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

Physalis is a beautiful plant

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. The fruits of physalis 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, the fruits of physalis contain mineral and red coloring substances, lemon, tartaric, apple and amber. organic acids.

Physalis fruit

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 introducing healthy physalis fruits into your daily diet, 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, necessary for normal 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 – involved in metabolism, the formation of the skeleton and the functioning of the central 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 consumed 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 a 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.

Ripe berries - a dietary product

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 of the respiratory system, and inflammatory processes of the urinary tract. Decoction and water infusion Physalis fruit is used for bruises and swelling as compresses, as well as an analgesic and an 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

In traditional medicine, physalis berries 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. A single dose consists of 4-8 large or 10-15 small physalis berries. With increased acidity, the number of berries must be halved.

Physalis is used in traditional medicine

Contraindications

People with high acidity should use Physalis with extreme caution; they should start using one or two berries, gradually increasing their number. Physalis caps and leaves are used externally in the treatment of 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.

Physalis, a photo of which you have probably seen more than once, belongs to There are only two edible species - vegetable and strawberry physalis. The plant is also known as Peruvian gooseberry, strawberry tomato and ground cherry, or cranberry. Ornamental physalis is another variety of plant that cannot be eaten, however, having grown it on the site, you can use it as a decorative element in or for making bouquets. This article will tell you how to grow this useful and very original plant. It also contains several recipes for preparing various dishes from physalis.

Physalis, what is it: a berry or a vegetable?

Many gardeners who have just decided to get acquainted with physalis do not know which genus to classify this plant as: berries or vegetables? After all, care and cultivation will depend on which group it belongs to. What exactly is physalis? According to its biological structure, the plant is classified as a berry, but most summer residents know it as a vegetable. But in fact, it is not so important what exactly this wonderful product is, because its beauty and benefits are much more important than all this. So, we figured out the generic affiliation of the physalis species. What does this plant represent in terms of decorativeness and nutritional value? We'll talk about this a little later, but now let's get acquainted with the external data of the plant.

What does physalis look like?

How do you know that the flower you are offered to buy is definitely physalis? What kind of plant is this and what structural features does it have? To begin with, it is worth remembering that not many varieties and types of physalis can be purchased in the form of a potted crop. This plant is quite large: berry varieties reach 60 cm in height and have a creeping stem, while vegetable varieties grow up to one and a half meters. The leaves of most physalis varieties are oval, with slightly serrated edges. The flowers are small, pale yellow, with dark spots in the center, located at the base of young shoots. Even decorative physalis cannot boast bright inflorescences. But the yellow or bright orange fruits, hidden inside the bright lantern, which is the pericarp, are remembered for a long time. Depending on the variety, the color of the boxes with the fruit inside can vary from pale yellow to bright red. There are also varieties that differ in blue or other color of the berries.

Physalis varieties

The most common varieties of edible physalis are Peruvian and raisin, which are popularly known as vegetable and berry. A large number of other varieties can also be bought at any store, but these two have gained immense popularity among summer residents. Raisin physalis, a photo of which you can see below, is small in size and is loved by many gardeners for its compactness. It is this quality that allows it to be grown as a potted crop. Peruvian physalis is a very large plant, so it is unlikely to be grown indoors. In order for the harvest to ripen in mid-summer, raisin physalis must be planted 3-4 months before the expected harvest date, and Peruvian physalis even earlier - 5 months or more. Grown seedling method physalis gives bountiful harvests starting from mid-July.

The size of physalis fruits varies, it primarily depends on the variety:

• Berry varieties of physalis are always smaller than vegetable varieties. Thus, the fruit of strawberry physalis reaches a weight of 6-10 g. Other berry varieties are even smaller, their weight is on average 1-4 g.
• The largest-fruited among the vegetable varieties of physalis are considered to be Moskovsky early (up to 80 g), Large-fruited (up to 90 g) and Gruntovy Gribovsky (up to 60 g).
• Ornamental varieties of physalis have the smallest fruits - up to 2 g, but their amniotic cup size is the largest of all varieties and species.

Planting physalis

What do you need to know when growing physalis? That this plant is not as whimsical as it might seem at first glance. Despite the decorative and very unusual for garden crops species, physalis is similar in cultivation method to the ordinary and familiar tomato. The best place on the site for its successful growth and fruiting is selected in the same way as for tomatoes. Physalis is less demanding in relation to the amount of sunlight than other nightshades. Physalis planting scheme open ground depends on what type the variety belongs to: for vegetable physalis, 70x70 cm is suitable, and for berry ones - 60x60 cm. When grown in greenhouses and if there are trellises, you can plant physalis according to the pattern 50x70 cm (vegetable) or 30x70 (berry). It is better to plant physalis seedlings in the ground or greenhouse during the same period as tomatoes. Special attention You should pay attention to watering: in the first week, you need to moisten the soil abundantly, making sure that a crust does not form on it.

Plant care and formation

During plant growth, it is important to keep the bed clean from weeds, because close proximity to them can affect the development of the physalis bush. Ground cranberries or physalis do not need watering from the second half of summer, and are also not susceptible to various diseases characteristic of other nightshades. The plant practically does not need to form a bush, since the more it branches, the bigger harvest you can get it from him. This was influenced by exactly where the flowers are located. Physalis (photos of it are presented in the review) must be regularly pinched for better branching.

Chemical composition of fruits

Surely many of the readers will be interested in what nutritional value is characteristic of such a crop as physalis, what does this plant represent as a food product? You should immediately pay attention to the fact that you can eat vegetable and berry physalis, but decorative ones are not suitable for this due to small size berries and their low nutritional value. The fruits contain B vitamins (1, 2, 6 and 12), acids (malic, citric, succinic and many others), antioxidants, polyphenols, tannin and glucose. Despite such diversity nutrients, the calorie content of physalis is low and amounts to only 53 kcal for every 100 berries. This is what makes the fruit of this plant an excellent vitamin and dietary product.

The benefits and harms of physalis

The effect of the plant's fruits on the human body depends on how physalis is eaten - raw or cooked. When prepared, physalis fruits act as an excellent diuretic and choleretic agent, which helps not only reduce the risk of stones in the kidneys and gall bladder, but also get rid of existing stones. In addition, physalis has a mild analgesic, immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory effect. These properties of the product will be useful to those who have suffered a serious and long-term illness. Raw physalis fruits restore the normal functioning of the endocrine glands, and also promote recovery from hypertension, dysentery, gastrointestinal diseases and pyelonephritis.

The main contraindication to the use of physalis is individual intolerance to the product.

Use of physalis in cooking

Physalis can be used for cooking large quantity a variety of dishes: salads, hot and cold appetizers, desserts, pickles and even wine. The main rule is to always remove the capsule from the fruit, because this part of the plant is poisonous. The largest number of recipes using physalis are devoted to making jam. The fact is that both vegetable and berry physalis have a piquant flavor that goes well with many berries and fruits. In addition, physalis in jam can also be combined with zucchini, ginger and pumpkin.

As part of first and second courses, physalis can generally be used as a decoration or main component. It makes great-tasting casseroles, soups and sauces. To prepare snacks, in particular salads, you can use both fresh physalis berries and salted and even soaked fruits.

What to cook with physalis?

Let's give a few simple recipes preparing physalis at home.

1. Physalis compote. To prepare it, you will need well-washed and peeled physalis berries, sugar and water, a little citric acid, vanillin, and ginger to taste. First you need to prepare the syrup, for which you mix sugar and water in equal proportions and bring the mixture to a boil. Physalis fruits, boiled in advance for 5 minutes, are cooled in cold water and dipped in syrup (200 g of berries per 1 liter of syrup). After boiling, add citric acid and other flavoring additives.
2. Potato and physalis casserole. Peeled and washed physalis berries (about 500 g) are cut in half or left whole, depending on their size. Potatoes (500 g) are peeled, washed and cut into pieces corresponding to the size of the physalis. Mix the vegetables in a bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Then add leeks (200 g) cut into half rings and a little greenery to the mixture. The mixture is placed in a baking dish and placed in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 200-210 degrees. Then you need to pour any sauce over the almost finished vegetables and sprinkle with 150 g of grated hard cheese, leave in the oven at a temperature of 210-220 degrees until fully cooked.

3. The preparation of this product is not much different from pickling, for example, cucumbers. For 1 kg of berries you will need about 30 g of dill, 5 g each of horseradish, garlic and red hot pepper in pods, as well as a salt solution prepared at the rate of 50 g of salt per liter of water. Physalis and seasonings placed in a container are carefully poured with brine and left at room temperature for about a week, after which it is necessary to drain and boil the brine, then pour it hot again into the container with the berries. You can use salted physalis as an independent dish, as well as as a component of many salads.

Beneficial features Physalis is not known to everyone. Most gardeners grow this plant on their “six hundred square meters” for decorative purposes. But besides its ability to decorate an autumn bouquet, physalis is also distinguished by the presence of beneficial properties.

Benefit

This representative of the flora is often called dog cherry, bladderwort, 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 its leaves are ovoid in shape. The fruit of physalis is a juicy, round berry of red or rich orange color. They are located inside the swollen cup-lantern. Physalis grows in many parts of the world and is unpretentious.

Along with its interesting appearance, the beneficial properties of physalis have long attracted the attention of lovers of traditional medicine. This plant can be purely ornamental, for example the common physalis. It is so bitter that it is not used as 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, and antiseptic effect.
• The berries are an excellent hemostatic agent and are recommended for hemorrhoids and heavy menstruation.
• Physalis is also known as a good choleretic and diuretic.
• Regular consumption of physalis berries prevents the formation of stones in the kidneys and gall bladder.
• The berries help remove sand and already formed stones from the buds.
• Physalis belongs 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 gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, stomach ulcers, and duodenal ulcers.
• The beneficial properties of the plant help normalize arterial pressure hypertensive patients.
• Since ancient times, the berries of the plant have been prescribed as food for patients with epilepsy.
• The fruits contain a harmonious combination of vitamins, nutrients and microelements. Their balance helps to increase protective forces body, makes it able to fight existing diseases. For this reason, physalis is often included in the menu of people who have suffered serious illnesses.
• For the female body, the delicate bright berries of this plant have irreplaceable properties. They help defeat pyelonephritis, cystitis, and diseases of the reproductive organs.
• The properties of physalis help treat anemia, dermatoses, dysentery, gonorrhea, and respiratory diseases.
• Physalis is used to treat rheumatism, gout, and dropsy.
• The plant has proven itself well as an antitussive remedy.

The presence of food physalis in the diet, the beneficial properties of which are varied, will help normalize the functioning of the entire body.

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

Physalis, whose benefits are obvious, is also distinguished by the presence of proteins, phytoncides, and non-toxic alkaloids. Organic acids such as citric, malic, tartaric, and succinic were 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 the internal state of the body. 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 fruits will help meet the body's needs for vitamins and minerals. The plant has an excellent effect on the acid-base balance. It improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, which always improves 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 fresh, after dousing it with boiling water. The fact is that the sticky coating on the seeds of the plant can lead to stomach upset, so it must be completely washed off.

It should be remembered that the ground parts of 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 or making juice from them, you should clean them thoroughly.

In physalis aboveground part and fruit covers are extremely poisonous. They contain feseline and alkaloids that are highly toxic. Therefore, these parts of the plant cannot be used as medicine at home. Traditional medicine and pharmacology have found many ways to use the beneficial substances contained 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.

Calorie content

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

Physalis calorie table:

Contraindications

Physalis is contraindicated for people with high stomach acidity. It is a dietary fruit and is close in composition to multivitamin complexes. Therefore, 2-3 berries a day can be eaten by children over 3 years old and pregnant women. But you need to remember that the above-ground parts of the plant are very poisonous. Tinctures made from them should not be rubbed into the area of ​​sore spots by 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 of nutritional value in grams (g) per 100 g of fruit:

Since on average for an adult healthy person 2200 kcal per day is enough, then 100 g of physalis berries (32 kcal) is about 1.63% of the daily value.

Vitamins and minerals

Table of vitamins in physalis fruits:

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

Distance and logistical imperfections have deprived humanity of many opportunities throughout its history. But today, any resident of a metropolis can enjoy fruits grown thousands of kilometers away, wear clothes sewn in another country and use a car assembled on a neighboring continent. In such a situation, no one will be surprised by physalis, which can be found out in the nearest supermarket.

Difficulties with delivery of goods

Communications have never been perfect:

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

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

1. The manufacturer sells its goods to merchants at slightly more than cost.
2. Merchants send caravans to distant and not so distant lands in order to resell them 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 the robberies, death rates and banal economic failures.

Poisonous Physalis

Decorative products have always been in vogue, no matter what exactly it is about. The same physalis is not widespread throughout the globe; the following are 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 " Chinese lantern" behind appearance berries

Why a flashlight? Due to the peculiar cover covering it on all sides, which in appearance resembles paper “lanterns”. In fact, the berries are more similar to the tomatoes we are used to, only yellow color.

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

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

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

Is it possible to eat physalis?

The berries of the plant are edible, but only if if they are not collected in Russia. In our area, physalis absorbs not only the best from the vast expanses, but also toxins. Therefore, when you come across a forest edge and see a familiar plant, you shouldn’t be happy, much less 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. May depend on the exporting country taste qualities product.
3. It's best to sample some before purchasing to make sure it's what you're looking for.
4. Physalis is not only possible, but even necessary to wash.

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

Physalis contains many useful substances. You should first make sure that the product was purchased in a store and not collected from the nearest forest. You can pay for such an oversight with your health. In this case, the savings really “turn around”.

Physalis - benefits and harm

Doctors say that the berries have the following effects:

• Anti-inflammatory.
• Aseptic.
• Immunomodulatory.
• Hemostatic.
• Painkillers.
• Diuretic.
• Choleretic.

All of them are indeed present, but not as pronounced as we would like. That is why doctors do not treat with fruits or berries alone, but prescribe a whole mountain of tablets for this.

But eating physalis, in the presence of chronic pain or constant nosebleeds, can move things forward.

This is facilitated by the following components of the berries:

1. Ascorbic acid.
2. Lemon acid.
3. Carotene.
4. Phytoncides.

The list of positive effects may give false hope. You should not rely entirely on these berries; they can have some minor effect only if you follow an appropriate diet, take prescribed medications and follow medical instructions.

A few words need to be said about “ back side medals." In Russia, physalis grows wild; its fruits are toxic and dangerous to the body. They cannot 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 herbaceous plant gives the world its berries, covered with a peculiar sheath, which at first glance can be mistaken for “ chinese lantern" This is where its second name came from.

The peeled berry looks like a small yellow tomato. 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 your guests.
• A good option for exotic jam. You can please yourself on cold winter evenings.
• The sauce for any dish will look much more interesting.
• It is better to add juice to meat when cooking.
• Dried and candied berries are a real treat.

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

Today everyone can enjoy exotic berries by simply finding physalis in the nearest supermarket; our grandparents did not even know what it was. If you have never been to Central Asia. But we can admire yet another advantage of progress.

Video: how physalis grows

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

The birthplace of this herbaceous plant The nightshade family is located in South America. Before consuming physalis, the beneficial properties of which are truly multifaceted, you should know that most species are grown for decorative purposes. Amateur gardeners are attracted to compact bushes with white, lilac, yellow and orange flowers. The height of the stem can reach 1 meter; large, fleshy fruits are yellowish or bright orange in color.

Among the edible varieties, a distinction is made between vegetable and berry physalis. The fruits, the taste of which varies from bitter-burning to soft strawberry, are enclosed in a box formed from sepals, reminiscent in shape of those popular in China. paper lanterns.

The benefits of physalis and its harm to human health began to be studied in the mid-20s of the last century. Academician N.I. Vavilov believed that physalis is excellent for growing in the climatic conditions of Russia and proposed organizing large-scale production of this crop for the needs of Food Industry. Today edible fruits are used mainly for the synthesis of citric acid, and from decorative varieties obtain substances for dyeing textiles.

The benefits of physalis - 13 useful properties

Physalis fruits are rich potassium and sodium, which has a positive effect on blood composition and allows you to regulate glucose and insulin levels. In addition, under the influence of potassium, the lumens of blood vessels expand, the load on the heart decreases, and the supply of oxygen to organs improves. Due to its high fiber content, consuming physalis helps remove “bad” cholesterol from the body, which reduces the likelihood of atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attacks.

1. Prevention of oncological processes

   Physalis fruits contain components that act as antioxidants and have anticancer and antibacterial properties. Under the influence of these substances, mutation of healthy cells is prevented and their degeneration into tumor growths is blocked. Vitamins A and C in combination with flavonoids protect the body from lung and oral cancer.

2. Reducing the risk of joint diseases

   Physalis vegetable is one of the leaders in content vitamin C(15.4 mg per 100 g of pulp), which can cover the body’s daily need for vitamins by approximately 20%. The use of physalis is recommended for people suffering from joint pain, as well as for the prevention of gout, which occurs when there is excess uric acid.

3. Help in treating diabetes

   Physalis berries, whose beneficial properties include a high content of vitamins, can be included in the menu of patients diabetes mellitus. This will help regulate blood sugar levels, as well as increase the effectiveness of medications prescribed by a doctor for this disease.

4. Improved eye health

   The physalis plant is valued for its presence in its fruits. beta carotene, which is a derivative of vitamin A. By eating juicy berries, you can avoid vision problems such as cataracts and degeneration macular spot, clouding of the lens.

5. Strengthening the immune system

   Due to the content of large amounts of vitamin C, physalis will benefit the health of people prone to frequent colds and viral infections. With the intake of this vitamin in the body, the production of white blood cells is stimulated, which serves as protection against the invasion of foreign agents. Vitamin C increases the body's resistance to various diseases, accelerates metabolic processes, activates the production of collagen, which is responsible for maintaining the elasticity of the skin, blood vessels and muscle tissue.

6. Increased bone density

   So high content vitamin K Not a single vegetable or fruit can boast. Physalis, depending on the volume eaten, is able to satisfy the body's daily need for this vitamin from 10 to 25%. 100 grams of juicy berries contain 13.3 mcg of vitamin K, which is necessary to maintain bone health and prevent osteoporosis. Scientific research shows that vitamin K prevents bone demineralization, minimizing the risk of chronic diseases of the limbs and spine.

7. Normalization of digestion

   Like most vegetables, physalis is famous for its high fiber content. When using this delicious berries Digestion of food improves, manifestations of flatulence, bloating, constipation, cramps are eliminated, which can prevent the occurrence of stomach ulcers and colon cancer. In addition, plant fibers regulate the rate of release of simple sugars, which helps maintain optimal blood glucose levels.

8. Slowing down the aging process

   The benefits of edible physalis cover the harm caused to our body by free radicals. Thanks to the high content copper, when consuming the fruits of this plant, the condition of the skin improves, the appearance of wrinkles and age spots is prevented. In 100 grams of juicy pulp there is about 0.1 mg of copper, which corresponds to 11.5% of daily requirement organism in this microelement.

9. Accelerate wound healing

   Physalis berries, the beneficial properties of which can hardly be overestimated, are rich iron, which stimulates the formation of red blood cells in the blood and helps increase hemoglobin. Saturation of organs and tissues with oxygen increases the rate of cell regeneration, resulting in faster healing of postoperative wounds, household abrasions, scratches, burns and cuts.

10. Help with weight loss

    Physalis can be called an ideal product for people who want to get rid of extra pounds. The fruits of this plant, with a high content of vitamins and microelements, are low in calories. In addition, fiber stimulates digestion and metabolism, which is very important in the fight against excess weight.

11. The benefits of physalis for women's health

    According to medical research published in the American journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, manganese deficiency in the female body provokes the occurrence of premenstrual syndrome , expressed in mood swings, headaches and muscle pain, unmotivated depression. Eating physalis fruits will help compensate for manganese deficiency and thereby prevent PMS symptoms.

12. Useful properties of physalis for men

    The berries of edible physalis contain one of the important human body B vitamins – niacin. This element is responsible for the quality of enzymatic processes and helps break down food into components that increase the body’s energy balance. Thus, men who do not deny themselves the pleasure of eating physalis will be able to improve their physical performance, achieve high results in sports, work and other areas of everyday life.

How to use physalis - medicinal recipes

Edible Physalis fruits, fresh and dried, are used in the treatment of certain diseases. Here you will find the most popular recipes used in folk medicine to combat various ailments.

For influenza, bronchitis, laryngitis, mumps and orchitis

Prepare a decoction of dried small berries up to 4 cm in size, pour 9–15 grams of raw material into 1–1.5 cups hot water. The liquid must be brought to a boil, wait until it cools, and then strain through cheesecloth. Take the decoction in small sips 2-3 times a day.

For pneumonia

People who experience inflammatory processes in the lungs are recommended to drink a decoction of physalis, prepared according to the previous recipe, but less concentrated. For the same number of fruits, you need to double the volume of water.

For diabetes

To regulate the balance of glucose in the blood, it is recommended to take an infusion of several dried fruits brewed with a glass of boiling water. After drinking healing tea in the morning, do not throw away the berries - they can be brewed a second time.

For epilepsy

Physalis fruits can relieve the symptoms of this nervous system disease. To reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, it is enough to eat 8-10 fresh or dried berries daily.

Physalis - harm and contraindications

In addition to the beneficial properties, there are also contraindications to the use of physalis.

It must be remembered that medicinal infusions can be taken for a short time, no more than 10 days in a row. Then you need to take a break of 1–2 weeks.

For serious chronic diseases, consult your doctor before starting self-treatment.

Physalis can harm the body of people suffering from malfunctions of the thyroid gland, gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not include these berries in their diet.

Beware of eating physalis without making sure that you have an edible variety of this plant. Ornamental fruits, as well as those that grow on uncultivated calcareous soils, as a rule, poisonous.

What else is useful?