Rosehip is not only beautiful flowers but also good fruits. They are rich in nutrients that have a positive effect on essential processes in the body.
we bring orange berries that usually ripen towards the end of August and harvest until early October. There are about 100 types of wild roses, but not all are suitable for medicinal purposes. Most often, in cooking and herbal medicine, the fruits of the May rosehip are using. It is pretty difficult to eat them in their pure form since they have a specific taste. And inside, the flesh is covered with long thin hairs.
- What is essential to know
- Benefit
- Rosehip oil
- Harm
- How to collect
- How to brew
- Expert commentary
What is essential to know
Dried fruits are use in food additives, medicines, teas, drinks, syrups, cumin oil preserves and jams have areprepare from them. And also, the oil contains rose hips, which is using in cosmetology.
It owes its red-orange colour to lycopene and beta-carotene. These are carotenoid pigments that promote eye health and have a positive effect on skin conditions.
100 g of fresh rose hips contain.
- Water: 58.66 g
- Calories: 162
- Protein: 1.60 g
- Carbohydrates: 38.22 g
- Fibre: 24.1 g
- Sugar: 2.58 g
Benefit for health
These micronutrients can help boost immunity and heart health, normalize weight, and support healthy skin.
Rich composition
100 g of fresh rose hips contain:
- Calcium: 169 mg
- Iron: 1.06 mg
- Magnesium: 69 mg
- Phosphorus: 61 mg
- Potassium: 429 mg
- Sodium: 4 mg
- Zinc: 0.25 mg
- Vitamin C: 426 mg
- Thiamine: 0.016 mg
- Riboflavin: 0.166 mg
- Niacin: 1,300 mg
- Vitamins B-6: 0.076 mg
- VitaminA: 217 mg
- Vitamin E: 5.84 mg
- Vitamin K: 25.9 mg
It is high in antioxidants that help reduce levels of various inflammation and oxidative stress. Thermally processing fruits are rich in vitamins but when cooking most of them is lose properties. This element promotes collagen production and enhances immunity.
Helps with arthritis
Experiments have shown that rose hips can help relieve arthritis pain. Osteoarthritis is a common disease that affects joints: cartilage gradually decreases.
As a result of one study, it find out that the daily intake of 5 g of rose hips in powder. Form reduces the need for pain relievers. It also slows down pathological processes: oxidative stress and inflammation in the joints.
But for conclusions, more data has to need to calculate the correct dosage.
Supports Heart Health
There are various studies on the effect of rose hips on the cardiovascular system. One of them, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that fruits can improve heart and vascular health in obese people. Drinking rose hips lowered blood pressure, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. But in parallel, they showed an increase in vascular inflammation and no decrease in diastolic blood pressure. Therefore, additional data and experiments are available.
Helps in the treatment of diabetes
Several experiments show that rose hips help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, especially in those who are obese and have high blood pressure. A 20-week course of powdered rose hips helped prevent diabetes in mice fed fatty foods. According to scientists, they are taking the drug reduced cholesterol and sugar levels. But more human studies are beneficial.
Signs of diabetes: how to recognize the disease at an early stage
It may help treat gastrointestinal diseases.
The Spanish University of Zaragoza published the results of a study that rose hips can help slow the contraction of intestinal muscles in much the same way as a drug against diarrhoea. The fruits of the bush change the ph balance (a measure of acidity) in the stomach. A hostile environment has prepared for bacteria that affect the formation of ulcers. But larger-scale experiments and additional data.
It has a positive effect on skin health.
Rosehip oil is also a cosmetic ingredient. It is prepared with coll pressing the fruit.
The polyunsaturated fats found in rosehip seeds protect the skin from UV rays and harmful substances.
In a small 8-week study, taking 3 mg of rosehip powder daily improved skin condition and increased moisture and elasticity.
This is possible by its solid antioxidant composition, vitamin C and fatty acids, protecting and restoring the skin barrier.
Rosehip oil
Rosehip oil contains many vitamins and fatty acids that nourish and moisturize the skin. It also contains phenols that have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
It can use not only for moisturizing but also as a natural exfoliation. Since the oil contains many vitamins A and C, it stimulates the regeneration and renewal of skin cells and accelerates collagen production. Anthocyanins and vitamin E reduce inflammation. It can help soothe irritation from diseases such as rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis.
Thanks to its antioxidant content, the oil helps to cope with the effects of UV exposure, reduce hyperpigmentation and heal wounds.
But before using it is necessary to consult a doctor and understand if there is an allergy to this product by testing it on a small area of the skin.
Side effects
Rosehip is a harmless product in moderation. If it is abuse or an allergy, digestive problems, fatigue, and headache may appear. It should add with caution to the diet of those taking estrogen-based contraceptives or some antipsychotic drugs. It is necessary to consult a specialist.
Shrub fruits can enhance the effects of diuretics.
The fruits contain the substance Rogozin E. Therefore, their use is contraindicates in people who have a history of diseases associated with blood clots. It can also reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants.
Children, pregnant and lactating mothers should treat the rose hips with caution: there is not enough data on the safety of its fruits for them.
How to collect correctly
It is best to harvest rose hips towards the end of the season before they dry out. It is worth avoiding insect-damaged fruits and choosing the largest and brightest.
Do not eat rose hips from bushes treated with toxic chemicals. Since even thorough washing of the berries will not protect against unwanted effects.
Rosehip is using in different ways in the cuisines of other nations of the world. They often make a drink, add in tea, compote desserts, but, for example, in Swedish cuisine. Also, dried fruits can be crush into powder and used as a dietary supplement.
How to brew rose hips
There are several ways to make different rosehip drinks.
On the stove
One of the traditional ways to brew rose hips is to put one tablespoon of berries in a saucepan of boiling water (200 ml) and simmer for 15 minutes, covered with a lid. Then it is advisable to let the broth brew. You can leave it for an hour, but best of all – overnight. It is important to remember that such a drink must enrich in taste but with a minimum of vitamins since many are ruin during heat treatment.
In a thermos
For a litre thermos, you need to take 100 g of dried berries. Rinse them thoroughly and soak for 5 minutes in cold water. Then put in a thermos, pour boiling water over and cover with a lid. The drink must allow brewing for 7-8 hours. If you use whole berries, the broth will be less saturated in taste, but there will be no villi and peel. To achieve a pronounced flavour, you can grind the berries in a blender before pouring boiling water over them. Blanching keeps nutrients better. After the broth is infusion, it is necessary to strain it through a cheesecloth.
Fresh Rosehip Drink
You will need 2-3 tablespoons of berries per litre of water. They need to knead, passed through a meat grinder or blender. Then strain through cheesecloth, pour the remaining cake with 0.5 litres of hot water, boil for 15–20 minutes. Then mix the infusion and broth – and the result is a delicious and healthy drink.
On a water bath
This will require 100 grams of berries per 1 litre of water. Boil water in a saucepan, then cool slightly and add rose hips. Use heat-resistant cookware that is larger than the saucepan. Pour water into it and put it on fire. After boiling, place a saucepan with berries and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, covered. Before use, must filter broth through a sieve or cheesecloth.
In a multicooker
Take about 100 grams of berries, rinse them and put them in a multicooker bowl. Pour 2 litres of water, add lemon, currant or other ingredients to taste. Put on the “extinguishing” mode for 1-2 hours. After cooking, let the broth cool, strain if desired.
Expert commentary
Maria Volchenkova, Nutritionist BestDoctor, Member of the Russian Union of Nutritionists, Nutritionists and Food Industry Specialists
How to eat/drink rose hips to get the most out of it? After its processing, is there significantly less vitamin C in it and sipping a drink from it is a rather useless exercise?
First fact: the loss of vitamin C during heat treatment is significant. The second fact: we all know how important it is to follow the drinking regime. A weak rosehip decoction often helps to normalize it for those who do not like drinking pure water and prefer to feel the drink’s taste. There will be no added sugar in such a broth, which will not be harmful, unlike compotes and fruit drinks.
To date, the benefits of rose hips is prove mainly in dietary supplements rather than fruits. In supplements containing crushed dried fruits, we are talking about a much higher concentration of active substances than fresh fruits and decoctions. On the other hand, it is worth remembering that one should pay attention to contraindications and not just potential benefits with a higher concentration of active substances.
