Viburnum is widely used in folk medicine as a general tonic; its benefits and harms have been well studied and described in detail in medical reference books. Its healing power lies in the unique mixture of active components found in the juice of the berries.

Viburnum has berries of different tastes, and its juice can be bitter or sweet and sour. The bitter taste of viburnum is given by the glycoside viburnin, which increases blood clotting, has vasoconstrictor properties and stimulates the female reproductive system. Its presence is a reason for contraindication for certain health conditions.

When fresh, the berries have a strong medicinal effect, and this property does not allow taking viburnum preparations in large quantities. After heat treatment, some of the active substances disintegrate, and this makes it possible to consume viburnum in large quantities if you make jam, compote, or fruit juice from it. Drinks made from heat-treated viburnum can be given to children. The berry does not cause allergic reactions, which allows it to be used in children's menus.

What are the benefits of fresh fruits?

Red viburnum has a high percentage of pectin in its fruits. It stabilizes metabolic processes in the body and is able to reduce the level of bad cholesterol. Thanks to pectin, viburnum drinks improve intestinal motility and normalize peripheral blood circulation.

Pectin in fruits allows the juice to have a beneficial effect on processes associated with cleansing the body of intoxication. Its enveloping and astringent properties improve the condition of the digestive system during colitis. Fresh viburnum juice acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that relieves pain in the abdomen. Organic acids, vitamins and tannins improve human health in general.

The berry contains large quantities of vitamins A and E. This vital compound is necessary for normal vision and is considered indispensable for maintaining skin, hair and nail plates in good condition. Vitamins participate in regeneration processes, increase the body's resistance to infections that actively attack humans in the autumn-winter period. Schoolchildren who drink viburnum juice have increased performance and mental activity.

Potassium, which is contained in the berry, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It promotes the removal of water from cells and cleanses the kidneys. Magnesium is a vital component that every human body needs. Children need it for bone formation and promotes normal digestion. The berry and drinks made from it, such as fruit drinks and compote, help fight colds and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Berry puree can be used for cosmetic purposes. It is used to make a mask for the face and hands for mature and tired skin.

How can you prepare viburnum?

All viburnum juice products are good for maintaining human health while reducing the body's protective functions. The berries are often dried to a solid state at a temperature of 40-50 degrees, and then used to prepare dosage forms. An infusion of dry berries will be useful for those who suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Red viburnum is not very edible in its natural form. Its taste qualities (from bitter to sweet and sour) do not allow you to enjoy the fruits for a long time. The bitter-tasting berries are frozen and then made into a compote or fruit drink, adding sugar or honey to the drink. After heat treatment, a significant part of the bitterness leaves the juice. The juice of the bitterberry can be digested with sugar to produce jam, which can be consumed with tea or on its own. It is boiled for no more than 5 minutes, and then poured hot into sterilized glass vessels and sealed with sterile lids.

Juice is squeezed out of sweet and sour fruits, which is mixed with sugar and stored in the refrigerator without heat treatment. Sugar is simply poured into the juice and allowed to dissolve; to do this, the mixture is constantly stirred with a wooden spatula. After complete dissolution, the resulting raw jam is packaged in sterile containers and stored in the refrigerator.

A small amount of raw jam can be used to prepare fruit juice, which is taken in limited quantities so as not to harm the body with an overabundance of nutrients and medicinal substances.

Frozen berries can be used for a long time. It is ground through a sieve and prepared:

• mousse;
• jelly;
• jelly;
• marmalade;
• compote.

Sweet and sour berries can be ground and prepared from the resulting puree into a filling for pies by mixing the liquid substance with starch.

Babies from six months old can already be given fruit drinks and compote from viburnum juice in small quantities. After heat treatment, a significant part of the viburnin glycoside disintegrates, and the compote stimulates the immune system without harm to health. When making a drink, you need to make sure that the drink does not have too rich a taste. It is useful to take juice from different berries, mixed in equal parts with honey, to normalize metabolic processes and saturate the body with ascorbic acid.

When fruits are contraindicated

The healing properties of viburnum fruit juice can have completely different effects. In some cases, they can be harmful to health due to individual intolerance to the components. There are contraindications for eating the berry and products made from it.

Viburnum is harmful for pregnant women to eat, since the berry contains phytohormones. The glycoside viburnin contained in the juice tones the walls of the uterus and can cause premature birth or terminate an early pregnancy. Contraindications to taking compotes and fruit drinks from viburnum apply throughout the entire period of pregnancy, so as not to harm the female body.

People with a history of chronic kidney disease should not take berry juice. Contraindications apply to people suffering from high acidity of gastric juice.

Viburnum, even after heat treatment, should not be consumed if there is a history of blood diseases. People with such diagnoses should discuss an individual list of products with their doctor, because even fruit drinks and compote may have contraindications.