What Is Hawthorn Berries Good For – , hawthorn fossils found in the 1990s date back to the middle of the Miocene Epoch, 15 million years ago. A geological survey found these fossils unearthed in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
The most popular variety of hawthorn comes from Central Asia and Europe, a group consisting of 100 species. Usually, it grows like a tree-trunk with flowers that give off an unpleasant smell. The berries it produces are often used in various types of medicinal plants. It is also considered a nutritious food.
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What Is Hawthorn Berries Good For
The hawthorn fruit is characterized by being oblong, pear, or round. The berries are usually the size of a large blueberry. Depending on its specific type, the color of the fruit can range from red, orange-yellow, blue, black or yellow. Its flesh is very similar to that of a rose—dry and powdery.
Hawthorn (crataegus Oxycantha)
While hawthorn berries are not specifically classified as poisonous, there are some cases where they can cause some side effects when consumed. Fruit seeds in
Family known for having amygdalin compound which is a cyanide linked to sugar. When ingested, this compound can be converted to hydrogen cyanide on its way to the small intestine.
The lowest known lethal dose of hydrogen cyanide in humans was 0.54 mg/kg of body weight. The average absorbed dose at the time of death was estimated to be 1/4 mg hydrogen cyanide per kg of body weight.
Meaning that if you weigh 70 kg, your minimum lethal dose would be 37.8 mg or about 54 grams of crushed apple seeds (it needs to be crushed for amygdalin to bind with enzymes). Meaning you would want to avoid eating 66 crushed apple seeds. I would say it is easy to do.
Benefits Of Using Siberian Hawthorn Berries
Just like apples, when eating hawthorn berries, it is best practice to spit out the seeds. An adult who accidentally eats a few pieces of its seeds should have no problems. However, for children, the negative effects may be more obvious.
The flesh of the fruit itself is not poisonous. However, there are cases where people reported an unpleasant aftertaste.
During the summer, many people collect the leaves before their color changes and use them to make a salad. The same can be done to the flower’s petals as well. Berries usually ripen best after winter but can also be used before winter.
The fruits can be used to make jellies and jams. They are also added to baked goods. Fruits, flowers and leaves are used to make tea; Many people use hawthorn tea to make couscous, quinoa, or rice.
Hawthorn Berries On A Bare Winter Branch Stock Image
There are many medicinal benefits that one can get from using hawthorn berry. This is why its supplemental forms are used to treat various diseases.
In particular, hawthorn supplements are noted to be used for diseases related to the heart and circulatory system. However, these supplements may not be effective in the treatment of serious types of related conditions.
Berries in the form of tea can help in lowering and controlling blood pressure. The high natural pectin content makes it ideal for making jellies. While the berries are not very tasty when eaten whole, they are often combined with various other fruits in making wine or pies. Written by Ariane Lang, BSc, MBA and Savanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD. – Medicine reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, RD., CDE, Nutrition – Updated on December 13, 2021
These rich berries have a tart, tangy taste and mild sweetness. They vary in color from yellow to dark red (
Red Wild Hawthorn Berries On The Branches. Hawthorn, Hawthorn Fruit, Hawthorn Berries Stock Photo
For centuries, people have used the hawthorn berry as a herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart problems, and high blood pressure. In fact, the berry has been an important part of traditional Chinese medicine since 659 A.D. (
Antioxidants help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals that can harm your body when present at high levels.
Free radicals can come from certain foods. You can also have high levels of them as a result of exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and cigarette smoke (
Polyphenols are associated with a number of health benefits due to their antioxidant activity, including a low risk of (
Healing The Heart With Hawthorn
Although preliminary research in animals and cells is promising, more human studies are needed to evaluate the effect of hawthorn berries on the risk of disease.
Summary Hawthorn berry contains plant polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties linked to many health benefits.
Research has found that chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, asthma, and some cancers (
In a study in mice with liver disease, hawthorn berry significantly reduced levels of inflammatory chemicals, leading to a reduction in liver inflammation and damage (
Hawthorn: Herb Of The Week · Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism
In one study, researchers gave vitexin – a compound found in hawthorn leaves – to rats with respiratory conditions. This treatment reduced the production of molecules that cause inflammation and decreased the response of white blood cells to inflammation (
These promising results from animal and test-tube studies show that the supplement can provide anti-inflammatory benefits to humans. However, more research is needed.
Summary Hawthorn berry extract has shown anti-inflammatory ability in test-tube and animal studies. However, research in humans is needed.
In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn berry is one of the foods that is often recommended to help treat high blood pressure.
A Branch Full Of Red Hawthorn Berries In Early Autumn Hawthorn Berries Crataegus Monogyna High Res Stock Photo
Animal studies show that hawthorn can act as a vasodilator, meaning it can relax blood vessels, ultimately reducing low blood pressure (
A 10-week study looked at the effects of hawthorn extract taken in 36 people with mildly elevated blood pressure.
The researchers found that those who took 500 mg of the extract daily had reduced diastolic blood pressure – the lowest number of blood pressure readings (
In a 2006 study, researchers gave 1,200 mg of hawthorn extract to 79 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure every day for 16 weeks. People who took the pill experienced better blood pressure than those in the placebo group (
Hawthorn: Foraging And Using
However, more studies are needed to support these findings. It is also important to note that using a supplement is not the same as eating fruit.
Summary Some research shows that hawthorn berries can lower blood pressure by helping to reduce blood clots. However, some studies are needed.
Some studies show that hawthorn extract can improve blood cholesterol levels due to its flavonoids and pectin. Pectin is a type of fiber involved in cholesterol metabolism (
Imbalanced blood cholesterol levels — especially high triglycerides and low HDL (good) cholesterol — play a role in atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in your blood vessels (
Essential Health Benefits Of Hawthorn Berry
If plaque continues to grow, it can completely block a blood vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
In one animal study, mice that received two doses of hawthorn extract had lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as 28-47% lower liver triglyceride levels, compared to mice that did not receive the extract (
Similarly, a 6-week study in rats showed that when the rats were fed hawthorn berry supplements, they had significantly reduced levels of fasting triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol (
Finally, a six-month study in 62 people with atherosclerosis found that taking hawthorn taken at a dose of 2.3 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight significantly reduced the thickness of damaging plaque buildup in the carotid artery.
The Red Fruits Of The Hawthorn Hawthorn Berries High Res Stock Photo
Although this research is promising, more human studies are needed to evaluate the effects of hawthorn extract on blood cholesterol.
Summary Research in animals and humans shows that taking hawthorn extract can help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, more human research is needed.
People have used hawthorn berries and extract for centuries to treat digestive issues, especially indigestion and stomach pain (
The berries contain fiber, which has been shown to aid digestion by reducing constipation and act as a prebiotic. Prebiotics are nutrients that build and promote the health of the intestinal tract, which is important for maintaining good digestion (
Frontier Co Op Organic Whole Hawthorn Berries 16oz/453g
One observational study in people with poor digestion found that each additional gram of dietary fiber people ate was associated with a 30-minute decrease in the time between bowel movements.
In addition, a rat study found that hawthorn extract significantly reduced the gut transit time of food in the diet.
Furthermore, research in rats shows that the compounds in hawthorn berries can enhance the production and activity of digestive enzymes – which are necessary for the digestion of fat and protein-rich foods.
Summary People have used hawthorn berry as a digestive aid for centuries. It can help relieve constipation and increase the production of enzymes needed to digest fat and protein-rich foods.
Are Hawthorn Berries Edible?
Hawthorn berries can help prevent premature skin aging caused by collagen degradation due to excessive sun exposure or ultraviolet light.
A test-tube study found that a combination of hawthorn and ginseng extract can prevent signs of aging by preventing wrinkle formation and increasing skin moisture.
Research suggests that this effect may be due to the hawthorn berry’s antioxidant content. However, research in this area is limited, and human studies are needed.
Summary Some research shows that