Cherry plum is considered to be a tree of the Pink family, which bears fruits like a plum tree. Berries may vary in color: yellow, red, pink, green, purple. The birthplace of the tree is the Caucasus and Transcaucasia. It is grown in our country, in the southern regions. The calorie content of cherry plum and beneficial properties are described in the article.
Varieties
Cherry plum is in demand among breeders. Only in Russia 19 varieties of plants are grown. The most popular include:
- Kuban comet - variety bred by academician Eremin for growth in the Central Black Earth part. Sour-sweet fruits with burgundy peel and yellow flesh grow on trees.
- Plentiful. The variety was obtained by the gardener Nikitsky. Cherry plum has more sweet fruits in a violet hue.
- General - is a large-fruited variety. The benefits include early ripening, resistance to frost.
- Apricot Honey-yellow fruits grow on the tree, inside of which there is a small seed.
- Peach. The result is red-burgundy fruits, similar to peach in taste and aroma.
The calorie content of cherry plum may vary depending on the variety. But usually this indicator is small, which is a significant advantage.
Calorie content and composition
How many calories are in cherry plum? In 100 g of berries, 34 kcal is present. Fruits are almost 90% water, they have virtually no fats and starch. There is also little sugar, so they are recognized as dietary. 100 g contains:
- 0.2 g of protein;
- 7.9 g of carbohydrates;
- 0.1 g of fat.
The calorie content of yellow cherry plum is 34 kcal. The fetus contains vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, vitamin A, B2. Of the mineral components, the product is enriched with potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and iron.
Benefit
Not only for the calorie content of cherry plum is appreciated. Its advantages include useful properties:
- Berries are useful in diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
- Fresh fruits are needed to eliminate depression, relieve nervous tension.
- Cherry plum is necessary in the treatment of ailments of the gallbladder.
- Berries restore intestinal activity and eliminate constipation.
- Juice and infusion is considered an antitussive and diaphoretic.
Harm
But besides good, cherry plum has harm:
- If you eat a lot of berries, there is a risk of an upset stomach, in which dizziness and vomiting occur.
- Bone kernels do not need to be consumed since they include hydrocyanic acid.
- Care must be taken to eat berries with gastritis and an ulcer, since they contain a lot of ascorbic acid.
Collection, use and storage
Despite the low calorie content of cherry plum, it must be consumed in moderation. This will not cause negative consequences. Fresh cherry plum must be correctly collected, consumed and stored:
- Fruits need to be harvested in 2-3 doses, as their ripening on trees occurs gradually.
- Collection must be done in dry weather. Fruits are plucked with stalks for their best preservation.
- If the berries are picked unripe, then the ripening will take place in the refrigerator.
- If the cherry plum was removed with the stalks, then it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- The fruits are frozen and dried. In the first case, they are stored up to 1 year, and in the second - up to 2 years.
- Cherry plum goes well with different products. There are dishes in which, along with fruits, meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, cheese and cottage cheese are added.
Diet food
Cherry plum is not only low-calorie, but also easily absorbed by the body. Berries improve the digestion of other foods. Mono diet with cherry plum does not exist. But it can be part of a low-calorie diet and classic diet.
Fruits include salads, desserts, soups, sauces. Useful properties are in raw and frozen berries. Cherry plum improves the condition of the body and almost without effort allows you to lose weight.
Dishes
There are various recipes for cherry plum. The following are especially in demand:
- Jelly . The fruits must be washed, removing the seeds. Fruits should be placed in a pan, and then add sugar. The dishes are set on fire. After 30 minutes, you need to add gelatin and cook for 10 minutes. Ready dessert should be poured into banks and rolled up with lids.
- Jam. To get the product you need ripe and slightly ripe fruits. They need to be washed and stoned. Peeled fruits are placed in an enamel pan and pour water (1 cup). Simmer for 15 minutes. Then the berries are wiped with a colander. Ready jam should be moved to a pan, add sugar and cook for 40 minutes. During this period, dessert should be thoroughly mixed.
- Tkemali. To get the sauce, green fruits are used. First they need to be washed. Everything is filled with water and cooked before cooking. Then you need to pour the juice, and grind the finished fruit with a colander. Coriander seeds, salt, garlic and herbs are crushed in a blender. The finished product is mixed with grated fruits and boiled for several minutes. The resulting sauce is bottled in jars and placed in a cold place.
- Adjika. Berries are boiled and peeled. In a blender you need to mix spices, peppers and garlic. Then berries, salt, sugar are added. Everything mixes and moves into the pan. Then you need to pour so much water to get a mass similar to sour cream. The product is brought to a boil and boiled for 15 minutes.
There are other recipes from cherry plum. Fruits are added to different dishes due to the presence of beneficial properties. Most can be easily cooked at home using classic products.
ethnoscience
In folk medicine, cherry plum is also used as an effective treatment for many ailments. It serves for:
- Eliminate constipation. The fruits have a slight laxative effect, which relieves constipation. To do this, use a decoction of berries. You will need fresh (200 g) or dried (3 tbsp.) Fruits. They should be filled with water and boiled for 5 minutes. Then the broth is left for several hours for infusion. You need to drink it 200 ml three times a day.
- Treating coughs and colds. To eliminate such ailments, decoctions with bark and tree roots are used. To obtain the medicine, crushed roots (40 g) are required, which must be filled with water (1 liter). Everything boils for 7 minutes, and after cooking it is necessary to take 100 g throughout the day.
- Treatment of liver ailments. To prepare a remedy, you need flowers (20 g) and boiling water (1 cup). It should be infused for 2 hours. Then it should be filtered and you can take 0.5 cups every day.
Thus, cherry plum is a valuable product. It can be used as a dessert or to prepare useful products from it. In any form, the fruits retain their benefits, you only need to use them in moderation.