Blackcurrant, a fruit with thousands of benefits: properties, side effects and uses

Blackcurrants are rich in beneficial properties. Let’s see how to eat them and how to use them as natural supplements.

Blackcurrant or ribes nigrum is a spontaneous shrub which grows especially in damp and shady woods in central and northern Europe and Asia. Its fruits are small, black and round: they are perfect to produce supplements and herbal remedies.

Other than its fruits, blackcurrant seeds and leaves are also useful. From its seeds it is extracted a very nutritious oil, also used in cosmetics. Its leaves are used as a herbal remedy and to produce yellow dye.

Ribes nigrum: properties

Like all berries, blackcurrant is rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments, which belong to the family of flavonoids. Therefore, it has antioxidant properties, fights free radicals, and prevents premature aging and cancers. Vitamin C is very useful to improve blood microcirculation and therefore counteract capillary fragility, varicose veins, venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, water retention and cellulite. In addition, it improves eyesight and prevents the deterioration of eye conditions such as myopia.

The fruit of the blackcurrant contains vitamins of the B group (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6), vitamin E, and mineral salts, especially potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. In lesser amounts, it also contains sodium, iron, manganese, and zinc. These small but powerful fruits have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, depurative, astringent and antiallergic properties.

The oil extracted from its seeds, used for in recipes and in cosmetics, is very rich in vitamin E and omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. It is very good to lower the LDL cholesterol, that is the “bad” one, and to raise the HDL, the “good” one. Ribes nigrum oil also has anti-inflammatory and hypotensive properties.

Ribes nigrum: side effects

Eating blackcurrant fruits has no contraindications, if you do not exceed in quantity. In this case, it could give problems if your suffer from low pressure, because it helps to further lower it.

However, supplements and herbal products have a very high concentration of ribes nigrum active ingredients. Ask your doctor for the right dosage and inform your G.P. of any illnesses and medications you are using. In addition, you should avoid supplements and herbal teas should during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Ribes nigrum: its uses and how to eat it

The fruit of blackcurrants can be eaten like any other berry. You can also use blackcurrant oil in food products and in cosmetics (of course, it must be pure).

In addition, at the herbalist’s shop you will find many products based on blackcurrant fruits, seeds, and leaves. For example, the ribes nigrum drops and blackcurrant mother tincture are perfect to fight diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, allergies, and circulatory problems.

PHOTO SOURCE: https://pixabay.com/it/ribes-nero-frutta-sano-estate-bio-3511577/

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