Physalis: photos, beneficial properties and contraindications. Physalis - what is it, edible and ornamental species, beneficial properties and harm of berries

Physalis vulgare, a perennial plant of the nightshade family, is used by many only as a decorative element for creating bouquets of dried flowers. And in vain! Physalis is very useful plant and is used for treatment various diseases. Physalis, whose beneficial properties are very diverse, has many other names - bladderwrack, marunka and dog cherry.

What is physalis

The physalis plant can reach a height of one meter and has creeping, highly branched, woody shoots located underground. Physalis stems, slightly curved at an angle, are located directly relative to the soil, the leaves are ovoid, thin, opposite, the edges of the leaves are serrated. Physalis fruits are juicy spherical berries of orange or red color, located inside a swollen bubble-shaped calyx. The plant blooms from May to August, and the fruits ripen from June to September. Physalis can be found in all parts of the globe where there are wooded areas with bushes, ravines and forest edges.

Composition of fruits and seeds

About 10% of the fruit of the physalis plant is dry matter, while the seeds of the plant are 15% oily. Physalis fruits contain a lot of sugars, tannins and bitter substances, non-toxic alkaloids, pectins, carotene, vitamin C, phytoncides and proteins. In addition, physalis fruits contain mineral and red coloring matter, citric, tartaric, malic and succinic organic acids.

Composition of roots and leaves

The roots of the plant contain alkaloids such as tropine, pseudotropine, tegloidine and cushygrin. Many steroids were found in the leaves - campesterol, sitosterol cholesterol, stigmasterol and isofucosterol, as well as carotenoids - beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, physoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein ester. In addition, flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids were also found in the leaves.

What benefits does regular use give?

By entering into your daily diet nutrition useful fruits physalis, you will provide your body with organic acids, which will normalize the acid-base balance. You will regularly receive lycopene and pectin, which are excellent antioxidants, and fiber, which is necessary to normalize digestive function, as well as steroids and tannins. Due to the presence of quercetin in berries, physalis is an excellent antihistamine, antioxidant and diuretic.

The berries of the physalis plant are rich useful microelements, such as:

• potassium – necessary for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• phosphorus – taking part in metabolism, skeletal formation and central function nervous system;
• magnesium – involved in all metabolic processes;
• iron – necessary for the normal process of hematopoiesis;
• calcium – supports healthy teeth and bones;
• sodium – normalizing water-salt metabolism;
• zinc – part of cell membranes.

Features of use

Physalis berries are used in fresh. When consuming them, you need to take into account that they are covered with a waxy sticky coating, so before eating the berries you need to pour boiling water over them. Ripe berries are dietary product, they have a sweet taste with slight sourness and characteristic bitterness.

The fruits are often added to salads, canned food and vegetable soups. Boiled fruits are used as a seasoning for main courses, and delicious caviar is made from baked berries. In addition, the berries are dried, jam and juices are prepared from them.

Beneficial features

Being medicinal plant, physalis has a choleretic, diuretic, antiseptic, hemostatic and analgesic effect. Physalis fruits are used in the treatment of rheumatism, bronchitis, gout, dropsy, lichen, diseases respiratory system, inflammatory processes urinary tract. Decoction and water infusion Physalis fruits are used for bruises and swelling as compresses, as well as as an analgesic and effective antitussive for colds.

A decoction of physalis roots is recommended for menstrual irregularities. In addition, freshly squeezed juice of physalis fruits is used, the beneficial properties of which are very successfully used in the treatment of dermatoses, dysentery, gonorrhea and hypertension.

Physalis in traditional medicine

Physalis berries traditional medicine are a multivitamin and dietary remedy. Its use is recommended for patients suffering from diseases such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, diabetes mellitus, chronic cholecystitis and hypertension. In this case, it is recommended to use ripe berries for treatment, consuming them 10-15 minutes before meals. One-time appointment consists of 4-8 large or 10-15 small physalis berries. With increased acidity, the number of berries must be halved.

Contraindications

People with high acidity should use physalis with extreme caution; they should start using one or two berries, gradually increasing their quantity. Physalis caps and leaves are used externally in treatment various wounds and sprains. All above-ground parts of the physalis plant are poisonous, and if the permissible dose is exceeded, they can cause harm to health; treatment must be carried out after consultation with a doctor and under his supervision.

Are you familiar with Physalis? For most, this plant is just an unusual landscape decoration for a garden plot, and only a few know that physalis is a vegetable crop and is a relative of the tomato, and therefore can be used as an edible product. The most important thing is to consider how to eat it correctly, so that an unusual dish made from physalis does not cause harm to the body.

What is physalis and how is it useful?

As already mentioned, physalis is a plant of the nightshade family, the same one that includes the tomato, beloved by many. Indeed, the fruits of physalis look very much like small tomatoes, but still have a completely different taste and composition. Unlike tomatoes, the fruits of this plant are “hidden” in a shell of sepals, which grow together and resemble a small Chinese lantern. Just for being so fancy appearance Gardeners love this vegetable crop.

However, you need to keep in mind that not every physalis (it is also called earth cranberry, emerald berry, bladderwrack and dog cherry) are suitable for consumption: only vegetable or strawberry plant species are suitable for this purpose. Decorative types of physalis are not only inedible, but can also cause some harm if used as an ingredient for certain dishes.

Physalis, the beneficial properties of which were closely examined at the beginning of the twentieth century, is still not widely used, but, as it turns out, it is completely in vain: the fruits of the plant contain a huge amount useful substances, but at the same time they have a very low calorie content - only 32 kcal per 100 g of product, which makes them an indispensable product in healthy eating. The vegetable crop contains valuable organic acids: citric, succinic malic and others. The plant also contains the substances lycopene and pectin, known for their excellent antioxidant properties. Fiber, in large quantities contained in bladderwort fruits, has a positive effect on digestion, and microelements such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, vitamins A and E have a beneficial effect on general state body.

Vegetable and strawberry physalis is useful not only as a food ingredient, but also for the preparation of medicinal products. This plant has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and diuretic properties. In folk medicine, it is used to treat cystitis, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, hypertension, cough and many other diseases.

How can a plant be harmful?

Like any plant, physalis can cause certain harm to the body if you do not follow the rules for collecting, preparing and consuming its fruits and do not take into account possible contraindications to the use of vegetable crops in food and medicinal purposes.

The dangerous properties of physalis are associated primarily with the toxicity of its inedible parts, in particular, the very calyxes in which the fruits are hidden. If vegetables are to be used as a cooking ingredient, they should be thoroughly cleaned and washed, otherwise they may be poisoned and cause serious harm. gastrointestinal tract. It is also important to remember that in ornamental varieties of physalis, all parts of the plant are poisonous, including the fruits, so before consuming a vegetable crop, you need to make sure that it is an edible plant.

If physalis is used for cooking remedy, you must strictly follow the recipe and in no case exceed the dosage and duration of taking the medicine. Healing decoctions and infusions from bladderwort should not be taken simultaneously with other diuretics to avoid dehydration.

If you intend to use physalis, the benefits of which are well known to you, for food or medicinal purposes, be sure to pay attention to the contraindications. These include:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• children under 12 years of age;
• individual intolerance;
• gastritis with high acidity, peptic ulcer stomach;
• diabetes.

Contraindications to the consumption of vegetables do not include some chronic diseases internal organs, but despite this, it is not recommended to include the fruits of the plant in your diet or for treatment folk remedies from earthen cranberries without prior consultation with your doctor.

How to eat physalis?

If you have taken into account all the contraindications and are sure that the fruits of physalis will not harm your body, you can safely include this useful product to your menu, because when proper preparation you can get a dish with a surprisingly refined taste.

In fact, there are a lot of options for using physalis in cooking. The fruits of the plant are eaten fresh, dried and boiled, added to soups and salads, baked, made into desserts, sauces for main courses and drinks. Important point: in order to rid the edible parts of physalis from bitterness, they must be rinsed with boiling water before cooking.

We present to your attention interesting recipe, which will definitely not leave you indifferent and will allow you to appreciate wonderful taste physalis.

Vegetable stew with physalis. For one serving you will need 250 g of vegetable fruits, 100 g of fresh carrots, onions, a little parsley, celery, parsnips, taken in equal quantities, 1-2 cloves of garlic, a bunch of dill, olive oil, salt and pepper. Physalis berries are peeled and scalded with boiling water, mixed with chopped carrots, onions and herbs and fried in olive oil. Then add finely chopped garlic, dill, salt and pepper to taste and fry for another 1 minute. Serve chilled.

Once I discovered unusual taste physalis, you will definitely want to add this vegetable crop to your diet and you will be absolutely right: when correct use The fruits of earthen cranberries will not only bring gastronomic pleasure, but will also bring a lot of benefits to the body.

Physalis, the beneficial properties of which are described in the article, comes from Central and South America. It came to Russia at the same time as tomatoes, but did not become widespread. IN Lately Interest in this fruit has increased; in addition to its excellent taste, it can bring a lot of health benefits.

Physalis - beneficial properties for the body

Physalis is a relative of the tomato from the Solanaceae family. Often used for decorative purposes. There was an interesting custom in France: if a woman became pregnant, she presented her man with a bouquet of physalis. There are two types edible physalis. One is vegetable physalis or Peruvian gooseberry and strawberry physalis, which is more popular in Russia.

Physalis contains:

1. A large amount of vitamin C, which accelerates recovery from various infectious diseases.
2. Nicotinic acid or vitamin PP, which regulates cholesterol levels in the blood.
3. B vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the central nervous system.
4. Lots of potassium, a sodium antagonist that promotes excretion excess liquid from the body, relieves swelling and lowers blood pressure.
5. Beta-carotene and lycopene prevent prostate cancer.

In addition, the fruits contain plant fibers, they help remove toxins and harmful substances from the body and improve intestinal motility.

What diseases does physalis help with?

Juice fresh plant They treat all kinds of wounds, make lotions and compresses.

Physalis has medicinal properties:

• diuretic;
• choleretic;
• painkillers;
• antiseptic.

Physalis is used for the following diseases:

• pyelonephritis;
• Botkin's disease, cholecystitis;
• constipation in old age;
• rheumatism;
• skin inflammation;
• hypertension.

There are decorative varieties of physalis with beautiful orange lanterns. You can't eat them because great content toxic substances.

Traditional medicine recipe

In folk medicine, physalis berries are valuable medicine. They are used to prepare decoctions for drinking and ointments for external use.

To prepare the decoction, simmer dry fruits (20 g) for 10 minutes over low heat in half a liter of boiling water. Drink 50 ml up to five times a day, before meals. The decoction helps with kidney diseases, fever, rheumatism, and is used as a painkiller.

For rheumatism, you can make an ointment from physalis - dry the fruits, burn them, mix the ash with vegetable oil, and smear sore joints.

There is another way to prepare the ointment. It will require 1 tsp. fresh, crushed physalis fruits and 2 tbsp. l. olive oil. The components are mixed and infused dark place 20 days, then filtered and used for wound healing, with inflammatory processes and joint pain.

Physalis is an annual or perennial the nightshade family with a characteristic, easily recognizable appearance of berries that have round shape and placed in boxes of brightly colored inflorescences orange color. There are different types physalis, but all of them are very beneficial for the body. Poisonous physalis is often confused with the inedible parts of this plant - in particular, the sepals, which look like a paper Chinese lantern and surround the physalis berry, are inedible and poisonous. Dangerous alkaloids were also found in the roots of this plant.

Is it possible to get poisoned by physalis?

Like other members of the nightshade family, physalis contains substances that in large quantities can cause negative reactions . What kind of substances are these, is physalis edible or not?

Tomatoes and potatoes, for example, which are also in the nightshade family, contain solanine, and eggplants contain solanine-M. Physalis also contains a substance called physalin.

Physaline is a non-toxic alkaloid and carotenoid found in large quantities in physalis. It gives the berry a bitter taste and an orange-red color.

Like the solanine content in potatoes and tomatoes, the physalin content in the physalis berry depends on the main factor - the degree of ripening of the fruit. The more ripe the fruit, the less bitter it is and the more suitable it is for eating. Therefore, to the question whether physalis is poisonous or not, the answer mainly lies in the method of its use. Indeed, with skillful use, you can also use the leaves and roots of this plant, which in their usual form can be dangerous, but contain valuable medicinal properties, which can be extracted.

There are also different varieties of physalis, which are divided mainly into decorative and edible:

• decorative “Chinese lanterns” are small in shape and bright orange in color. They are widely known in Russia as a decorative element used by confectioners to decorate cakes and other products. This berry has a bitter taste, although it is fully ripe. This variety is not edible due to its bitterness, but there is no scientific evidence of its toxicity;
• edible varieties have more large fruits, and the color of ripe berries can vary from yellow to red. There are many varieties of such fruits that have a pleasant sweet and sour taste. Popular are pineapple, strawberry, vegetable physalis, as well as other varieties.

However, it should be remembered that any type of physalis is best consumed when ripe, since green fruits can lead to minor digestive upset. It is very simple to distinguish a ripe fruit: the sepals surrounding the berry, as soon as it is ripe, dries out and bursts. This is the main sign that the berry is ready to eat. Physalis makes very tasty jams and preserves; it is dried, boiled, pickled, salted, added to seasonings and eaten raw.

Common physalis grows easily in central Russia; it can be stored in winter time– to do this, you should not peel the berries from the boxes in which they ripen. Physalis (ordinary) decorative has small round fruits 1-2 cm in size and a capsule that covers the berry with a beautiful triangle.

Like the berries of other varieties of physalis, common physalis has a film on the surface of the berry with a sticky composition that tastes bitter. It is difficult to wash off with water and has a waxy texture. Due to their small size, decorative physalis berries contain a more concentrated substance called physalin, which gives the fruit a bitter taste. Ornamental physalis also contains other toxic compounds.. Because of these properties, the fruits are not recommended for consumption.

The so-called vegetable physalis, or Mexican physalis, is the most common type of edible physalis, although not the only one. Edible physalis is available in various varieties and is an edible plant species.. Due to bigger size and selection with different plants received different varieties - “Sugar Miracle”, “Plum Jam” and a lot of others are widely known. Such berries make very delicious dishes, and in the form of jam, this berry is more reminiscent of figs, and in savory dishes it goes well with vegetables, which makes physalis an excellent ingredient for a salad or side dish.

Physalis poisoning is possible only if misuse This fruit cannot be eaten unripe.

In addition to signs of ripening, you can also distinguish edible physalis from inedible ones by taste: an inedible fruit will have an unpleasant bitterness. You should also be sure to wash the fruits before cooking, preferably in hot water. The berry has a sticky, waxy coating that gives it a bitter taste - it needs to be washed off with water.

What are the benefits of physalis?

Bright juicy fruits have a number of advantages - a sour taste that perfectly quenches thirst, and a lot of useful properties for any occasion. Edible physalis is beneficial for the body, as it has the richest food composition: it contains a considerable content of organic acids - ascorbic, succinic, malic, tartaric, citric. Contains useful for bone tissue pectin, large amounts of carotene, protein. This Berry is a source of bioflavonoids, it contains essential for health minerals and complex important vitamins. Has an antioxidant effect.

The plant is used in folk medicine and homeopathy as a diuretic, choleretic, hemostatic, antiseptic and analgesic. Effective for rheumatism, diseases respiratory tract and urinary system.

To preserve the rich composition, the berries are taken raw. For medicinal purposes, they are used to make juices, decoctions, and tinctures. The roots and leaves of the plant are also used for treatment, as they contain a large amount of useful substances.

Beneficial features fetuses are also indispensable for anemia, hypertension, for the treatment painful menstruation, rheumatism, dermatosis. Modern medicine uses this remedy as a multivitamin and dietary complex that can give the body the necessary microelements and provide it with adequate nutrition.

Decoction of fruits in complex therapy used for treatment urolithiasis . The juice of the berries is used for wounds; they have regenerative properties and are suitable for the treatment of other skin lesions - lichen, gout.

Vitamin and mineral composition physalis is as follows:

• vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6, B12, PP;
• trace elements magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium and zinc.

Thus, regular use of physalis will provide the body with the necessary substances that cause it normal work, and, consequently, immunity and overall well-being will improve.

Growing and care

Although physalis is originally a South American plant, its production is also possible in central Russia. We grow both decorative and edible varieties of this plant.

This plant is very picky about temperature and loves a lot of sun and low humidity.. However, this plant cannot be called picky - when proper care it can grow up to a meter in height, and supply the winter cellar with a variety of dishes - both sweet and savory, such as caviar or pickles.

Growing and caring for edible physalis does not require special knowledge. It is enough to purchase and plant seeds, fertilize the soil and take care of the limestone content in its composition. Here are some secrets of planting on your site:

• the seeds should not be contaminated with soil - then the plant will not get sick;
• do not plant different varieties in the same soil - they can interbreed and bear deformed fruits;
• on waterlogged and acidic soil it grows poorly and often gets sick;
• loves a large amount of ash and humus;
• Seeds should be germinated after disinfection and placed in a damp cloth;
• seedlings, before planting in open ground prefers a cool temperature - ideally about 17 degrees Celsius, frequent ventilation is necessary;
• Frequent watering is needed only during the growth period, when the plant has grown, watering should be reduced.

Physalis will be very useful at any time of the year and, in addition to gastronomic variety, will help cope with vitamin deficiency, strengthen the immune system, the berries also remove toxins from the body and heavy metals due to the unique elements included in it.

Contraindications and side effects

Contraindications for use can also be extensive - this includes intolerance to the berry and an allergy to one or more chemical substances in its composition - for example, a carotenoid. The content of organic acids in the composition can adversely affect stomach diseases associated with high acidity - in this case there may be heartburn. Despite the fact that this berry is successfully used to treat gastritis, normalization acid-base balance in the gastrointestinal tract and other types of diseases of the stomach and intestines, it should be used with caution by people with high acidity.

Physalis can be both useful when used in small quantities, and can become a culprit of poisoning if the berry is consumed excessively. Positive influence on the body is beyond doubt, however, only those varieties that, during the selection process, were bred specifically for their safe use for food. The low content of toxic and harmful compounds in their composition became possible thanks to the artificial breeding of the crop by selecting forms and types of plants. When using wild plant species for food, poisoning is possible, up to severe conditions . In addition, we must not forget that during the ripening process the amount of physalin sharply decreases, which increases the safety of ripe fruits and potential harm in immature ones.

Conclusion

You can distinguish edible types of physalis from inedible ones by taste - the pulp of the fruit should not have a strong bitter taste, but a slight bitterness may be present. The main taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, pleasant fresh, aroma with notes of strawberries and other berries. The bitterness from the pulp should not be confused with the waxy film around the berry, which also has a bitter taste and is characteristic of edible and inedible varieties. The berries must be washed in plenty of water to remove the film. Moreover, if you wash the berries in hot water, although this effective method, then you can notice a changed taste to a more sour one.

Only ripe fruits are used for food., which are ripe to orange or red (depending on the variety) and their capsule is completely dry. Poisonous elements of the plant - roots, leaves and inflorescences - should not be used as food, since the inedible part of the plant contains many dangerous compounds.

Physalis is often called a tomato because its fruits are similar to those of a tomato, and the plant itself belongs to the nightshade family.

It reaches a height of one meter.

Its berries are securely covered with a yellow-orange cover, which is compared to a Chinese lantern.

Short description

The cover is obtained from united sepals.

Their growth outpaces the growth of the fruits, and when they finally ripen, they change color.

The flowers of the plant come in different shades:

• bright yellow,
• deep orange,
• milky white (rare),
• lilac.

The fruits, which look like small tomatoes, have very different colors and tastes:

• from greenish-yellow to orange;
• from a pleasant sweet taste (similar to grape, pineapple and strawberry)
• until bitter and spicy.

There are two edible types of physalis:

• strawberry,
• vegetable.

People call the plant differently, for example:

• sleepy grass,
• earthen cranberries,
• Jewish apple
• expensive,
• dog cherries.

Where is it found?

Physalis grows both in forests and in vegetable gardens. Selects sunlit open areas:

• edges,
• ravines.

Many gardeners consider physalis to be a weed and weed it out. Others, on the contrary, are grown as a vegetable for the table or for their attractive flowers.

Most often, physalis can be found in:

The fruits grow in Central Asian countries and in the Caucasus. In Russia, there is an inedible species of physalis - immortelle. It's easy to get poisoned by its berries.

Where is it used?

Some types of physalis that can be eaten are used in two areas - medicine and cooking. The fruits are used for jam and sauces.

They are prepared for the winter - salted in jars, pickled. They make delicious candied fruits and pie fillings.

Berries of individual varieties are dried and used as raisins. It tastes surprisingly similar to regular grape due to the sugar content in the composition.

Gourmet chefs add physalis juice in fish and meat dishes, and this significantly improves the taste of food. And the boiled fruits are used to decorate pastries and cakes.

Folk recipes

Edible Physalis- a very useful plant.

In all its components there is a huge amount of biologically active ingredients Therefore, both fruits and leaves, roots and even seeds are used in cooking and medicine.

The fruits of the plant are rich in sugars, vitamin C, pectin, and carbohydrates.

The leaves contain many flavonoids, carotenoids (about the benefits and harm raw carrots written in the article), steroids. The roots are used for their alkaloids. Oil is extracted from the seeds.

Berries have found use in medicine as a medicine with a wide spectrum of action. They:

• disinfect,
• stop the inflammation process,
• relieve pain.

The berries have a choleretic and diuretic effect.

They are often used to treat:

• respiratory tract ailments,
• lowering blood pressure (read about treatment with folk remedies),
• getting rid of dysentery,
• eliminating the symptoms of dermatosis.

If you take a decoction/tincture of physalis fruits, you can be cured of hepatitis, rheumatism and cystitis.

Using the tool you can:

• relieve swelling,
• remove kidney stones,
• overcome bronchitis and gout (),
• alleviate the pain of a bruise.

The roots are boiled in order to relieve cough and pain due to colds and other diseases. With their help, menstruation is restored, the cycles of which have gone astray.

From leaves and covers, in which the fruits are dressed, are prepared healing teas for hypertensive patients.

If you have gonorrhea, dysentery or dermatosis develops, drink juice and eat fresh physalis fruits.

These same parts of the plant cope with respiratory diseases.

Residents Central Asia Physalis fruits are used to treat anemia and are recommended for older people who experience age-related constipation.

Lovers traditional medicine It is advised to eat fresh, washed fruits without any processing, 5-10 pieces several times a day on an empty stomach.

Patients with high blood pressure traditional healers Prescribe teas brewed on the leaves and shells of fruits.

Bulgarians prepare decoctions of physalis berries and drink them to cure:

• gout and jaundice,
• relieve back pain due to rheumatism and gastrointestinal colic,
• make urination easier,
• eliminate hemorrhoids.

For those diagnosed with cholecystitis, it is also recommended to take fruit decoctions physalis.

Treatment of children

Residents of the village of Garm, Republic of Tajikistan, interestingly treat their children with physalis.

They extract the juice of the plant, and grind the fruits into pulp.

Then combine these components with milk and place on low heat. The prepared and slightly cooled drink is given to children suffering from laryngitis, tonsillitis or stomatitis.

According to Tajik doctors, taking the medicine 3-4 times a day cures the child in just four days. And if you continue treatment even after full recovery, the disease will not come again.

When to collect

In ancient times, people specifically went to the forests to collect physalis fruits: they were eaten to cure diseases of the endocrine and digestive systems.

Beneficial features

The ancient scientist and doctor Ibn Sina argued that physalis is similar in properties to nightshade.

Today, physalis is used to treat stomach and ulcers. duodenum, diabetes mellitus, cholecystitis and hypertension. It is used as a multivitamin.

To get the effect, you need to consume only fresh and ripe physalis fruits. If they are small in size, then you can eat 15 pieces at a time, and if the berries are large, then 5-6 pieces. Eat a quarter of an hour before meals.

For those who have increased acidity gastric juice, other dosages:

• Eat 5-7 small fruits or 2-3 large ones right before meals.

Gradually, if your health improves, the portions are increased to 8-15 berries.

Physalis fruits are used and how homeopathic remedy. They treat urolithiasis.

One edible berry contains 53 kilocalories. The fruit contains 11.2 grams of carbohydrates, much less protein - about two grams, and fat - 0.7 grams.

How to grow physalis, which can both feed and cure, watch in the proposed video.