and rinse them well in this liquid. Then leave the berries in the vinegar water for a while, then drain the water.

The pH in the vinegar will kill any bacteria that is on your berries so they won't go bad as quickly. And you should not worry that the berries will acquire a vinegar taste or smell. This will not happen. The concentration of vinegar in water is so small that you will not feel it at all. After such a procedure, the berries will be able to be stored longer than two days.

In general, I recommend being restrained when using fresh berries and fruits. There is an opinion that in the summer you need to eat more of them - to accumulate vitamins for the winter." But this opinion is wrong. In the summer, we make up for the current vitamin deficiency. In addition, the use of berries creates a certain load on the digestive organs, which can suffer from an insatiable appetite.

What to do if you overeat

Actions in the case of overeating berries depend on the consequences to which overeating has led. If you have:

• heaviness in the stomach - take an enzyme preparation (for example, Festal, Creon, Pancreatin, Pangrol)
• diarrhea - take a sorbent (for example, Enterosgel, Lactofiltrum, White coal)
• abdominal pain - antispasmodics will help (for example, Enterospasmil, Meteospasmil)