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Wild Rose - health properties, application
Table of Contents
1. The wild rose - a characteristic botanical species
The rose is an exceptionally popular cultivated plant. Due to its appearance and fragrance of the flowers, it is grown almost worldwide. The rose family is also appreciated for its medicinal properties. The wild rose (Rosa canina L.) is a thorny shrub that can reach a height of up to 3 meters. Its elliptical-shaped leaves are relatively stiff and have serrated edges. The flowers of the wild rose are light pink and grow singly or in small clusters. However, the most valuable part of the wild rose are its fruits. They have a spindle-shaped form, a length of about 2–3 cm and an intense orange-red color. The fruits ripen in the fall and are ready for harvesting in October and November. To extend their shelf life, double drying is applied and small seeds and threads found inside are removed.2. The wild rose has nutritional properties
The wild rose fruit is one of the best natural sources of vitamin C. However, some species may contain up to 12% L-acid, depending on the species, the variety, the harvest date, and the type of technological processes used in processing. Most vitamin C fruits are raw, but due to their impermanence they are used relatively rarely. Much more popular are single-dried wild rose fruits. Some species can contain as much as 12% of L-aside, but on average they also contain about 12% of magnesium acid.3. Wild Roses - Health Properties and Application
Due to the very high levels of ascorbic acid in wild roses, the fruits of the wild rose are primarily attributed to having properties that strengthen the functioning of the immune system. They stimulate its functioning and prevent the occurrence of colds and flu. This is especially important to consider during the autumn-winter period, when our immunity decreases and we are particularly vulnerable to attacks from viruses and bacteria. However, wild rose fruit also supports the work of the circulatory system. They help to strengthen blood vessels and prevent blood clots. In addition, it is worth mentioning that vitamin C supports the absorption of iron from the digestive system, which contributes to maintaining the level of hemoglobin in the blood and preventing the development of anemia. Wild rose fruits are also attributed to having a strong antioxidant effect, which is due to the complex interaction of antioxidants and naturally occurring flavonoids in the fruit. Wild roses also contain a substance called galactolipid (GOPO), which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces the level of inflammatory proteins (CRP) and decreases the level of creatinine in the blood plasma, which is particularly important in cases of inflammation in the body. It has also been shown that the use of GOPO improves joint mobility and alleviates pain in people with RZS.4. The wild rose - the recipes for processing
These days, few people engage in making wild rose products in their kitchen. Ready-made products bought in stores and pharmacies are far more popular. However, it is worth noting that, in addition to wild rose fruit, prepared foods often have many other artificial additives in their composition that negatively affect the quality of products. Preparing wild rose products is a time-consuming activity and requires patience. The fruits of the wild rose have little flesh from which one can obtain juice, jam, or syrup. However, the high nutritional value and taste of self-prepared products cannot be questioned. Although most of them contain large amounts of sugar, the health benefits that we can derive from them are enormous. If you want to try making some such products at home, we have some easy recipes for you.5. It's an exquisite wild rose syrup
Ingredients: 500 g of wild rose fruit, purified from seeds, 250 g of xylitol, juice of half a lemon, 5 cloves, 2 grains of English green, 1 litre of boiled water. The fruit, after cleaning from seeds, is cooked to softness in water with cloves and English herb. When the fruit is lightly cooked, the juice must be transferred to another container using a sieve. The fruits that remain in the sieve are crushed and mixed with the water in which they were cooked, without forgetting to remove the roots of the spices. We add lemon juice. The finished syrup is poured into small bottles or jars, carefully closed and pasteurized. The resulting product can be stored all winter and opened during a cold or flu.6. Delicious jam made of wild rose petals
Ingredients: 250 g of wild rose petals, 350 g of white sugar, 1 glass of water, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, a couple of teaspoons of spirit juice. Making jam out of rose petals is definitely more time-consuming than making syrup. However, its taste is amazing, so if we have time and fresh wild rose petals, let's not hesitate! At the very beginning, we have to remove the white pepper petals from our leaves, which are inexhaustible and can spoil the flavor of the jam. The petals are then poured over boiling water to get rid of impurities and bacteria. After draining the water from the petals, we squeeze into them the juice of a lemon. Set it aside. The next step is to cook the syrup in a pot – we need a glass of water and all of the sugar for this. When the sugar is completely dissolved, add the drained rose petals. Stir thoroughly and set aside for 24 hours in a cool place. The next day, cook the contents of the pot again until the petals become slightly transparent. Pour the finished jam into clean and sterilized jars. Before closing, add a teaspoon of 96% spirit to each jar. This step is very important, as it protects our preserves from spoilage. Wild rose, although very common, turns out to be a very demanding product. Making preserves from it requires a lot of commitment and time. The health benefits we can derive from wild rose are enormous. Wild rose is a component that is worth introducing into our diet not only in the autumn-winter season. Huge doses of vitamin C and other antioxidants will certainly contribute to improving our well-being throughout the year. Therefore, we can reach for wild rose preserves also for preventive purposes, but let's remember to consume homemade products in a reasonable and moderate way, as they are a treasure trove of health, but unfortunately also a source of calories.
