The gooseberry is the fruit of the Ribes grussularia plant. Rich in vitamins and polyphenols, it is diuretic, detoxifying and helps to counteract skin aging. Let's find out better.
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Properties and benefits of gooseberries
The fruit of gooseberry is very rich in active ingredients such as vitamins (including vitamin C ) but also fibers and pectins, organic acids such as malic, salicylic and tartaric as well as different types of polyphenols .
It has several properties in common with the other fruits of the undergrowth, plus some specific effects for each fruit. Studies conducted within the InterBerry project (Integrated Interdisciplinary Project for the Qualitative Improvement of Small Fruits and the Study of New High Value Added Products of Transformation) have in fact made it possible to characterize in 2004 a total of 271 samples of small fruits of different varieties for the total content in reactive polyphenols and 248 fruits for the total content in anthocyanins .
In general, a considerable variation in concentrations was observed depending on the species and in many cases also depending on the different cultivars.
From the analytical data obtained, the berries with the highest total polyphenol content were blackcurrant with about 5, 700 mg / kg, followed by the strawberry with 5, 000 mg / kg, red currant (3, 700 mg / kg), and blackberry (3, 500 mg / kg), white currant (3, 300 mg / kg), giant blueberry (3, 200 mg / kg), white raspberry (2, 400 mg / kg) and red raspberry (2, 000 mg / kg).
Lower average contents - although still decidedly significant compared to fruit in general - were recorded for red gooseberry (1, 700 mg / kg), white gooseberry (1, 600 mg / kg) and finally for strawberry (1, 500 mg / kg).
Calories and nutritional values of gooseberries
100 g of gooseberry contain 44 calories.
Furthermore, for 100 g of product we have:
- Lipids 0.6 g
- Sodium 1 mg
- Potassium 198 mg
- Glucides 10 g
- Dietary fiber 4.3 g
- Proteins 0.9 g
- Vitamin A 290 IU
- Vitamin C 27.7 mg
- Calcium 25 mg
- Iron 0.3 mg
- Magnesium 10 mg
Ally of
Like the other berries, gooseberry adds to the low caloric intake (about 40 kcal per 100g of fresh fruit) also a series of characteristics that make this fruit an excellent ally for the health and well-being of our body. Especially since the sugars they contain (levulose and glucose), responsible for their sweetness, are tolerated even by diabetics (provided you don't overdo it).
Only those who are predisposed to allergies or those suffering from diverticulosis should be cautious in their consumption or, sometimes, even do without it because the berries have a full pulp and are rich in precious seeds that can be deposited in the diverticula.
It is above all the abundant content of phytochemicals (such as flavonoids and anthocyanins) and vitamin C that determine most of the beneficial actions common to these fruits. The gooseberry has, in fact, important properties such as that of stimulating the body's defenses, protecting it from infections, purifying and detoxifying the blood from contamination caused for example by heavy metals, taking half a glass of fresh fruit juice every 10-12 hours . This thanks to the flavonoids contained that contribute to the good functioning of the liver, helping it to dispose of the toxic substances in excess.
Being diuretic and detoxifying, as well as antioxidants, their activity is manifested against the negative effects of free radicals by slowing down cellular aging, which is reflected both in the state of the skin and in the risk factors related to degenerative diseases.
They are nutritious, refreshing and astringent fruits, useful for rebalancing the intestinal functions, also thanks to the fibers (including pectin), contained in good quantities, which also help to control the cholesterol level.
Other merits of the gooseberry are those of its berries that have a remarkable thirst-quenching power and stimulate the production of gastric juices, acting as an aperitif or as a digestive.
You can take advantage of all the natural causes and remedies for difficult digestion
Plant description and variety
The gooseberry ( Ribes grossularia ) is a close relative of the currant that, wanting to distinguish itself from the «red» and «black», has thought of not being satisfied with tiny bunched berries but of inventing large spherical or elongated berries, resembling to a grape, covered by a green spiny hair that then tends to yellow or red when it is about to ripen.
It is a currant so different from the other two (with berries that reach a diameter of 2.5 cm) that it is called, with popular names, grapes crispa, grapes of the friars, sea grapes, spinella grapes, wild grapes, raisins.
The flavor is aromatic, sweetish and very special (slightly acidic), in fact not everyone likes it. In general the optimal organoleptic qualities are always reached when the fruit is completely ripe.
The derivation of the name is not entirely certain but the most credited traces the term "ribes" to the Arabic ribus, meaning "plant with acidulous fruits".
The cultivation of gooseberries dates back to the 1700s when in England there were already hundreds of crops that soon spread to other European countries, especially in Germany where its cultivation is quite widespread.
The Ribes grossularia is present throughout Europe but shows a strong preference for the Italian climate, for the French one and for Spain; we also find it in northern Africa and in the mountains of Asia, in the less warm and sunny places, in the lowland woods and up to two thousand meters of altitude.
In Italy the gooseberry is difficult to find (it is found in bushy places, on the edge of the woods, in stony places and can reach an altitude of 1700 meters) because environmental degradation and the lack of care that it reserves for the undergrowth have limited it spontaneous spreading and cultivation is restricted in small-sized plants or in family orchards.
Curiosity on gooseberries
It is not advisable to eat unripe gooseberries (not very pleasant) because they can cause slight intestinal disorders, while if well ripe they have all their beneficial properties.
Their juice, drunk in the morning, on an empty stomach, is an excellent depurative cure, beneficial against being overweight and excellent in the convalescence phase because it brings back the right balance in mineral salts ( mineralizing action ) in the body.
Gooseberry is eaten fresh (for fruit salads and cake decorations, or to garnish meat or fish dishes or salads) but for its sour taste, gooseberry is suitable to be transformed into syrups, jellies, jams (also because when in winter fresh fruit is scarce, we can always have it available thanks to these ways of conserving it).
