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10Blackcurrant juice - proven beneficial properties and contraindications
Shelestun Anna, nutritionist
Eliseeva Tatyana, editor-in-chief of the project EdaPlus.info E-mail: shelestun.a@edaplus.info, eliseeva.t@edaplus.info
Abstract. Blackcurrant juice is a fragrant, refreshing and very healthy drink. Practice shows that with its help and without the use of pharmaceutical preparations, many health problems can be solved: from weight loss and improved vision to alleviating the symptoms of atopic dermatitis and neutralizing viruses of various origins.
Key words: blackcurrant, blackcurrant juice , useful properties, contraindications, composition, calorie content
Blackcurrant is one of the most popular berries in the world of cooking. Jams and confitures, sauces and gravies, teas and various confectionery products are prepared from the fruits of the fragrant plant, used for the production of natural dyes and flavors. But the most useful product is freshly squeezed fresh juice. This drink does not contain harmful additives and preservatives, all vitamins, minerals and trace elements are preserved to the maximum. You can prepare delicious and fragrant blackcurrant juice yourself in the comfort of your own home.
Composition and calories
Blackcurrant berries contain a lot of water (82%), a minimum of protein and fat (1.4% and 0.41%, respectively) and relatively few carbohydrates - 15.4 grams per 100 grams of product. At the same time, they are quite low-calorie (63 kcal) [1] and have a low glycemic index of 15.0. Therefore, refreshing blackcurrant juice is an ideal addition to the menu for both diabetics and people who are watching their figure and weight.
In addition, the berry is a real storehouse of useful vitamins and minerals. Here is a short list of just some of the nutrients that make up this delicious blackcurrant drink:
• Vitamin C (181 mg). Currant juice contains almost 5 times more ascorbic acid than lemon juice [2] ! This water-soluble vitamin is a powerful antioxidant - it protects body cells from premature destruction and aging, stimulates the synthesis of its own collagen in tissues, improves immunity [3] , shows good results in the treatment of oncology [4] , scurvy, periodontitis [5] , other diseases.
• Vitamin E (1 mg). The lack of this vitamin can be "signaled" by age spots appearing on the body, dry skin that has lost its elasticity, fatigue, nervous system disorders and muscle weakness [6] , reduced vision clarity during the dark period of the day, etc. A vitamin supplement helps to improve skin condition [7 ] and nails, favorably affects the work of the ovaries, contributes to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
• Vitamin A (12 mcg). Responsible for the health of vision [8] and the immune system, normalizes metabolism and inhibits the process of protein breakdown, prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques, increases the body's resistance to viral, fungal, bacterial infections [9] , etc.
• Vitamins of group B. B1, or thiamine (0.05 mg), is involved in the processes of hematopoiesis, plays an important role in lipid, carbohydrate, protein metabolism of the body. A deficiency of this vitamin can provoke the development of pathologies of the nervous system, in particular, cause Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, beriberi, etc. [10] B5, or pantothenic acid (0.398 mg), is a powerful tool in the treatment of arthritis, colitis, and heart -vascular system, restoration of the skin [11] and mucous membranes.
Black currant contains many minerals. Potassium (322 mg) - reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, the development of kidney failure and the formation of kidney stones. [12] Phosphorus (59 mg) - improves cognitive function, improves bone strength and prevents the development of osteoporosis. [13] Also in the composition of fruits, you can find a complex of three amino acids with a branched side chain (isoleucine, valine, leucine). BCAA-complex provides muscles with additional energy (increases the rate of their healing, growth and recovery) - indispensable for sports.
Top 11 Health Benefits of Blackcurrant Juice
1. Protects Against Alcohol Poisoning
The conducted experiments show that the use of blackcurrant juice after ethanol poisoning has a positive effect on the health and well-being of the subjects. This is due to the fact that the beneficial microelements contained in the drink help the body break down alcohol - enzyme levels are quickly restored, biomarkers of liver damage return to normal. [14]
2. Lowers blood pressure
In the course of numerous medical experiments, scientists have found that the use of blackcurrant juice promotes vasodilation. A delicious natural drink helps to quickly and without the need to take special pharmaceutical preparations to reduce high blood pressure [15] and avoid many cardiovascular diseases.
3. Reduces muscle pain after sports
Blackcurrant juice rich in flavonoids has a beneficial effect on the condition of the muscles - it quickly restores them, relieves pain and inflammation after increased physical exertion. [16] It's easy to fight back pain and fatigue after the gym by adding delicious and healthy currant juice to your diet!
4. Successfully used in oncology therapy
Blackcurrant juice is considered to be one of the healthiest berry juices - it has been proven to have powerful antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties [17] . The anthocyanin-rich peel of the fruit has an inhibitory effect on the growth of liver cancer cells - in particular, the juice obtained from blackcurrant berries may be useful in the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. [18]
5. Effective in the treatment of amyloidosis
The accumulation of insoluble amyloid protein in the cells of organs can lead to sclerosis, subsequent atrophy and tissue necrosis. Medicine claims that today there are no effective drugs in the treatment of this disease. But, as experiments show, blackcurrant juice has a powerful inhibitory potential in relation to protein aggregation - the systematic use of an aromatic drink squeezed from blackcurrant fruits helps to reduce the likelihood of the formation and development of amyloid fibrils, accumulations of abnormally formed proteins. [19]
6. Useful in the prevention of atopic dermatitis
Blackcurrant seed oil contained in the juice is a storehouse of valuable trace elements. In particular, it includes unique flavonoids, anthocyanins, useful unsaturated fatty acids (alpha- and gamma-linolenic), etc. It has been proven that the use of useful blackcurrant fresh juice by expectant and young mothers during pregnancy and lactation significantly reduces the likelihood of atopic dermatitis in babies [ 20] . Also, the introduction of this drink into the diet of patients suffering from a skin disease helps to effectively relieve symptoms, reduce itching and inflammation of the skin. [21]
7. Reduces the negative effects of tobacco smoke
It was found that the composition of saliva in smokers changes, which leads to negative consequences for the health of the oral cavity: the formation of tartar is accelerated, the immunity of the mucous membranes is reduced, which is fraught with the development of stomatitis, gingivitis, and other diseases. It has been proven that the use of blackcurrant juice helps to neutralize the effects of tobacco smoke, refresh and improve the oral cavity, reduce the risk of inflammation [22] , and is an effective tool in the treatment of periodontal diseases. [23]
8. Improves vision
Studies show that the use of anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant juice has a positive effect on the well-being of patients with ophthalmic problems. In particular, scientists note that the use of such a natural "medicine" in patients with open glaucoma helps to reduce intraocular pressure [24] and improve ocular blood flow, which slows down the process of vision deterioration [25] .
9. Has antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity
Plant extracts are rich in various beneficial trace elements. In particular, blackcurrant juice contains a large supply of various antioxidants, including the carotenoid astaxanthin, which has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Conducted medical experiments prove that the use of a mixture of blackcurrant and blueberry juices helps to neutralize various viruses, in particular, herpes and measles viruses. This discovery allows us to recommend such a natural cocktail as an effective antiviral prophylaxis and an effective addition to pharmaceutical antiviral drugs. [26]
10. Helps to reduce weight
It has been proven that daily consumption of anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant juice has a positive effect on the state of the intestinal microbiome and helps to improve metabolism, which has a positive effect on the process of weight loss and the figure in general. [27] Complement your diet menu with healthy blackcurrant juice to boost your metabolism and speed up your weight loss process!
11. Eases lung inflammation
Black currant fruits rich in polyphenolic extracts have been proven to have a powerful antiinflammatory effect. In particular, they relieve asthma attacks and help reduce airway inflammation. [28] Experts recommend adding a refreshing vitamin drink to the diet in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases.
Contraindications and features of the use of blackcurrant juice
Eating blackcurrant berries and products derived from them, including freshly squeezed juice, is not recommended for people with individual intolerance, as well as those suffering from gastritis, pancreatitis, stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal organs. With caution, it should be drunk by hypotensive patients due to the ability of fragrant fresh juice to lower blood pressure. [29]
It is recommended to consume blackcurrant juice, as well as other fresh fruit and vegetable juices, between meals to ensure maximum benefit to the body. When tasting the drink, dentists advise using a straw (to prevent contact of a sugar-rich liquid with tooth enamel, which can provoke the development of caries [30] ) or recommend additionally thoroughly rinsing the mouth from fresh fresh residue.
How to prepare and store blackcurrant juice
To prepare the drink, whole ripe fruits are selected, cleaned of twigs, thoroughly washed in running water from litter and dust, discarded in a colander to drain excess moisture. Then the berries are poured into a juicer (it is better to use an auger). In the absence of such a device, you can use a blender, a meat grinder, or simply mash the currants with a fork, and then squeeze the puree through cheesecloth.
It is advisable to consume freshly squeezed currant juice within the shortest possible time (several hours) after receiving it. Longer storage under normal conditions at room temperature negatively affects the content of useful trace elements in it. [31] You can drink it both pure concentrated, and to improve and diversify the taste, additionally dilute it with water or other fresh juices (lime, orange, strawberry, peach, apricot, plum, etc.)
If it is necessary to preserve large volumes of the prepared drink for a long time, experts recommend canning it with preliminary pasteurization (short-term heating to temperatures below 100 ° C) or freezing it, pouring it into special containers or zip bags.
It is recommended to store canned blackcurrant juice in a cool, dark place. This precaution allows you to save the original phenolic composition of the product. Studies show that during long-term storage of blackcurrant juice at room temperature (regardless of lighting), there is a significant loss of anthocyanins - 90% during the year. [32]
Literature
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Received 27.06.2023
Blackcurrant juice - proven health benefits and contraindications
Shelestun Anna, nutritionist
Eliseeva Tatyana, editor-in-chief of the project EdaPlus.info
E-mail: shelestun.a@edaplus.info, eliseeva.t@edaplus.info
Abstract. Blackcurrant juice is an aromatic, refreshing and very healthy drink. It has been proven to help solve many health problems without the use of pharmaceuticals: from weight loss and improving eyesight to alleviating the symptoms of atopic dermatitis and neutralising viruses of various origins.
