Blackberry tea: what is it for and benefits of blackberry leaf
Blackberry leaf tea provides benefits but also side effects. Understand
Blackberry tea, usually made from blackberry leaf, is a natural drink rich in vitamins and minerals. The tea is widely used to treat discomforts and illnesses such as cold symptoms, diabetes, blood vessel problems, among others.
blackberry leaf tea
The blackberry leaf tea comes from the mulberry tree, an indigenous tree from the Asian continent that has spread to other parts of the world, including Brazil, whose native species is the Rubus sellowii. There are ten species of blackberry, the best known being the blackberry and the blackberry.
The Chinese have cultivated blackberries for over 3,000 years and use the mulberry to raise silkworms, make paper, food and enjoy its medicinal properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, blackberry leaf is also used to detoxify the liver, improve vision, relieve cough and cold symptoms, cure dizziness, clear blood, improve diarrhea, treat stomach pain, and prevent premature skin aging.
Blackberries are very rich in anthocyanin, a substance that confers properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, short-term memory enhancement, glaucoma prevention and heart protection.- Anthocyanin present in red fruits brings benefits
Benefits of blackberry tea and what it is for
Prevents and treats diabetes
Blackberry tea can be used to prevent and treat diabetes. That's because it contains a chemical compound, called 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), that lowers blood sugar levels after high-carbohydrate meals. Japanese scientists tested the effects of this substance present in blackberry leaf tea on rats and concluded that, after consumption of mulberry extract - before meals rich in carbohydrates - there was a decrease in blood glucose levels.
Controlling blood sugar (glucose) levels is vitally important in the treatment of diabetes. When blood sugar levels rise, the body responds by producing more insulin. If the demand for more insulin occurs with too much intensity and frequency, the pancreatic function of producing insulin can be compromised. Cells become insulin resistant in an attempt to facilitate the transport of glucose through cell walls. The result is insulin resistance, which, if left unchecked, leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. By preventing large amounts of sugar from entering the bloodstream, cranberry tea helps prevent and fight diabetes.
Improves cholesterol levels
Blackberry leaf extract can decrease the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, a condition also known as atherosclerosis, by lowering bad cholesterol.
Scientists who performed analyzes on human and rat guinea pigs concluded that isoquercitrin and astragalin present in blackberry tea are the main substances responsible for improving cholesterol levels, especially when consumption is associated with other healthy lifestyle habits.
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It has essential vitamins and minerals
Image: Amora a fruit by Campola is licensed under CC-BY-3.0
The blackberry tea leaf is very rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Blackberry leaf tea has 25 times more calcium than the same amount of animal milk.
Maintaining healthy calcium levels contributes to bone health, prevents colon cancer and reduces the risk of obesity. The potassium present in the blackberry leaf contributes to the maintenance of brain health, preventing stroke, controlling blood pressure, anxiety, stress, heart and kidney disorders.
Blackberry leaf tea is also rich in magnesium, an element needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium helps maintain muscle and nervous function, helps control heart rate, contributes to the immune system, keeps bones strong, regulates blood sugar levels, maintains normal blood pressure, and supports the metabolic system and for protein synthesis.
In addition, the iron present in blackberry tea contributes to the prevention of iron deficiency and anemia.
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Vitamin A improves immunity, contributes to skin and eye health, prevents kidney stones, acne, cancer and acts as an antioxidant.
Vitamin B1, also present in blackberry leaf tea, prevents cardiovascular and nervous system diseases. Vitamin B1 contributes to energy production, maintenance of the myelin sheath and cardiac function. Vitamin B2 found in blackberry leaf tea contributes to the relief of asthma symptoms, improves thyroid activity and the immune system.
Vitamin C, another component of blackberry leaf tea, helps treat cold symptoms, stimulates the immune system, reduces hypertension, decreases lead toxicity, contributes to the treatment of cataracts and cancer, fights stroke, maintains skin elasticity and improves wounds.
Will blackberry leaf tea slim?
Edited and resized image by John-Mark Smith is available on Unsplash
Blackberry tea naturally inhibits carbohydrate absorption. The 1-deoxynojirimycin present in the blackberry leaf inhibits an enzyme in the intestinal tract (alpha-glucosidase) involved in the digestion of carbohydrates. This means that foods high in carbohydrates and starches, such as bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, do not turn into glucose in the body.
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blackberry tea for menopause
Blackberry leaf tea is also used to relieve symptoms of menopause and the headache and irritation that occur in the premenstrual period. This is due to the presence of flavonoids, especially isoflavones.- Menopause teas: alternatives for symptom relief
Side effects
For those who have problems such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), drinking a lot of blackberry tea may not be a good idea, as the blackberry leaf has the property of further reducing the blood sugar level.
People who take medication to control diabetes are advised to avoid drinking blackberry tea, as it can interact with the medication and cause hypoglycemia. If you want to combine the effects of the medicine with the effects of blackberry tea, your doctor or doctor can reduce the amount of diabetes medication.
When mulberry trees were planted in large numbers in Pakistan in the 1960s, scientists investigating a spike in allergic reactions found that the trees produced up to 40,000 grains of pollen per cubic meter of air. The amount of 1,500 pollen grains per cubic meter is considered harmful. Sap is also an allergen; and contact with leaves or stems can lead to skin irritation. If you consume mulberry products and develop hives, rapid pulse rate, swelling, difficulty breathing, or other acute symptoms, discontinue use and contact a physician or physician immediately.
How to choose blackberry tea
Edited and resized image of Michal Vrba, is available on Unsplash
To make mulberry tea, you can harvest the leaves from the mulberry tree closest to your home (provided it is not planted in contaminated land). If you choose to buy, give preference to organic. Understand why in the articles: "Organic urban agriculture: understand why it's a good idea" and "What is organic agriculture?".
How to prepare blackberry tea
- Infuse two teaspoons of blackberry leaf in 250 ml of water (equivalent to an American cup of water).
- Leave for ten minutes and, presto, you can consume.
