Benefits and harms of mishmula. Useful properties of Japanese medlar (lokva) and contraindications

Medlar is an evergreen subtropical plant native to the Caucasus and Central Asia. The fruits are round in shape with juicy sweet and sour tender pulp and thin skin. In Arabic, they are called "askadinya", which means "the most delicious in the world" and this seems to be true.

Medlar has been cultivated for over three millennia and was popular with the Greek and Roman nobility as a delicacy. Today, the plant can be found in many botanical gardens around the world or in the gardens of exotic plant lovers.

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What is useful medlar?

In addition to the taste qualities, medlar is also useful for various diseases:

• fruits are used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• decoctions, infusions of leaves and bark are used to treat wounds as an antiseptic or to stop bleeding;
• decoctions at;
• infusions of leaves at;
• infusions of leaves at;
• unripe fruits and seeds are taken for urolithiasis;
• decoctions from seeds to improve digestion and strengthen the intestines.

Nutritional value and calories

The composition of the medlar fruit is very colorful and rich. It includes:

• glucose and fructose;
• vitamin C;
• Apple acid;
• phytoncides;
• pectins;
• tannins.

In addition, the medlar contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals so necessary for human health.

Composition of medlar in 100 g(according to USDA Nutrient Database):

• water - 87 g;
• proteins - 0.45 g;
• fats - 0.22 g;
• carbohydrates - 12 g;
• fiber - 1.7 g.

Vitamins:

Minerals:

• potassium - 265 mg;
• phosphorus - 25 mg;
• calcium - 15 mg;
• sodium - 1 mg;
• magnesium - 12 mg.

Trace elements:

• manganese - 150 mcg;
• iron - 0.3 mg;
• copper - 41 mcg;
• selenium - 0.5 mcg;
• zinc - 51 mcg.

The calorie content of medlar is about 50-60 kcal, which makes it a low-calorie product that is perfect for those who have problems with excess weight or are trying to lose it.

Healing properties of lungwort and methods of application in traditional medicine -

Contraindications

For a long time of observation of the use of medlar, there are no specific contraindications. However, a large amount of the contained acids can harm people suffering from high stomach acid, gastritis or ulcers. In such cases, it is recommended to use jam or preserves from fruits, which, on the contrary, have a beneficial effect in these diseases.

Medlar quickly deteriorates and you need to eat it only fresh, otherwise poisoning is possible. Also, you should not drink alcoholic beverages prepared on the basis of the fruits of this plant or stale juices.

Methods of application in traditional medicine

Since ancient times, healers have noticed and began to use the numerous beneficial properties of medlar, and in absolutely different areas.

Cosmetology

The fruits have a tonic property and perfectly strengthen the skin, nails and hair. As an example, you can use the Japanese recipe for a cosmetic mask and facial lotion from the fruits of this wonderful plant:

• To prepare, you need 100 ml of sake (vodka is suitable) and 250 ml of fresh juice with pulp. Shake thoroughly and wipe the face with the resulting drug twice a day. Some time the product can be stored in the refrigerator.
• Mix a teaspoon of camellia with cream, 3 tablespoons of juice with fruit pulp and one tablespoon of soy flour, mix thoroughly and apply the resulting mass on gauze and apply to the face for 15 minutes. Wash after the procedure. The effect will be achieved quickly. The skin will get stronger and will look healthy and elastic. Repeat regularly.

Dietetics and weight loss

Medlar is excellent as a "unloading" product for removing toxins and feces from the body with a complex diet. To do this, one day a week (no more) you need to eat only the fruits of the medlar.

There are many useful substances in the fruits and the body will easily tolerate such a diet, while cleansing and burning fat will occur. It is recommended to eat no more than a kilogram per day, and if you have stomach pains, reduce the amount or consult a nutritionist.

Hemostatic

Preparing a decoction of the leaves 1 tablespoon per 250 ml of water. Bleeding areas are treated with a cooled broth.

For diarrhea

A decoction is prepared from seeds or unripe fruits and leaves. The amount is selected depending on the severity (the more severe the diarrhea, the more saturated the broth). Take until recovery.

Asthma and bronchitis

Necessary: 5 fruits mashed together with seeds, 2-3 tablespoons of honey and about 100 g of vodka. Stir and infuse for several days in a dark place. Consume before meals at least three times a day for asthma or bronchitis, which will make breathing easier. The same tincture in a warmed form can be consumed slowly while drinking when coughing, as well as for pain in the heart.

Medlar is an exotic product and it is difficult to get it. However, if you plant it in a garden or summer cottage, you can grow it yourself.

The plant, although southern, is very resistant to slight frosts and, with proper care, will bear fruit.

The medlar has many useful properties and the efforts spent on cultivation will justify themselves.

Recently I learned about such an amazing fruit as medlar. It is very popular in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, and many other countries in Southwest Asia.

In Europe, medlar is not actively cultivated, it is grown only by lovers of exotic fruits. Only in Italy these fruits are very popular. In this country, medlar is consumed raw, as well as jam is made from it, added to culinary products.

In ancient times, these fruits were grown by the Persians, Greeks and Romans. And in the 17th and 18th centuries, medlar was very popular in England.

The full name of the fruit is Japanese loquat. Since the fruit began to be cultivated in Japan, from there it came to China. And only from China the medlar was brought to Europe.

The medlar fruit is a close relative of the hawthorn, pear and quince. It has a beautiful orange color, inside there are four bones. Its flesh is as crispy as that of quince and pear. The fruits taste like frozen apples with a slight sourness and sweetness.

Medlar - useful properties

The fruit is not only very tasty, but also brings great benefits to the body. The pulp of the medlar is fleshy, if it is kneaded with honey and consumed, it will facilitate breathing. Pulp with honey will relieve shortness of breath, prolonged cough and relieve pain in the heart.

Medlar contains a lot of magnesium, potassium. These micronutrients are essential for heart health. Contains calcium, iron and iodine.

The orange color of the fruit indicates that it contains a lot of vitamin A. Many people use carrots to improve their eyesight, since they contain a large amount of this vitamin. And medlar is several times more beneficial for vision than carrots.

There is vitamin K. This vitamin is very important for the body. It is involved in blood clotting. If it is not enough, then the blood cannot clot. This vitamin also promotes the absorption of calcium in the body.

Medlar is also useful because it contains vitamins of group B. The body cannot synthesize such vitamins on its own, therefore it must receive them with food. These vitamins are involved in cellular metabolism.

Medlar has antioxidant properties. Fruits have antioxidant properties due to the content of vitamins E and C in them. Therefore, regular consumption of fruits rejuvenates the body, prevents aging and prevents the formation of tumors.

In addition, vitamin C strengthens blood vessels, making them elastic and durable. It is essential for a strong, strong immune system. If there is enough vitamin C in the body, then the cartilage tissue becomes elastic, and the joints are flexible and mobile.

Medlar is a good dietary product, it contains only 47 kcal. Therefore, it can be easily consumed by people who watch their figure or follow a diet.

Also, the use of medlar stops renal colic, makes you feel better if there are stones in the kidneys and urinary tract.

The fruit has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas. Ripe fruits remove toxins, salts, heavy metals, bad cholesterol from the body. This cleansing of the body is due to the content of pectin and fiber in the fruit. It is these dietary fibers that cleanse the intestines and stomach of toxins and harmful substances.

Useful fruit for diabetics or people who are at risk of developing diabetes. When using medlar, the body itself begins to produce its own insulin.

The pulp of the fruit can not only be consumed, but also make face masks from it. Medlar pulp refreshes the face, rejuvenates, moisturizes and tones the skin.

After eating the fruit, do not throw away the seeds. If they are dried and ground, then you can prepare a drink that tastes like coffee. Such a drink tones the body, saturates it with vitamins and microelements.

Useful properties have not only fruits, but also leaves of trees. Decoctions are made from the leaves, which are used to eliminate inflammation in the lungs. Broths treat asthma, bronchitis and many other diseases.

Tea is made from medlar leaves, which has an antiviral effect, cleanses the blood of cholesterol and sugar.

These fruits are used to make a medicinal tincture that helps with severe coughs and other lung problems.

Loquat tincture recipe.

You need 10 fruits, 3 tablespoons of honey and 200 ml of vodka.

Cut the washed fruit in half and remove the seeds from them. Put the pulp in a blender and beat until smooth. Add honey to the resulting jelly and beat again. Next, add the bones, which were previously removed from the pulp, and vodka to a homogeneous mass. Again, beat everything until smooth.

Pour the resulting homogeneous mass into a container, close the lid and let it brew for 1 week.

After a week, you need to strain. Alcohol tincture is ready.

Fruit contraindications.

Medlar can be consumed by most of us. It is not recommended to use fruits for those who suffer from stomach ulcers, high acidity of the stomach. If there is an allergic reaction when using medlar.

How to choose.

When buying medlar, you need to choose medium-sized fruits. Large fruits will be overripe, and small ones will have a sour taste. Fruit should be of medium density.

How to properly store medlar.

The fruits spoil quickly. Therefore, they should be stored no more than 3 days. Store medlar in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

How to eat fruit.

The best option is to use fresh medlar. Then all the vitamins and nutrients are preserved. The crust from the fruit can be peeled, or you can use medlar with a crust.

Compotes, jams, jams are also cooked from fruits.

Medlar compote recipe.

To prepare it, you need 150 grams of sugar, 4 ripe fruits with a stone, 1/3 of a lemon, fresh mint.

How to cook compote.

Pour 1 liter of water into a saucepan and put it on fire. Add sugar to water. Wash the medlar and cut it in half, no need to get the bones.

When the water boils, throw chopped fruit into it. Wait for the water to boil again. After the compote boils, squeeze the juice of 1/3 lemon into it.

When the compote has cooled, it is ready to use.

Compote can also be prepared for the winter. To do this, after it boils, the fruits, and then pour the syrup into a sterilized container, which is then rolled up with a lid.

Once my sister brought me a treat from the Black Sea coast - unusual fruits. It was a medlar. I had never seen it before, never eaten it. I really liked her. I became interested in what characteristics medlar is famous for, useful properties and contraindications to the use of this fruit.

Medlar - what is it? The genus of fruit trees or medlar shrubs has approximately 30 varieties. In our dachas, plots are successfully cultivated, two types grow:

• medlar Caucasian (aka German),
• Japanese medlar (loqua).

They are completely different from each other, but both have a pleasant taste. The fruits of the Japanese variety outwardly resemble an apricot with a delicate, fragrant pulp inside - it is difficult to transport and store. German medlar must first be aged or slightly frozen, then it becomes soft, suitable for consumption.

Medlar tree, photo:

This plant blooms with lush white inflorescences, which have a delicate pleasant aroma, somewhat reminiscent of tuberose. Japanese loquat blooms by November, and already in May it pleases with a harvest.

The German medlar can be found traveling through the Crimean mountains, and outside our country - in the Balkans, Asia Minor, Iran (northern regions), Transcaucasia. Due to the wide distribution in the Crimean regions, you can often find another name for the German variety - Crimean medlar.

Flowering medlar, photo:

Differences between Japanese and German loquat:

1. The Japanese has one bone, the German has five small seeds.
2. The fruits of the first have a soft peel, bright saturated yellow color, the other variety has a dense skin of a dark brown hue.
3. In the Japanese variety, the color is tied on the shoots of the current year, in the German variety - on last year's.
4. The foliage of the Japanese medlar has a fluffy coating, another variety boasts waxy leaves.
5. Fruits of the Japanese medlar ripen in spring, have a sweet taste, friable pulp. In the German variety, the fruits ripen in autumn, they taste sour, dense.
6. The Japanese variety does not tolerate frost well, the German one is quite frost-resistant.
7. The Japanese variety is characterized by evergreen foliage, the Germanic leaves fall off.

Japanese medlar, photo:

German medlar, photo:

Medlar - useful properties

It is noteworthy that this plant does not have a single part that would not be used with benefit. The fruits are consumed fresh, they are used to make jam, make homemade alcoholic drinks, compotes. The bones (seeds) of medlar are dried and then ground to a powder, after which they are brewed like coffee. Even the bark and foliage are used with skill - they are used to process leather (tanning). Wood is used for the manufacture of various crafts, kitchen accessories.

For the treatment and prevention of various diseases, Japanese loquat is more often used. Useful elements contained in its fruits have a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, restore healthy intestinal microflora. The best homemade "medicine" is the pulp of the fruit with the addition of honey. This useful delicacy helps with inflammation of the respiratory tract, helps cleanse the lungs, relieves coughing, and makes breathing easier. Also useful are decoctions from the leaves of the plant, which have phytoncides and are therefore successfully used to treat bronchitis.

The use of medlar fruits helps to eliminate toxins, radionuclides, heavy metal salts from the body, and helps with various kidney ailments.

If you use this fruit for a long time, then the liver and pancreas will normalize their work. Loquat fruits are the strongest natural antioxidants, stimulants of the immune system, their use reduces the risk of oncological diseases.

Medlar, photo:

Also, medlar contains many vitamins - this factor favorably affects the functions of the cardiovascular system. The presence of an almost complete list of B vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine helps to normalize blood pressure, accelerate regeneration processes.

Loquat fruits are so useful that their value can be compared with effective medicines, but at the same time they are a product of natural origin. It is noteworthy that even after heat treatment, medlar does not lose its useful qualities.

For medicinal purposes, medlar leaves should be harvested in August, and fruits - with the onset of autumn. In addition to the aforementioned jams, juices, alcoholic tinctures are made from fruits, which can later be used as a medicine. To do this, the bones are removed from the fruits, and the pulp is kneaded, poured with vodka (100 g is enough for 4 fruits). For the best effect, the seeds can also be crushed, chopped, added to fruit pulp. After 5 days, the tincture should be filtered, and then consumed one tablespoon before meals.

A decoction of the leaves is prepared in this way: one tablespoon is poured into 200 g of boiling water, insisted for 1 hour. This decoction can be taken 50 grams after each meal (for general strengthening of the body). For the treatment of peptic ulcer, on the contrary, 3 tablespoons of decoction should be taken orally half an hour before meals. The same infusion helps with bleeding gums. The leaves can also be used as a hemostatic agent: it is enough to apply a fresh leaf to a wound or cut a couple of times so that the blood stops flowing.

Loquat fruit has some contraindications - it is not recommended to use it for people suffering from high acidity (the fruits are sour in themselves).

It should be given little by little to small children, making sure that the child does not have an allergic reaction. Breastfeeding mothers should also be careful about this fruit for a similar reason.

In acute forms of peptic ulcer, gastritis, serious diseases of the duodenum, it is better not to eat medlar. It is undesirable to consume too much fruit, as this increases the risk of an allergic reaction. Children can eat two fruits daily without a threat to health, adults - 4-5 pieces.

Medlar - growing at home

Medlar - how to grow this beautiful, useful tree at home?

There are two ways to achieve this goal: seeds (stones) or cuttings. Propagation from seeds gives the most effective result, since the plant retains all the qualities of the mother tree. Thus, the fruit is cut, the bones are removed, after which they are immersed for a couple of hours in a solution to stimulate plant growth ("Zircon", "Epin"). To remove the overgrown pulp, as well as for speedy ripening, you can process the medlar bones with sandpaper.

A container is prepared in advance, an earthen mixture is poured, which is designed for indoor flowers. The bones should be buried in the soil by about 3 cm, 5 pieces are enough for one pot (one and a half or two liters). After that, you need to water the ground a little, cover the pot with plastic wrap or glass, and install it in a warm room. The soil should be watered as it dries, but airing should be done daily - remove the cover from the pot for a couple of hours. In this case, the air temperature should not be lower than +18°C.

The first sprouts appear after about 40-50 days, after the appearance of three leaves, young plants, together with a clod of earth, are transplanted separately. This process should be done carefully, as the root system of the medlar is fragile. Pin the top should then, if you are interested in getting a bush. If you need a tree, then let the development process go by itself, it is better not to interfere. The top is also pinned down so that the medlar does not stretch upwards, with this approach, flowering can be expected in 4-5 years.

German medlar does not need special care, as it does not bloom in winter. She will be comfortable on the glazed loggia on the north side.

As for the Japanese variety, the first few years will be troublesome - it must be replanted every year, completely replacing the soil. This process is stressful for the plant, so it is best to do it in the summer after fruiting is complete. Japanese loquat begins to bloom in autumn, so fertilizing should be continued throughout the winter.

Since the natural habitat of the medlar is the tropics, it loves a humid climate. That is, she needs daily irrigation from a spray bottle. Watering should be done 3 or 4 times a week, but you should not oversaturate the plant with moisture.

You can also grow medlar by cuttings, the process steps are as follows:

1. This plant takes root in the dark, so the jar for cuttings should be wrapped in dark paper in advance.
2. We fill a jar or other container with water, you can also use a sandy-peat substrate.
3. We cut the lower part of the branch so that the cut angle forms 45 degrees.
4. We remove all the leaves from the handle, leaving only a couple.
5. We put the cutting in water or a substrate, deepening it by 5 cm, water it well.
6. We cover with a cut plastic bottle, put in a warm place, you can near the radiator.

After 50-60 days, the cuttings will have roots. It can be transplanted to a permanent place of residence. Provide the tree with high-quality watering, lighting, you may first have to use a special botanical lamp. A tree grown from a cutting begins to bear fruit in 4-5 years.

As for care, the medlar prefers at least ten hours of light, warm water for irrigation, weekly spray irrigation. In the summer, she will not be hindered by a plentiful tropical downpour, which can be arranged at home, under the shower.

No matter which growing method you choose, this plant is worth the effort and care invested in it. Medlar, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which we described above, will become for you a real home healer, decoration of your home. At home, the height of the tree will not exceed one and a half meters, so you can not be afraid that the plant will take up a lot of space.

If you live in the south, a seedling grown from a seed or a cutting can be planted in open ground.

Here is such a medlar growing in my country house. True, it did not grow from a seed - a seedling was bought in the fall of 2015. The seller of seedlings found it difficult to answer what kind of medlar, Japanese or German. Well, let's wait and see...

The top of the winter froze, dried up. But leaves sprouted from the lower buds. The photo was taken in the summer of 2016.

And this is the same seedling a year later (spring 2017). Even the first flower bloomed!

I hope that the tree will survive the next winters ... And it will bring me a good harvest!

You may be interested in the following information:

Many people are unfamiliar with such a plant as medlar. After all, most people do not even know what it looks like and where it grows. Previously, medlar was considered an exotic fruit.

But today this fruit can be found in countries with a warm climate. In Russia, you can buy medlar at food markets and supermarkets at any time of the year.

Medlar is a fruit that has a spherical or pear-shaped shape. It has several names:

• Loquat.
• Medlar.
• Shesek.
• Nispero.
• Chishka.

The color of the fruit is yellow or orange. Medlar is used for food at will: with or without peel. But the taste is better revealed if there is a fruit without a peel. It tastes like an amazing cocktail: a mixture of apple, apricot and strawberries.

It is worth noting that immediately after harvesting the fruit, the fruits do not have such a pronounced taste. Initially, they are left to ripen or frozen. And only after such procedures, the fruit becomes sweet and juicy.

Shesek is native to China. The next country to learn about lokva was India. Thanks to the inhabitants of India, the whole world learned about the medlar.
Many people think that medlar is a berry.

But this statement is erroneous. After all, the loquat plant is a tree on which the fruits of the loquat grow.

There are such types of medlar:

• German (Chishka). The teacup is from Asia. The fruit was brought by the Romans to Germany. Since that time, it has been called the German medlar. It gathers after the first frosts. The plant reaches a height of 8 meters. Today, this sort of tea grows in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Iran, the Balkans, Turkmenistan and Asia Minor. Therefore, in each country, this type of fruit is called differently based on the country:

  - Caucasian.
  - Crimean.
  - Abkhaz.

• Japanese (lokva, shesek, nispero). Has a large number of varieties. Plant height reaches 10 meters. The tree looks like an apricot. The fruits are harvested in May.

Differences between a chishka and a lokva:

• The Japanese variety has one seed, the German variety has five.
• The loquat has a soft yellow rind, and the chick is dark brown.
• The taste of the Japanese loquat is sweeter, while the German one is sour.
• The German variety is more frost-resistant.

Useful properties of shesek / chishka became known to mankind many centuries ago. The description of the healing properties of the fruit was made by Hippocrates.

Useful properties of fruit:

1. Releases blood vessels from cholesterol.
2. Prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques.
3. Improves the functioning of the digestive system.
4. Improve bowel function.
5. Stabilizes metabolism.
6. Breaks down fats. Therefore, shesek is used in dietary nutrition.
7. It hinders the deposition of fats in the human body. Regular consumption of fruit helps not to gain weight.
8. Improves the performance of the cardiovascular system.
9. Accelerates the digestibility of food consumed.
10. Acts as an antibacterial agent. Prevents the development of microbes, fungi in the human body.
11. Immunomodulating agent.
12. Removes toxins from the liver.
13. Has an antioxidant effect.
14. Helps with hypertension.
15. Removes kidney stones.
16. Saturates the body with the necessary trace elements and vitamins.
17. Reduces the risk of oncological diseases.
18. Improves blood clotting.
19. Improves tissue regeneration.
20. Reduces breathlessness. Therefore, it is recommended for use by smokers.
21. It has a general strengthening effect.
22. Prevents the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes.
23. Helps to cope with intestinal disorders.

Healing and medicinal properties:

1. Actively used in diabetes. Eating fruits stimulates the production of natural insulin.
2. It is used as a remedy for the prevention of diabetes.
3. It is used to relieve pain in renal colic.
4. Increases the filtering capacity of the kidneys.
5. Improves eyesight.
6. Ripe fruits act as a laxative, while unripe fruits are used to hold together during diarrhea.
7. Used to treat gout.

In the time of Hippocrates, the seed powder was used to treat fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

For the treatment of urolithiasis, the gastric tract, decoctions are used from:

• Seeds of unripe fruits.
• Leaves collected during the flowering period.

Decoctions and tinctures help with:

• Cough.
• Inflammation of the lungs.
• Angina.
• Throat inflammation.
• asthma.
• Bronchitis.
• Skin diseases (dermatitis).

Decoctions are used in the form of compresses and drinks for drinking.

Harm and contraindications

Shesek is a useful fruit. But it must be used with extreme caution. Its harm lies in the high concentration of acid. Therefore, before use, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the contraindications.

Contraindications:

• Gastritis with high acidity.
• Individual intolerance to the product.
• Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
• Age up to three years.
• Diseases of the stomach.
• Diseases of the pancreas.

Effects:

• Allergic reaction.
• Increasing the level of acidity.
• Bloating.

It is extremely careful to use lokva during pregnancy. Fruit can provoke an allergic reaction. No more than one fruit per day is allowed. Loquat contains a large amount of folic acid, which is incredibly beneficial for pregnant women.

Composition and calories

Shesek is recognized as a useful fruit due to the variety of vitamins and mineral components in it.

Lokva contains such useful components as:

1. Beta carotene.
2. Selenium.
3. Iron.
4. Vitamin C.
5. Potassium.
6. Thiamine.
7. Niacin.
8. Calcium.
9. Pyridoxine.
10. Manganese.
11. Riboflavin.
12. Sodium.
13. Copper.
14. Phosphorus.

The fruit is rich in malic and citric acids, fructose, fiber, antioxidants.

Table: average calorie content of a product per unit of fruit

Lokva as a unique fruit

Shesek is a unique fruit. Its use is possible in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine. Not only the fruit, but also the bark of the plant has useful properties.

The uniqueness of shesek is as follows:

• From the seeds of the fruit, a drink is made that resembles coffee. It invigorates, energizes the human body.
• The bark of the tree is used to tan the skin.
• Compotes, jams, sweets, juices, drinks are prepared from fruits.
• Leaf decoctions are used to strengthen the collagen fibers of the skin.

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The fruits of the medlar, which are imported from Central Asia and the Caucasus, have amazing gastronomic and healing properties. The sweet juicy pulp is simply impossible to resist, which makes the fruit valuable for culinary delights. And there is not a single part of a marvelous plant that would not be beneficial: the fruits are eaten raw and boiled, the seeds are ground and brewed as a drink, the leaves are used as compresses, and even wood is suitable for souvenir work.

Chemical composition

The listed valuable properties of medlar are given by its chemical composition.

The energy composition of the fruit is as follows:

• lipids - no more than 0.2 g;
• proteins - 0.4 g;
• carbohydrates - 10.3 g (sucrose and fructose);
• dietary fiber - 1.7 g;
• ash - 0.5 g;
• water - more than 86 g.

Also, the fruits are rich in valuable vitamins and other useful elements:

• B vitamins (almost all), beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, PP;
• macronutrients (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium);
• trace elements (manganese, selenium, zinc, iron, copper);
• antioxidants;
• tannins;
• phenols;
• organic acids;
• polyunsaturated fats.

The calorie content of medlar is up to 47 kcal per 100 g, which makes the plant suitable for dietary nutrition.

Useful properties of medlar

The balanced composition of the fruits allows them to be used to strengthen the immune system and treat a number of diseases. The pulp of the plant produces the following effect:

1. Reduces sugar levels in diabetes (including gestational) and at the same time increases the natural secretion of insulin.
2. It facilitates the discharge of sputum in case of bronchitis and colds, and phytoncides in the composition eliminate inflammation in the respiratory system.
3. Helps to safely lower blood pressure.
4. Allows you to remove small stones from the kidneys and urinary tract.
5. It is a natural diuretic, allowing you to remove excess fluid from the body and reduce swelling.
6. Improves digestion, relieves intestinal colic and stimulates gastric motility.
7. It removes poisons, toxins, heavy metal compounds, radionuclides and harmful cholesterol from the body, thereby cleansing the liver and blood vessels.
8. It has a firming effect in case of diarrhea (green fruits) or, on the contrary, promotes relaxation in case of constipation (ripe fruit).
9. Increases the protective properties of the body, and also prevents the development of myocardial infarction, stroke.
10. Antioxidants in the composition reduce the risk of developing a malignant process, and also slow down the processes of cell oxidation (prevention of acidosis).
11. Normalizes metabolism.

Vitamin A and C in the composition strengthen the heart muscle and stabilize blood pressure, normalize blood clotting, and reduce the risk of bleeding.

The fruits are also used in cosmetology to improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails. Antioxidants and beauty vitamins (A and E) start the processes of cell rejuvenation and regeneration, polyunsaturated fats help restore the hydrolipid balance, and phytoncides and esters help relieve irritation and reduce skin inflammation. Masks and shampoos with medlar make hair unusually soft and light, nourish the roots and reduce hair loss. Baths for nails help to lighten the nail plate and heal hangnails.

For men, medlar helps to speed up the metabolism, which contributes to more effective workouts and active fat loss. Berries also clean blood vessels from cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques well, restore their tone and elasticity, which helps to quickly restore the body after prolonged smoking.

Interestingly, not only the fruit itself is eaten, but also its seeds and leaves.

The seeds are finely ground in a coffee grinder and then a valuable drink is prepared, which tastes like coffee. It perfectly tones, cleanses blood vessels and stabilizes blood pressure.

Loquat leaves are valued for a rare natural absorbent - amygdoline. It is he who binds and removes from the body various toxins, free radicals and chemical compounds that come with alcohol or cigarettes, industrial products. A decoction of the leaves is advisable to take with food and alcohol poisoning, intoxication, liver diseases (cirrhosis). Leaves are eaten in the form of herbal decoctions, alcoholic infusions, as an ingredient in jam. In this form, the plant helps to get rid of intestinal and renal colic, improves digestion, facilitates breathing in rhinitis and sinusitis, and alleviates cough in asthma and bronchitis.

Leaves must begin to be collected at the end of summer, and fruits in September. It is noteworthy that after heat treatment, medlar does not lose any useful components and medicinal properties.

Medlar and diet food

In Asian countries, the valuable potential of the fruit for body shaping has long been recognized. First of all, this is facilitated by low calorie content along with satiety and the presence of dietary fiber. One handful of fruits can kill your appetite for several hours and normalize digestion, but you won’t get better at all, because medlar contains only complex, long-digestible carbohydrates and absolutely no fats.

Medlar is great as a dietary food - for this, replace daily snacks with fruits. Fasting days on fruits are also effective (once a week you can sit only on them and water to completely cleanse the body). Attention, on the day of unloading, more than 1000 g of medlar should not be eaten.

Dietary fiber contributes to the removal of toxins and feces - minus 1 kg of excess weight. You lose another 1-2 kg due to the diuretic effect - excess water and salts leave the body, swelling decreases.

Healthy Recipes

For many CIS countries, medlar is considered an outlandish fruit, so there are not so many cooking recipes.

Let us give an example of several medicinal options for the preparation of fruits and leaves.

1. Fruit infusion. Remove the seeds from the medlar (4 pcs.) And grind the pulp with a blender or fork. Pour the resulting mixture with 100 ml of vodka. If it is possible to crush the seeds, then you can also add them to the fruit consistency. Insist in a dark, cool place for 5 days, then strain and consume 1 spoonful before meals.
2. Leaf decoction. It is necessary to take 1 tablespoon of crushed (chopped) fresh leaves and pour a glass of boiling water. Infuse for an hour, then strain. The remedy is taken in 50 ml after meals, which allows you to saturate the body with vitamins and stimulates digestion. For the treatment of ulcerative conditions, colitis or gastritis, 3 tablespoons of the decoction should be drunk half an hour before a snack. You can also rinse your mouth with a decoction to prevent bleeding gums and periodontal disease.
3. A thick decoction of the leaves. For 10 g of crushed plant, 170-200 ml of boiling water is taken. The broth is infused in a thermos, after which 2 tablespoons are consumed 15 minutes before meals. The concentrate is used for diarrhea, as well as to stop internal bleeding. If it is not possible to prepare fresh leaves, then a dry collection is taken, which must also be brewed in a thermos, but not less than 3 hours.

Contraindications and harm of medlar

1. Diseases of the digestive tract in the acute phase. It is not recommended to eat fruits with remission of ulcers, gastritis, enterocolitis and colitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, high acidity. With caution, you can eat fruit in heat treatment (soufflé, jam, decoction), as well as in the form of marmalade, dried fruit.
2. Childhood. If the child has never tried medlar, then it is necessary to give one fruit and look at the reaction of the skin and mucous membranes. An allergic reaction is possible in children if there is a history of intolerance to certain berries or citrus fruits. Pediatricians recommend introducing fruits into the diet for children from 1.5 years old.
3. Lactation. It is not recommended to use medlar during breastfeeding, as diathesis is possible in a child.

It is also necessary to take into account the following features of the fruit:

1. The unripe fruit is very acidic, and can aggravate internal bleeding, stomatitis in the mouth, and also cause constipation.
2. Overripe medlar loses its valuable properties.
3. Fresh fruit seeds are poisonous (contain hydrocyanic acid), so they must be lightly fried before use.

Oriental delicacy is actively used in cooking, where it reveals all its gastronomic potential. The sweet berry perfectly emphasizes the taste of pastries and jams, and thanks to the sourness, you can get an exquisite sauce for meat. In addition, daily consumption of a delicious fruit helps to strengthen the immune system, improve digestion and cleanse the body.

Video: the benefits of medlar