Vitamin and mineral composition of cranberries

The vitamin and mineral composition of cranberries contains many useful components necessary for the normal development and functioning of the body.

Cranberries contain a lot of vitamins, organic acids, pectins and other substances that have a beneficial effect on human health. Cranberries contain vitamin C and hold the record for its content. It contains vitamins of the group: B, E, PP, K. The berry contains a high content of organic acids: citric, malic, succinic, oxalic, quinic, ursolic, benzoic, chlorogenic and others. Cranberries contain sugars, particularly fructose, bioflavonoids and minerals. Berries contain: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, sodium, manganese, copper, iodine, molybdenum, barium, cobalt, chromium and others.

Cranberry is an incredibly valuable and healthy berry for people of any age. She prefers to grow in northern latitudes, being an indispensable assistant for improving health. There are a huge number of folk recipes for preparing this berry in cosmetology and cooking. Each recipe is unique and time-tested, and the results will not take long to arrive.

Nutritional value of cranberries per 100 g:

• 88.9 g water
• 3.7 g carbohydrates
• 0.5 g protein
• 0.2 g fat

The calorie content of cranberries is 26 kcal, which is relatively little. The calorie content of wild cranberries is higher – 35 kcal. Frozen cranberries are less nutritious, provided they are consumed without sugar. Thanks to this, cranberries can be included in dietary and therapeutic nutrition. Fasting days with the inclusion of cranberries in the diet cleanse the body of toxins, heavy metals and excess water. With this diet, roughage is excluded. Only consumption of liquids and cranberry juice is acceptable. The duration of such a diet should not exceed 3 days.

Appearance of cranberries, description

A description of the appearance of cranberries will be useful to those who are thinking about planting this plant. Cranberry is a small evergreen subshrub with creeping shoots. The stems are flexible, brown in color with leathery, shiny leaves. The green leaves are oval in shape and up to 16 mm long. During the flowering period, cranberries are covered with small light flowers. The flowers have a pink or purple hue and are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Flowering begins in May-June, and fruiting occurs in early autumn. The berries can hang on the bush until spring without losing their properties.

The fruits have a round or oval shape and are burgundy in color. The average size is 1.5 cm and may vary depending on the variety. The berries are juicy, sweet and sour taste.

The root system of cranberries consists of adventitious roots formed from shoots. The taproot can only be found on young plants, but dies off as they age. The roots go deep to 15-20 cm and have no hairs. Instead, they are equipped with fungal mycelium - mycorrhiza. This symbiosis helps absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

Cranberry is a moisture-loving plant. Its yield depends on the quality of the soil and the frequency of watering. The shape of the bushes depends on the selected variety. Shoots can be creeping or vertical.

In nature, cranberries grow in peat bogs in the European part of Russia, as well as in Siberia and Kamchatka.

Ripe cranberries, which are picked at three times, as well as the leaves of the bush have medicinal properties.

Frozen cranberries - properties

The properties of frozen cranberries are not lost at all during processing. Berries contain valuable vitamins, organic acids and microelements and are real medicinal raw materials for various diseases.

To freeze cranberries, you need to rinse them and remove excess debris. Only undamaged and not overripe berries are suitable for freezing. After removing the water, the berries are spread in a small layer on a wide surface and placed in the freezer. If you do not allow the water to drain, the integrity of the berries during storage may be compromised. Already frozen berries can be transferred to bags for further storage.

The beneficial properties of berries can be significantly reduced if the berries are re-frozen. Blast freezing preserves the most useful substances, but this method is used only for general consumption.

The properties of frozen cranberries are so great that the berries are used to prepare various dessert dishes, meat products, snacks and baked goods.

Cranberries improve digestion and help normalize the functioning of the liver, kidneys and pancreas. Cranberries are useful for urolithiasis, hypertension, and to improve metabolism. Cranberries prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system, atherosclerosis and skin diseases. Cranberries are good for lowering fever and strengthening the immune system, especially for colds. Cranberries are good for preventing cancer.

Cranberry Ben Lear – description

To get to know this unique and healthy berry better, let’s get to know it through the description of the Ben Lear cranberry. This is a Canadian variety that ripens in early September. The shrub is low - up to 15 cm with dense green leaves. The plant has many horizontal shoots. They are neatly distributed over the ground in the form of a green carpet, so the bush can be used as landscaping.

Like all American varieties, Ben Lear berries are large in size - up to 20 mm. The berries are round, dark burgundy in color with a slight waxy coating. The taste of the berries is juicy, sweet and sour.

The yield is up to 1.6 kg per bush, but the berries do not have a long shelf life, so they are used mainly for processing.

To grow cranberries, you need sphagnum acidic peat. In case of insufficiently acidic soil, up to 60 g of sulfur is added to it and acidified water is added. Citric or oxalic acid can be used as acidification.

Cranberries can grow in poor soil, but they definitely need regular watering.

Important: You cannot fertilize cranberries with manure and compost, as they change the acidity of the soil.

In order for the shrub to bear fruit well, it is important to purchase high-quality planting material. It is best to buy seedlings in a nursery, where the conditions for plant growth are most suitable. Such seedlings will take root well on the site, and the likelihood of disease is minimal.

Cranberries - growing in the Moscow region

To grow cranberries in the Moscow region, similar agricultural technology is used as for the northern regions. The main condition for planting cranberries is the presence of high-moor peat. Planting sites are cleared of weeds and phosphorus fertilizers are applied. In this case, it is necessary to maintain the acidity of the soil, which should be in the range: 3.5-5.5 and the humus content up to 5%.

Common varieties of cranberries for the Moscow region are: Ben Lear, Wilcox, Black Vale, Stevens. Domestic varieties have also proven themselves well: Sazonovskaya, Somonovskaya, Dar Kostroma.

Cranberries grow well in sunny areas, but light shade is allowed. Cranberries are often planted near bodies of water and in areas with shallow groundwater.
For cranberries to grow, it is necessary to fertilize. For this, double superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used. Sometimes you can add a small amount of urea diluted in water at the rate of 1 g per 1 liter of water.

Advice: Fertilizing with copper, boron, manganese and zinc will be of great benefit to cranberries.

Cranberry seedlings quickly grow and begin to bear fruit already in the 3rd year. Until this time, they will need weeding and pruning.

Irrigation should be carried out regularly to maintain soil moisture. In nature, cranberries often grow in swampy places, since the roots are not able to go deep into the ground and receive moisture from there.

Some varieties in the Moscow region need shelter for the winter. To do this, use peat or fallen leaves. In autumn, cranberries are generously sprinkled with peat. It will protect well from bad weather and will be able to provide the necessary nutrients in spring.