9 impressive health benefits of hawthorn fruit

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Hawthorn fruit not only provides abundant nutrients but also brings many health benefits to people, helping to improve cardiovascular problems, support the treatment of high blood pressure, balance intestinal bacteria and well control blood fat.

1. What is hawthorn berry?

Hawthorn berry, also known as hawthorn, grows on shrubs of the genus Crataegus (which includes hundreds of species) and is commonly found in parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. In fact, this tiny berry is considered an important part of traditional Chinese medicine.
Oriental medicine uses hawthorn fruit to treat conditions such as: congestive heart failure (CHF), arrhythmia, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, atherosclerosis and high blood cholesterol levels.
In general, hawthorn fruit contains many valuable nutrients, they have a taste that is a mixture of sour, aromatic and slightly sweet. The color of the hawthorn fruit can range from yellow, to deep red and black. On the other hand, hawthorn fruit is also widely used to make candied fruits, jellies, jams and alcohol.
Before using hawthorn fruit, you should talk to your doctor if you are taking any prescription drugs to avoid unwanted interactions.

2. What are the health benefits of hawthorn?

Thanks to the rich and diverse nutritional composition, medlar fruit is considered a very good food source for the human body. Here are the 9 most prominent health benefits that hawthorn berries bring.

2.1. Hawthorn fruit provides antioxidants for the body

The medlar fruit contains many polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant compound found mainly in plants. Polyphenol antioxidants neutralize unstable molecules (free radicals) when they are present in high levels. In addition, the polyphenols in medlars have many impressive health benefits, including their ability to prevent and reduce the risk of asthma, infections, type 2 diabetes, and skin aging. early, cancer and heart problems.

2.2. Hawthorn has powerful anti-inflammatory properties

Chronic inflammation is considered a major cause of diseases such as asthma, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. In some recent animal studies, it was shown that consuming hawthorn fruit extract could significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory compounds present in the body, contributing to a reduction in inflammation and inflammation. symptoms of asthma.
With the results of this study, experts believe that hawthorn fruit supplements may provide anti-inflammatory benefits in humans.

2.3. Hawthorn fruit helps to lower blood pressure

In traditional Chinese medicine, medlar fruit is one of the foods that are often recommended to support the treatment of high blood pressure.
Animal studies have found that hawthorn berries act as a natural vasodilator, helping to relax constricted blood vessels in the body, thereby aiding in lowering high blood pressure levels. 1 effective way. In addition, when people with mild hypertension, taking about 500 mg of hawthorn berry extract per day can significantly reduce their diastolic blood pressure.
In another 16-week study in nearly 80 people with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, those who took 1200 mg of hawthorn berry extract had better improvements in blood pressure readings than those who did not. use a placebo.

2.4. Hawthorn fruit helps to reduce blood fat

Using hawthorn fruit extract has the ability to improve your blood fat. Normally, triglycerides and cholesterol are the two main types of fat in your blood. At normal levels, they're perfectly healthy and play an important role in hormone production and the transport of nutrients around the body.
However, when blood lipids are out of balance (especially low levels of good cholesterol HDL and high triglycerides) it can cause conditions such as atherosclerosis or blood clots. accumulation of plaque in blood vessels. If these plaques continue to build up, over time it can completely block blood vessels and lead to a heart attack or stroke.
In a test on rats, when they were given hawthorn berry extract, the levels of total cholesterol, LDL bad cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels in the liver were 28-47% lower.

2.5. Hawthorn fruit has the effect of supporting the digestive system

The fruit and extracts of hawthorn have been used to aid in the treatment of digestive problems, especially stomachaches and indigestion.
This berry contains a lot of fiber, which helps to support the digestive system by reducing constipation and stimulating the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Gut bacteria are considered the "core" for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Therefore, nutritionists recommend that people with slow digestion should add fiber from hawthorn fruit to stimulate the digestive system to work more efficiently. In addition, 1 animal study showed that consumption of hawthorn berry extract significantly reduced the transit of food in the digestive system. That is, when food enters the body, it will move faster through the digestive system, thereby reducing indigestion, protecting the stomach similar to an anti-ulcer drug.

2.6. Camellia fruit helps prevent hair loss

Camellia fruit can even effectively prevent hair loss and promises to be an indispensable ingredient for future hair care products.
Regular use of hawthorn berry extract can help stimulate hair growth, while increasing the number and size of hair follicles, thereby promoting healthier hair.

2.7. Hawthorn helps relieve symptoms of anxiety

Hawthorn has a very mild sedative effect, helping to relieve symptoms of anxiety. When using hawthorn berry extract, it can help you feel more relaxed and less anxious.
Compared with the use of traditional anti-anxiety medications, medlar causes fewer side effects and it is being studied as a potential treatment for central nervous system disorders. such as anxiety or depression .
If you want to add medlar to your diet to manage anxiety symptoms, you should not stop any medications you are taking, rather talk specifically with your doctor. .

2.8. Hawthorn fruit is used to treat heart disease

Hawthorn fruit is often used together with medicines to treat heart failure. In a recent review, people who took hawthorn berry extract along with heart failure medications significantly improved heart function and exercise tolerance. In addition, they also felt less short of breath and fatigued after consuming hawthorn berry extract.
People with heart failure are often recommended by nutritionists to use medlar along with current medications. However, the minimum effective dose of hawthorn berry extract for people with heart failure is 300 mg per day. Typical dosage is from 250 to 500 mg of hawthorn fruit extract, taken 3 times a day. Ideally, you should still consult with your doctor to determine the right dosage for your current health condition.

2.9. Hawthorn fruit can be flexibly incorporated in the diet

You can search for hawthorn berries at farmers' markets, grocery stores, or buy them online. This fruit is very versatile and can be flexibly incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways, including:
Direct consumption: Fresh hawthorn fruit usually has a slightly sour, sweet taste, so it Can be used as a snack during the day. Make tea: You can buy ready-to-drink tea or make your own using the fruits, dried leaves, and flowers of the gardenia plant. Making jams and desserts: Many places use hawthorn berries to make jams, syrups or fillings. Vinegar and alcohol: Hawthorn berries can also be fermented to make a delicious adult beverage or made vinegar to add to salads. Supplements: You can completely supplement medlar in pill, powder or liquid form, which is extremely convenient. Supplements from hawthorn berries usually include the berries along with the flowers and leaves. However, some varieties include only the flowers and leaves of the hawthorn, as they are a more concentrated source of antioxidants than the berries.

3. Side effects of using hawthorn fruit

The use of hawthorn berries is considered safe for most people. However, in rare cases, consumption of hawthorn berries may cause mild nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, sweating, headache, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, agitation or nosebleed .
In addition, hawthorn has a strong effect on the heart, so it may affect the action of some medicines. Therefore, if you are taking medication for heart disease, cholesterol and blood pressure, you should talk to your doctor before consuming any medlar supplements.

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References: Healthline.com, Webmd.com