This culture grows in almost every garden. The most common ones you can find are red and black berries. Before answering the question of which currant is healthier for the body - black or red, it is necessary to evaluate the constituent components of the berries.
Varieties of currants
Currants grow in the form of a bush that reaches a height of up to 1.5 meters. The culture is unpretentious and can develop in various conditions if the rules of care are followed. The plant includes up to 190 varieties of varieties, but in general terms it is customary to distinguish the following types:
- Black - the berry is distributed throughout Europe. Can grow in both garden and wild conditions. Bush up to 1.2 meters high, green leaves, elongated. Inflorescences usually have up to 10 flowers. The fruits are black in color and taste sweet with tart, sour notes. Depending on the variety, one berry can reach 1 cm.
- Red currant - this type grows as a bush up to 1 meter. The shoots are gray, the leaves are light green. The berries reach a size of 0.8 cm. They are arranged in the shape of a brush and have a bright red color. They taste sour.
- White - the bush of the crop can grow up to 2 meters. The berries are small in size, formed into a cluster. The leaves of the shrub are medium sized, dark green in color. The berries are beige or transparent. The white type of currant has a sweet taste.
In addition to the usual types of currants, Alpine, Golden, Ice, and Pink stand out. However, such varieties are rare and differ in requirements for the climate in which they grow and the soil.
What are the benefits of red currants?
Red currant contains the following components:
- vitamin C, which is necessary for humans to prevent viral diseases, and also as a means to prevent tumor formations;
- has a bactericidal property and can be used to treat eczema and seborrhea;
- Potassium contained in the fruit improves heart function and reduces the likelihood of damage to blood vessels, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots;
- fiber - cleanses the body, improves the digestion process and removes excess toxins and waste, making a person feel a sense of lightness;
- Red currant lowers cholesterol and blood sugar.
A large list of vitamins in the berry saturates the body, increasing immunity and restoring human memory.The culture, regardless of its type, retains its qualities even after freezing.
The benefits of black currant
The use of black fruits fresh or as jam allows you to restore the human body in a short time. Black currant has the following beneficial qualities:
- contains vitamin C;
- reduces the development of strokes and heart attacks, strengthens the heart muscle;
- removes toxic compounds and waste;
- used as a remedy for the treatment of stomach diseases;
- the berry can be used as a dietary product aimed at reducing excess weight;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- has an astringent effect and is used for indigestion;
- restores skin;
- a means to enhance the protective properties of the immune system to fight viruses;
- normalizes hormonal levels, especially often used for women.
The black type of the crop has a low sugar content, which makes it possible to use the product for diabetes. The effect of black berries on the condition of hair and nails is also noticeable. Often used for cosmetic purposes to restore water balance in the skin and eliminate the first wrinkles.
Beneficial properties of white currants
White berries are used less frequently than their two predecessors, but they also have a large number of beneficial properties for the body. The beneficial qualities of white currants include:
- is not allergenic, so it can be used for people who suffer from frequent allergic reactions;
- improves blood condition, increases the permeability of blood vessels;
- facilitates liver function and removes harmful toxins;
- improves the digestion process;
- It can be stored for a long time without losing its beneficial qualities.
The composition of the white and red types of berries are similar.Fruits can differ only in sugar content; white fruits have more of it. White berries are allowed to be given even to small children without added sugar.
Are the leaves healthy?
The leaves of the bush contain vitamins beneficial to the human body. Fresh leaves of the bush contain substances such as:
- manganese;
- tanning components;
- copper;
- salt.
Drinking tea from the leaves of the bush allows you to achieve the following beneficial results:
- diuretic effect;
- helps against colds;
- the psychological state of a person improves;
- normalizes the digestion process;
- accelerates the recovery process after surgery, promotes collagen formation.
Also, the tanning components contained in the leaves are used to treat the skin and are used as lotions. However, people who suffer from allergic reactions and kidney disease are not recommended to use the leaves of the plant. In order for the leaves of the plant to be used throughout the year without reducing the beneficial qualities, they must be picked and dried after the bush blooms. Only green leaves are used.
It is also not recommended to use leaves that have been previously treated with chemicals against plant diseases.
Important. The greatest amount of vitamin C in currant leaves appears at the time of flowering of the bush.
Which currant is healthier?
Black berries contain a large number of useful components. This indicator is much higher than in the red and white types; another advantage of black currant is that it is well absorbed by the body and begins to act in a short time.
However, it is not possible to say unequivocally which berry is healthier, since the human body is individual and can react to varying degrees to the perception of vitamins contained in berries. To prevent diseases, it is recommended to consume berries in equal proportions during the summer to increase the protective properties of the immune system.
Where is there more vitamin C?
Vitamin C is present in all types of crops. However, in black currant this figure is much higher. One hundred grams of currants contain much more vitamin C than lemons. Therefore, for colds, one of the treatment methods is to eat currants.
Important. The greatest amount of vitamin C in black currants appears at the moment of ripening. If the crop is not harvested in a timely manner, the beneficial substances disappear.
Eating currants allows you to get rid of a large number of diseases. The berry is a natural product that contains the entire range of necessary substances for the normal development of human internal organs. However, despite the great benefits, people who suffer from poor blood clotting and kidney disease should use berries with caution. The berry is also used with caution for people suffering from chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers.
