Physalis: what is it, useful properties and application features. Useful properties of physalis for humans

Useful properties of physalis are not known to everyone. Most gardeners breed this plant on their "six acres" in decorative purposes. But besides the ability to decorate autumn bouquet, physalis is also distinguished by the presence of useful properties.

Benefit

This representative of the flora is often called dog cherry, bladder, marunka. The plant can grow up to 1 meter in height. It has abundantly branching and creeping shoots. Its stems are curved at an angle, and the leaves are ovoid in shape. Physalis fruit is juicy, round shape red or rich berries orange color. They are located inside the swollen cup-flashlight. Physalis grows in many parts of the world and is unpretentious.

Along with an interesting appearance, the beneficial properties of physalis have long attracted the attention of lovers of traditional medicine. This plant can be purely ornamental, such as common physalis. It is so bitter that it is not used for food. But food species (Mexican tomato, vegetable physalis) have beneficial properties and sweet-tasting fruits.

Useful properties of the plant:

• In its raw form, it has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic effect.
• Berries are an excellent hemostatic agent and are recommended for hemorrhoids, heavy menstruation.
• Physalis is also known as a good choleretic and diuretic.
• Regular consumption of physalis berries in food prevents the formation of stones in the kidneys and gallbladder.
• Berries contribute to the release of sand and already formed stones from the kidneys.
• Physalis refers to dietary products, which allows it to be included in the diet of people suffering from metabolic disorders, obesity and diabetes.
• It is recommended for such diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer.
• Useful properties of the plant help to normalize blood pressure hypertensive patients.
• Since ancient times, the berries of the plant have been prescribed as food for patients with epilepsy.
• The fruits show harmonious combination vitamins, nutrients and micronutrients. Their balance helps to increase the body's defenses, making it able to fight existing diseases. For this reason, physalis is often included in the menu of people who have had serious illnesses.
• For female body delicate bright berries of this plant have irreplaceable properties. They help to defeat pyelonephritis, cystitis, diseases of the reproductive organs.
• The properties of physalis contribute to the treatment of anemia, dermatoses, dysentery, gonorrhea, and respiratory diseases.
• Physalis treats rheumatism, gout, dropsy.
• The plant has proven itself as an antitussive.

The presence in the diet of food physalis, the beneficial properties of which are diverse, will help normalize the work of the whole organism.

There is the amount of organic acids necessary for a person, antioxidants (pectin, lycopene), fiber. The plant also contains a lot of tannins and steroids. And the presence of quartzetin in the pulp of the berry makes it an excellent diuretic and antihistamine.

Physalis, the benefits of which are obvious, is also distinguished by the presence of proteins, phytoncides, and non-toxic alkaloids. Organic acids such as citric, malic, tartaric, and succinic acids have been found here. In addition to berries, a rich composition of flavonoids, caratonoids and steroids is found in the roots, stems and leaves of plants. All this makes it capable of beneficially influencing not only internal state organism. Physalis, thanks to the healing and strengthening of organs and immunity, can significantly improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

Daily consumption of physalis fruit will help meet the body's needs for vitamins and minerals. The plant perfectly affects the acid-base balance. It improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, which always improves the complexion and prevents the formation of wrinkles and pigmentation.

Harm

A plant such as physalis is widespread in our country. Everyone should know what its benefits and harms are. Food (berry, vegetable) physalis, must be eaten in fresh, previously doused with boiling water. The fact is that the sticky coating on the seeds of the plant can lead to indigestion, so it must be completely washed off.

It should be remembered that the ground parts of the physalis are poisonous. For this reason, the use of decoctions, for example, for the treatment of lichen, should be carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations of a specialist. In physalis, the bract is also poisonous. So, before eating berries, making jam from them or making juices, they should be thoroughly cleaned.

In physalis, the aerial part and covers of the fruits are extremely poisonous. They contain feselin and alkaloids that are highly toxic. Therefore, you can not use these parts of the plant as a medicine at home. Traditional medicine and pharmacology have found many ways to use the beneficial substances found in the stems and leaves of physalis. Today in pharmacies you can find tinctures and ointments based on extracts from this plant. However, their treatment must be prescribed and carried out by a specialist.

calories

100 g of physalis fruits have only 32 kcal. One fresh berry weighs an average of about 22-25 g.

Physalis calorie table:

Contraindications

Physalis is contraindicated in people with high acidity of the stomach. It is a dietary fruit and is close in composition to multivitamin complexes. Therefore, 2-3 berries per day can be eaten by children from 3 years old and pregnant women. But you need to remember that the ground parts of the plant are very poisonous. Tinctures from them should not be rubbed into the area of ​​sore spots for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 12 years of age.

The nutritional value

The beneficial properties of physalis are provided by the composition of the plant.

Table nutritional value in grams (g) per 100 g of fruit:

Since, on average, 2200 kcal per day is enough for a healthy adult, 100 g of physalis berries (32 kcal) are about 1.63% of the daily norm.

Vitamins and minerals

Table of vitamins in physalis fruits:

Eating 3-4 physalis berries a day will have a beneficial effect on the appearance and general well-being of each person. This product contains a small amount of calories, which makes it a possible participant in many diets. It can be grown independently in the garden, it gets along well next door to gooseberries and currants.

Distance and the imperfections of logistics have deprived humanity of many opportunities throughout its history. But today, any resident of a metropolis who wants to can enjoy fruits grown thousands of kilometers away, wear clothes made in another country and use a car assembled on a neighboring continent. In such a situation, physalis will not surprise anyone that this can be found in the nearest supermarket.

Difficulties with the delivery of goods

Communication has never been perfect:

• For thousands of years, goods have been transported by rivers and seas. Shipping has been one of the least expensive methods of transporting goods.
• The profession of a merchant has always been a profitable business. Under such conditions, "cheating" by 2-3 times did not bother anyone.
• On the way, accompanying the caravan, one could die. Not only from raids of robbers, no one canceled infectious diseases.
• For the successful conduct of business, it was necessary to know the peculiarities of a foreign culture, the languages ​​​​and dialects of the neighbors.

The whole economic system, in a simplified version, was something like this:

1. The manufacturer sells his goods a little more than the cost price to merchants.
2. Merchants send caravans to distant and not very lands to resell at a higher price.
3. New trade routes and markets are in the process.
4. Competition pushes the development of technological progress.

Sounds just fine, if you forget about robberies, death rates and banal economic failures.

poisonous physalis

Decorative goods have always been in vogue, no matter what it is about. The same physalis is not ubiquitous throughout the globe, suitable for its growth:

• Bulgaria.
• Caucasus.
• Iraq.
• Central Russia.
• South America.

For other regions, this is just an outlandish fruit that you want to try if only because there is not a single similar plant within a radius of hundreds of kilometers.

Physalis is a representative of the nightshade family, popularly called it " Chinese lantern for the appearance of the berries.

Why flashlight? Due to a kind of cover covering it from all sides, which looks like paper "lanterns". In fact, berries are more like tomatoes familiar to us, only yellow color.

Physalis growing in our country unfit for food. Is not ornamental plant, it is not used for food or medicinal purposes. And all because of the toxic substances contained in the berries.

Eating them can be a reason to call an ambulance, so culinary delights will have to be abandoned.

In this video, Tamara Mazova will tell you what physalis grown in the country tastes like:

Can you eat Physalis?

The berries of the plant are edible, but only if if they are not collected on the territory of Russia. In our area, physalis absorbs not only the best of the vast expanses, but also toxins. Therefore, having stumbled upon the edge and seeing a familiar plant, you should not rejoice, and even more so - pick berries and try to cook something from them.

If you want to please yourself and your loved ones with an unusual dish, it is better to visit the nearest supermarket:

1. The berries sold there are edible.
2. Depending on the exporting country taste qualities product.
3. Before buying, it is better to try a little to make sure that this is exactly what you are looking for.
4. Physalis is not only possible, but even needs to be washed.

Culinary use depends, first of all, on the taste of the berries themselves. Sweet can be put on the filling for pies and pies, but bitter ones will go for various sauces and as seasonings.

Physalis contains many useful substances. You should first make sure that the product was bought in a store, and not collected in the nearest blueberry. For such an oversight, you can pay with your health. In this case, the economy really "turns sideways."

Physalis - benefit and harm

Doctors say that berries have the following effects:

• Anti-inflammatory.
• Aseptic.
• Immunomodulating.
• Hemostatic.
• Painkillers.
• Diuretic.
• Cholagogue.

All of them are really available, but not as pronounced as we would like. Therefore, doctors do not treat with fruits or berries alone, prescribing a whole mountain of pills for this.

But eating physalis, in the presence of chronic pain or constant nosebleeds, can get things off the ground.

This is facilitated by the berries included in the composition:

1. Vitamin C.
2. Lemon acid.
3. Carotene.
4. Phytoncides.

The list of positive effects can give false hope. You should not fully rely on these berries, they can have some slight effect only if you follow the appropriate diet, take prescribed drugs and follow medical prescriptions.

A few words need to be said about reverse side medals." On the territory of Russia, physalis grows wild, its fruits are toxic and dangerous to the body. They should not be eaten in any form. if you don't want to get food poisoning.

What is physalis?

Physalis belongs to the nightshade family and grows in Bulgaria, the Caucasus and South America. This is herbaceous plant gives the world its berries, covered with a kind of cover, which at first glance can be mistaken for " chinese lantern". This is where its second name comes from.

The peeled berry looks like small tomato yellow color. But the taste depends on the degree of maturity and the region in which the physalis grew.

The product is used in cooking:

• Sweet berry pie filling will help surprise guests.
• A good option for exotic jams. You can indulge yourself on cold winter evenings.
• The sauce for any dish will look much more interesting.
• Juice is best added to meat when cooking.
• Dried and candied berries are a real treat.

In traditional medicine, physalis is not used, but doctors periodically recommend including it in the diet due to its positive effects. The most pronounced anti-inflammatory, choleretic and diuretic.

Enjoy exotic berries today everyone can, just by finding physalis in the nearest supermarket, what our grandparents were not even aware of. If you haven't been to Central Asia. And here we can admire yet another advantage of progress.

Video: how physalis grows

In this video, Margarita will talk about the "pineapple" variety of physalis, show the harvest of these unusual berries:

Our country is distinguished by its natural diversity and richness of the healing properties of plants, but it is worth learning about interesting representatives of the flora of other countries and continents that can be grown in our conditions. One of these plants is physalis, the largest species diversity which grows in the countries of South and Central America. It is known to most people for its orange or bright red berries, similar to Chinese paper lanterns.

Physalis (from the Latin Physalis - bubble) is a genus of plants close to tomatoes of the nightshade family. It is popularly known under the names "emerald berry", "earth cranberry", "bubble", "marunka", "dog cherry". Many people know it as a decorative element with bright lanterns that are fused sepals. After flowering, the calyx grows faster than the fetus, forming a natural defense. In the homeland of origin (South America), the "case" protects the ripening berries from the hot sun. After maturation, it dries up and changes color.

What does it look like

Physalis - perennial, which every year gives new angularly curved upright shoots up to 1 m high from the root. root system branched, with woody creeping processes, therefore physalis grows in large bushes. The leaves are ovate, soft, serrated at the edges. From the bud emerges a pale yellow, five-lobed flower that resembles a bell. After flowering, a spherical fruit appears, which immediately closes with sepals that form a bell-shaped calyx with triangular teeth.

When ripe, the color of the calyx changes from light green to red, orange or purple, depending on the variety, the place where the plant grows. Ripe berries change color from green to bright yellow or orange. By appearance very similar to cherry tomatoes. Inside they are fleshy, with scattered bones. There are berry and vegetable varieties of physalis, so many summer residents know it as a berry, unpretentious, well-bearing plant. In addition to decorative functions, it is eaten, healing properties are used in medicine.

Where does it grow

Physalis native habitats are South and Central America - from here it was introduced to North America and Southern Europe. The species "Physalis vulgaris" showed resistance to cold snaps, due to which it spread to China and Japan, here it was recognized as one of the important decorative elements on holidays. The ability to tolerate cold has made perennial growth possible in countries with temperate climate. In the conditions of Russia, varietal cultivation is carried out through seedlings into a fertile soil mixture for tomatoes and peppers.

Types of Physalis

There are about 120 varieties of physalis, common feature which is a 5-10 lobed flower. When ripe, it takes on different bright colors, which remain after drying and are used for decorative purposes when creating flower arrangements, bouquets. Berries ornamental varieties vesicles have a bitter taste, are not used for cooking. This is one of the few plants whose edible varieties include berry and vegetable varieties. In terms of texture and taste, they are more like vegetables, but in terms of the biological structure of the bush, they are more like berries.

Decorative

The cultivation of ornamental varieties of physalis dates back to 1894. Ornamental physalis has the names Alkekengi (Physalis alkekengi) or Franchet (Physalis francheti), was named after Rene Franchet. French botanist pioneered the study this plant. The basis of decorative interest in the variety are even flowers-lanterns with a diameter of 6-7 cm. On a stem up to 90 cm long, 10-15 lanterns can be located. The fruits of ornamental varieties are poisonous, so they are not suitable for food.

food

Eaten varieties of bladder are divided into vegetable and berry varieties. Vegetable or Mexican, glutinous, Physalis ixocarpa Brot. used raw and for canning, cooking. The Mexican physalis fruit has a bitter-tasting sticky film that is easily removed by blanching (dissolving in hot water). Berry varieties are Peruvian (Physalis peruviana), strawberry (Physalis pubescens). They do not have a bitter adhesive film, they are used for making jams, compotes.

Physalis edible

Edible varieties of bladderwort do not have such bright colors cap, as in ornamental varieties. The berry is large, has a bright sweet taste, without heat treatment can be used by children and adults. The most famous edible varieties are:

• Strawberry;
• Pineapple;
• Confectioner;
• Plum jam.

To understand the usefulness of the plant, it is worth analyzing the composition of fruits that contain sugar, pectins, quercetin, tannins, phytoncides, citric, malic, succinic, tartaric, sinapic, ferulic and coffee organic acids. In addition, berries are a multivitamin complex rich in trace elements (thiamine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus) and include:

• 32 calories per 100 g;
• cholesterol - 0%;
• potassium - 8%;
• Vitamin C - 20%;
• Vitamin K - 13%;
• Vitamin B6 - 3%;
• Vitamin A - 2%.

What is useful

The beneficial properties of physalis are complemented by a wide range of healing components of the remaining parts of this plant. The roots contain several types of alkaloids - pseudotropine, tegloidin, tropine, kuskigrin. The leaves are saturated with steroids - sitosterol, campesterol and isofucosterol. Some varieties contain carotenoids - alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin ester, cryptoxanthin, physoxanthin. The seeds can yield up to 25% fatty oil.

All parts of the plant are widely used for the creation of therapeutic and prophylactic preparations in traditional medicine. Medicines based on physalis have the following healing properties:

• have diuretic and choleretic properties;
• relieve inflammation, anemia;
• have a hemostatic, antiseptic, analgesic effect;
• help against hypertension, stomach ulcers, chronic cholecystitis, hypoacid gastritis;
• are used to prevent metabolic disorders.

The fruits of the bladder contain antioxidants that prevent the mutation of healthy cells and degeneration in oncological diseases. To maximize the use of all the healing components of the plant at home, you can cook:

• decoction of physalis fruits - for the treatment of kidney diseases, nephrolithiasis, bladder, gout, for the treatment of bronchitis, tracheitis, cough, other respiratory diseases, for pain attacks, spasms of the stomach, intestines;
• diuretic tea - with cholelithiasis, cystitis;
• fresh fruit juice - used externally for fungal skin diseases;
• liniment based on physalis - in the treatment of rheumatism;
• wine tincture - in the treatment of kidney diseases;
• alcohol tincture- for the treatment and prevention of rash, fungal skin diseases.

The word "physalis" will hardly evoke clear associations for anyone, but many at least once in their lives have seen branches with unusual dried flowers in the form of orange lanterns, where round berries are hidden. AT winter bouquets, as an independent decoration of the house and at the cottages of enthusiastic gardeners, physalis looks very impressive, however, some varieties of this plant are also very tasty and extremely useful.

Physalis is a plant from the nightshade family; in appearance, its berries immediately resemble both and cherry tomatoes. He received an unusual “name” from the Greek “physo” (bubble) for an unusual swollen cup, and this unusualness was immediately appreciated by the people. Bladderberry, bubble grass and bubble cherry, dog cherry, mashnukha, mahunk berry and sleepy datura (due to alkaloids in the bracts) are all physalis, known in the West as the golden berry and the Inca berry.

A bit of history

An old romantic tale tells about the origin of physalis. In ancient times, a cruel dragon appeared in the world, swallowed the sun, and the earth, being in complete darkness, began to die. But then a young daredevil showed up and went to kill the dragon, taking with him a small flashlight. The dragon was defeated, the sun was freed and immediately rose, and the young man, blinded by the light, dropped his lamp in surprise. And in its place immediately grew a bush, dotted with small orange lanterns of physalis.

This tale was apparently invented by the ancient Incas. It is believed that they were the first to grow and use physalis - its beneficial properties are most valued in South America. Later, this plant was brought to North America, then, with English settlers, to Africa. In America, physalis grows almost at every turn, it is popular as a medicine and a component of many national dishes, and in the USA bright lanterns of decorative physalis invariably make compositions for the holidays.

In Russia, physalis appeared in early XIX century, at the same time as its closest relative - tomatoes, but did not receive special recognition. In the 20th century, interest in the vesicle woke up again - it turned out that it can grow almost anywhere, but the beneficial properties of physalis could not be fully used.

For a long time, only decorative physalis was popular - in Soviet homes and even in institutions. all year round one could see dried dark orange bouquets with lantern flowers made as if from tissue paper. But there are still edible varieties- and today we are increasingly beginning to remember about healing power, fragrant jam, candied fruits and physalis caviar.

Varieties of Physalis

There are 3 main types of physalis, within which there are several separate varieties. This is:

• decorative (not used for food);
• vegetable (Mexican origin);
• berry (South American origin).

Although for a long time the bubble was used precisely as ornamental shrub, today edible physalis is increasingly grown - its beneficial properties are valued both in home kitchen recipes and in medical ones.

Physalis vegetable varieties after a short heat treatment are added to salads, canned food and soups, pickled and salted berries, make spicy caviar and stuffing for pies, sauces and jams. In folk medicine, the fruits are also used precisely vegetable physalis- decoction, juice, infusion of dried physalis berries, fruit ointment. Sweets are harvested from berry varieties - jams, jams and marmalade, fruit marshmallows and sweets from physalis, often dried, getting similar to small berries.

Since physalis belongs to the nightshade family, it is propagated, like tomatoes, seedling way. Whether it is decorative, vegetable or berry physalis - growing from seeds is done the same way - in the spring they plant the seeds in moist soil and keep warm until germination, then transfer to a bright place. When the first leaves of physalis begin to appear, the plant is transplanted - first into small cups, then into larger pots. And only then the bubbler is planted in open ground.

The main thing - do not plant physalis where tomatoes, peppers and potatoes used to grow - it will be difficult to develop. best land for the golden berry - where cabbage and root crops used to grow.

Healing properties

Physalis combines the best of sweet berries and juicy tomatoes; it is no coincidence that it looks like both cherries and tomatoes with many seeds inside.

Bubble cherries contain a lot of organic acids - malic, citric, tartaric, ferulic, coffee and synapic - sugars (up to 6%), tannins, a set of vitamins A and group B. Among the latter, B12 stands out - this vitamin is mainly found in red meat and fish, so physalis is especially recommended for vegetarians, who often lack natural vitamin B12.

As part of the golden berry, they bind well and remove radionuclides, salts from the body heavy metals, toxins ... And in physalis (its presence makes bubble berries related to tomatoes) it can work wonders - it helps to keep our immune system healthy, destroys free radicals, preventing the development of tumors in the body, removes "harmful", saving us from atherosclerosis. And lycopene strengthens the walls of blood vessels, rejuvenates the skin and normalizes digestion.

calories different varieties physalis - about 50 kcal, so it can be safely used both in regular diets and in medical ones. Salads and soups with physalis will help increase immunity in case of ulcers, gastritis and cholecystitis and improve the condition. With regulatory use, the bladder stimulates the body's ability to heal itself, therefore, during the recovery period after operations and illnesses, this berry is also recommended to be included in the menu.

Fresh physalis (primarily vegetable varieties) is used in folk medicine due to the following properties:

• hemostatic;
• painkillers;
• anti-inflammatory;
• choleretic;
• diuretic.

If you are growing on your suburban area physalis - the beneficial properties of this berry will be useful to you all year round. Decoctions and infusions from dried golden berries will alleviate the condition with urolithiasis and rheumatism, with tonsillitis and the usual cough.

With small wounds, diathesis, dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases, compresses and ointment from physalis berries will help. Fresh fruits of vegetable physalis are recommended to be eaten regularly before meals for hypertension, diabetes, stomach diseases and obesity.

Contraindications

Despite the fact that the physalis plant has long been known, its benefits and harms often caused controversy. controversial moment- These are poisonous alkaloids in physalis, which can seriously harm health. However, these substances are contained only in the outer shell and aboveground parts- if you carefully clean the fruits, no toxic compounds will get into them.

Physalis should be used with caution and those who have hyperacidity stomach. And, of course, be sure to check if you have an individual intolerance before feasting on fresh berries or fragrant sauces and physalis jam.