What vitamins are in fern? Useful properties of fern

Fern Bracken is one of the favorite dishes of Russian residents. Far East, China, Korea and Japan. And despite the fact that most residents of our country cannot even imagine how this plant can be eaten, bracken fern is consumed in many parts of the world, as it has excellent taste and a wide range of beneficial properties.

Description of bracken fern:
Bracken is a perennial fern plant. Of the huge number of ferns, only a few can be eaten; bracken is one of them. Bracken grows almost everywhere to the globe and is one of the most common ferns in Russia. Young shoots of bracken with leaves that have not yet blossomed are consumed as food. mature plant It should not be eaten as it contains substances that are toxic to the human body. Bracken shoots are boiled, fried, stewed, salted, pickled, and prepared into salads, hot dishes and cold appetizers. Bracken goes well with meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and legumes. IN fresh Bracken fern is not used. This type of fern is also used in folk medicine, industry and pharmacology.

Composition of bracken fern:
The composition of bracken fern shoots includes minerals - sulfur, phosphorus and other macro- and microelements. Bracken fern contains fiber, sugars, carotene, group B, amino acids, tannins, flavonoids, phytosterols, glycosides and other substances beneficial to human health.

Calorie content of bracken fern:
The calorie content of bracken fern is about 35 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Useful properties of bracken fern:

• Regular consumption of bracken fern helps strengthen the immune system.

• It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and improves blood composition.

• Helps normalize blood sugar levels.

• Fern has a positive effect on work thyroid gland and endocrine system.

• Favors normal operation gastrointestinal tract, improves metabolism, removes toxins and waste from the body.

• Bracken fern helps remove radionuclides from the body.

• Strengthens bone tissue.

• Increases the body's performance, improves activity nervous system, helps cope with stress.

• Substances contained in bracken shoots slow down the aging process and help maintain youth.

Bracken fern contraindications:
If you are pregnant or have serious internal diseases, you should consult your doctor before consuming bracken fern shoots. As with almost all foods, when eating bracken you need to remember that everything is good in moderation!

It is believed that fern is one of the oldest plants on Earth. It appeared back in Rus'. There was a belief that any secrets and locks would be revealed to the person who found them. According to legend, the plant arose from the goddess Venus, who shed her hair. According to another version, the girl fell from a cliff, and a spring appeared there, and her beautiful hair turned into a fern leaf that resembles a bird’s wing.

Let's take a break from the legends and consider how the plant grows in nature, as well as what you need to know before starting one. The benefits and harms of it have been studied since ancient times and, as people say, this plant is truly mysterious. However, it is often kept at home, used in cooking and used to treat illnesses.

bracken fern

The plant we are considering looks like a shrub. In nature, bracken usually grows in entire colonies. This is a tenacious plant that can live even in rocky and sandy soil. If a fern once begins to grow in a dacha, then it is very difficult to remove it, for which gardeners, of course, do not favor it. It is so tenacious that even after a fire that has mowed down everything around it, it will be the first to sprout.

Description

One of the herbaceous plants of the Osmundaceae family, it traditionally grows in the Far East, China and Korea. In addition, it is also found in Russia, Finland, Asia, Mexico, and Ukraine. The plant consists of many stems with feathery leaves.

First, the fern begins its life underground. Here leaves are formed - fronds, which look like a snail. Then, as they unfold, they begin to resemble a hook. The plant reproduces not through flowers, but through spores. It got its name because the leaves resemble the wing of a large bird. That is why the bracken fern is named. Its benefits and harms are revealed in many folk legends that are retold from generation to generation to this day.

When does the fern bloom?

People were always wary of him. In ancient times, they did not understand how ferns reproduced, since they did not see the flowering. This time was looked forward to as a holiday. There is a belief that whoever finds a blooming fern will become fabulously rich, since the Earth itself will show man its mysterious riches. Since ancient times, people have believed that there are both harm and benefits of ferns. What does this mean? This will be discussed further.

Beneficial features

Today, science can substantiate the benefits of fern in terms of composition. The plant is very valuable. It is rich in starch, alkaloids, flavonoids, essential oils and tannins. The shoots contain carotene, riboflavin, tocopherol and others healthy vitamins and microelements.

It also contains a lot of proteins, the same as in grain crops. They are easily absorbed by the body and have a beneficial effect on it. The positive effects of fern have been noted in the functioning of the nervous system and in increasing overall tone. There is evidence that fern helps remove radionuclides from the human body.

Harvesting rhizomes for treatment is done in September. It is used for problems with the sciatic nerve and calf muscle (cramps). Those who have tried fern treatment note the benefits of the course, which usually lasts three weeks. But remember: do not self-medicate. Before using any drug or product, you should consult a specialist.

Fern is famous not only for its beneficial effects. Its benefits and harms are most revealed in folk beliefs. About this today and we're talking about in the article. Let's look at how this plant is used in cooking.

Cooking

Even in ancient times, fern was used for culinary purposes. Species such as ostrich and bracken, namely their shoots, are used for food. The leaves are also edible. They are good added to salads or other dishes as a seasoning. Fern shoots taste like mushrooms. They are very popular in Japan and Korea. This is dietary food. 100 grams of product contains 34 kilocalories.

The plant is canned or boiled. Raw shoots, or, as they are also called, rachis, are not consumed, as they have a bitter taste. The harm and benefits of fern have also been studied in cooking. Since it was already mentioned above, the plant is saturated with a variety of microelements that can be valuable for the body, and quite the contrary.

Boil the plant in the following way: Leaves are placed in water, salt is added. Then boil for several minutes, drain the water and add fresh water. Boil a second time until done. Finished rachis should not break, but bend easily. When this state of the shoots is achieved, the water is drained through a colander and then the fern is used according to the recipe.

A favorite dish for many housewives is pickling. The workpiece will not deteriorate for a long time and will preserve everything beneficial features. Its preparation is very simple: glass jar The fern is placed in layers, not forgetting to cover it with salt each time. Then the jar is covered and left for two weeks in a cool, dark place. After this, the brine is drained and the shoots are transferred to another container, only in the reverse order, where upper layer should end up being the bottom one. The jar is filled with brine, on the basis that the salt content should be 22%. Then roll up the lids and store in a dark and cool place. The preparation can be eaten for several years.

The harm and benefits of ferns have been studied for a very long time, and it is about pickling that housewives speak most positively, as they say that this method preserves the largest amount useful substances.

You can also buy a plant preparation. Before consuming such a product, it is first soaked for several hours to remove the salt and bitterness. Then the water is drained and fresh water is added. After two hours, the fern can be cooked for a quarter of an hour without adding spices to it. The plant is added, for example, to fried meat at the end of cooking, cut into pieces and left on the fire for a few more minutes.

There is a well-known recipe for cooking “Korean style”. To do this, first stew carrot and onion sticks separately, then add fern and spices to them and simmer for another quarter of an hour.

Treatment

The harm and benefits of fern are widely known in folk medicine. It is used as an effective pain reliever, for example, for joint pain. For rheumatism, baths with a decoction of herbs will help. Externally, fern is used for abscesses, eczema and scrofula. Also, intestinal diseases, spleen diseases, and jaundice are treated with decoctions from the plant.

At home, you can prepare a decoction of rhizomes. To do this, boil ten grams in two hundred milliliters of water, and drink a teaspoon with honey. You can also add flour to the broth. Sometimes during treatment you should do an enema or take a laxative after consuming the fern. Health benefits and harms, as people say, manifest themselves immediately after use. The main thing is to use the product correctly, namely, only after consulting a doctor.

Contraindications

At correct use of a plant such as fern, the benefits for humans become obvious. At the same time, as mentioned above, the use of the plant must be strictly controlled, since it is poisonous and harm from it will not be long in coming.

Ferns are prohibited, for example, for pregnant women. In addition, the plant should not be used for fever, kidney disease, ulcers, liver, tuberculosis and a number of other diseases, especially those of a chronic nature.

In case of overdose, be sure to rinse your stomach and consult a doctor.

House fern: benefits

There are both harm and benefits from indoor plants. People have known about this for a long time. Plants at home improve energy. Fern is also one of them. Many people believe that he is capable of performing miracles.

However, opinions on this matter are very mixed. Some are sure that where fern grows, energy improves, while others, on the contrary, claim that it brings nothing but misfortune. If you just look at it as indoor plant, it turns out that he is completely unpretentious and can easily live in the shadows.

Those who believe in positive qualities say that the fern has a wonderful ability to calm people. Aggressive and hot-tempered people change their mood to a more friendly and calm one. Therefore, where family members often quarrel, it is recommended to have this plant.

The same goes for the general atmosphere. In a house with a fern, harmony seems to appear. People also believe that the plant brings good luck in both personal and business life, and also improves financial position. Previously, for example, very often a leaf of a plant was put in a wallet, believing that with it money would be found there more often.

House fern: harm

Before deciding whether or not to keep a fern in an apartment, the harm and benefits of the plant should be fully studied.

There is a point of view according to which this plant is energy vampire, which robs family members of energy, causing them to become sleepy, tired and unhappy.

Those who believe in spirits should know: it has long been believed that along with a plant brought into the house from mysterious forests, people brought with them all sorts of evil spirits, which also subsequently took away their energy.

Conclusion

If we analyze all the information received, it turns out that there is still more positive traits a plant such as (its benefits and harms were presented to your attention in the article). If the plant is used correctly, it has excellent therapeutic effect. If you plant a fern in your house, peace and tranquility will reign. How to treat this plant is a purely individual matter.

Residents of Russian Far Eastern countries love to eat bracken fern. Korea, Japan and China also do not forget about him. Although our compatriots do not even allow fern to be eaten, it is nevertheless consumed in many parts of the globe.

What is a bracken fern?

This perennial from the fern family. There are many varieties of this plant, but not all are edible. Bracken is one of those plants that can be eaten. The bracken fern grows in almost any conditions, so it has taken root in many countries. They eat exclusively young shoots of this plant; old ones are unsuitable for consumption because they pose a danger to the body.

The shoots can be fried, boiled, pickled, etc. Bracken is great for eating with meat dishes, fish, vegetable purees and many others. Bracken fern is widely used in folk and modern medicine.

Most often, this type of fern reaches 30-90 m in height, but there are also giants 150-200 m tall. The leaves of the plant are dense and hard, and have a sharp, unusual odor. The plant has powerful and strong roots, which are located both vertically and horizontally. On back side the leaf contains sori.

Fern can be stored for two days before consumption; if more time passes, it becomes toxic. If you do not have time to consume it within the specified period, then it is better to heat treat it immediately after collection, let it cool and put it in freezer.

Chemical composition of the plant

This type of fern contains a lot of useful substances for the human body. It contains the following elements: sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine, etc. Fern is also rich in tannins.

Benefits of bracken fern

• If you regularly eat the plant, it strengthens the immune system
• Improves heart function and blood circulation
• Normalizes blood sugar
• Outputs harmful substances from the body, helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract
• Removes radionuclides from the human body
• Helps strengthen bones and teeth
• Helps cope with depressive state and nervous system problems
• Antioxidants contained in the plant stop the aging process and wear and tear of the body.

From the above, we can conclude that bracken fern has many beneficial substances for the body. But I consider it my duty not only to reveal its beneficial properties, but also to warn about contraindications.

Contraindications:

• The use of this plant during pregnancy and lactation is prohibited, since the effect of fern on the body during pregnancy has not been fully studied.
• If you have any problems with internal organs, then before starting, visit a doctor and consult about taking fern shoots
• Do not overuse, remember that everything is good in moderation

Use of fern in cooking

Bracken fern tastes very much like mushrooms, so it can be prepared in a similar way. Can be served as a side dish or used in various sauces. This plant is rich in protein, so the body does an excellent job of processing it.

Remember important rule:

Do not eat the plant raw. It must be subjected to heat treatment before entering the human body.

firsthealth.ru

Bracken fern: beneficial properties

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Despite its unique and unusual look, as well as belonging to ornamental plants, the fern is quite edible. Two types of fern are eaten, used both as an unusual seasoning and as an independent ingredient for salads. One of these species is the bracken fern.

What are the benefits of bracken fern?

It’s worth noting right away, when starting a conversation about the benefits of fern, that according to research by some scientists, it has been suggested that frequent changes in regular food products directly affect the prolongation of youth and the preservation of excellent health for a long time. long years. While this point of view has not become generally accepted, it is worth listening to when deciding whether to include such an unusual product as bracken fern in your diet.

In addition, it has a very low calorie content, which undoubtedly makes it a valuable food product during weight loss. Its calorie content is 34 kcal. In addition, it contains almost as much protein as carbohydrates - 4.55 g and 5.54 g, respectively.

It includes a large number of useful substances without which the proper functioning of the human body is impossible:

• Tannins that ensure good digestion and removal of harmful waste products.
• Flavonoids
• Alkaloids
• Essential oils and acids
• Young fern leaves are rich in substances such as the vitamins carotene, tocopherol and riboflavin.
• Its leaves contain phytosterols, substances of the catechin group, and the rhizome contains catechins, mucus, and a bitter glycoside.
• Young plants are rich in enzymes, especially thiaminase and glycosides.
• It also contains useful acids such as nicotinic, aspartic and glutamic, as well as phenylalanine, asparagine and tyrosine.
• Microelements such as iodine, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, sulfur, magnesium, copper, nickel and potassium deserve special mention.
• The proteins that make up this fern are easily digestible, with the quality of absorption by the body reminiscent of the properties of grain proteins. But the benefits of bracken fern, first of all, depend on the presence in its composition of a large number of biologically active elements.

The plant is useful for people who spend a lot of time watching TV and computer screens. It saves from radiation sickness and leukemia, possessing the amount of iodine necessary for the body. Important property Bracken fern is its ability to quickly normalize metabolism, accelerating the fight against excess weight. It restores the lack of vitamins due to vitamin deficiency and relieves tension and excitement, helping to normalize the pulse.

Uses of bracken fern

1. Young fern leaves make excellent and unusual salads. The plant is pickled, fried, salted for future use, and then used as a seasoning for meat and fish dishes. It tastes a little like mushrooms. It is strictly not recommended to consume old and uncooked bracken fern leaves.
2. Its regular use promotes bone formation, normalization of the nervous system, metabolism, removal of radionuclides and heavy metals from the body, improvement of the endocrine system, and increased performance.
3. The leaves and rhizomes of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. A decoction of them in a strictly dosed volume is taken orally for aching joints, diseases of the intestines and spleen, chest pain and headaches, diarrhea, tinnitus, dry pleurisy, stomach pain and even jaundice. It is also used as an anthelmintic, diuretic, laxative, antipyretic and analgesic.
4. For scrofula, wounds, abscesses or eczema, a decoction of the rhizome is applied externally. You can use an infusion of bracken fern to treat rheumatism, radiculitis, hemorrhoids, cramps and ulcers by taking warm baths with it.

Contraindications for the use of bracken fern

But bracken fern also has contraindications. Since it contains toxic substances, the plant should be consumed only after consultation with your doctor and under the guidance of a homeopathic doctor or herbalist. Even if you think that you know everything about healing fern, do not risk your health and the health of your loved ones.

Under no circumstances should bracken be treated during breastfeeding, much less pregnancy. An overdose of decoction or infusion may cause headaches, cramps, vomiting, and nausea. In very serious cases - a sharp decrease in pressure, difficulty breathing, weakening of cardiovascular activity and, in the absence of qualified and timely assistance, even death. Therefore, as soon as any of the above symptoms occur or simply worsen general state, you must call immediately ambulance and rinse the stomach.

For a long time, bracken fern has become part of the daily diet of residents of Japan, Korea and the Far East. As you know, long-livers are most often found in these countries. The beneficial properties of the plant are numerous and arouse well-deserved interest among adherents of proper nutrition. All you have to do is learn how to prepare it for future use and cook delicious dishes with it.

lucky-girl.ru

Bracken FERN: beneficial properties and contraindications.

Bracken fern is one of the favorite dishes of residents of the Russian Far East, China, Korea and Japan. And despite the fact that most residents of our country cannot even imagine how this plant can be eaten, bracken fern is consumed in many parts of the world, as it has excellent taste and a wide range of beneficial properties.

Description of bracken fern: Bracken is a perennial fern plant. Of the huge number of ferns, only a few can be eaten; bracken is one of them. Bracken grows almost all over the globe and is one of the most common ferns in Russia. Young shoots of bracken with leaves that have not yet blossomed are eaten; an adult plant cannot be eaten as it contains substances that are poisonous to the human body. Bracken shoots are boiled, fried, stewed, salted, pickled, and prepared into salads, hot dishes and cold appetizers. Bracken goes well with meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and legumes. Bracken fern is not consumed fresh. This type of fern is also used in folk medicine, industry and pharmacology.

Composition of bracken fern: The composition of bracken fern shoots includes minerals - calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine, manganese, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus and other macro- and microelements. Bracken fern contains fiber, sugars, carotene, vitamins C, E, group B, amino acids, tannins, flavonoids, phytosterols, glycosides and other substances beneficial to human health.

Calorie content of bracken fern: Calorie content of bracken fern is about 35 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Useful properties of bracken fern:

• Regular consumption of bracken fern helps strengthen the immune system.

• It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and improves blood composition.

• Helps normalize blood sugar levels.

• Fern has a positive effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland and endocrine system.

• Favors the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, improves metabolism, removes toxins and waste from the body.

• Bracken fern helps remove radionuclides from the body.

• Increases the body's performance, improves the functioning of the nervous system, and helps cope with stress.

• Substances contained in bracken shoots slow down the aging process and help maintain youth.

Contraindications of bracken fern: If you are pregnant or have serious diseases of the internal organs, you should consult your doctor before consuming bracken fern shoots. As with almost all foods, when eating bracken you need to remember that everything is good in moderation!

And remember a healthy lifestyle involves not only proper nutrition and eating healthy foods, but also refusing bad habits, healthy sleep, physical activity and other components.

chudesalegko.ru

Bracken fern: beneficial properties and recipes:

The bracken fern decorates all summer with its spreading legs. birch groves Altai Territory, Far East, Siberia and the Urals. Fans of hiking in these parts enthusiastically admire its mysterious meadows, but few people know that this miracle plant is highly valued for its exquisite taste and beneficial properties. Recently, local gourmets have also become interested in recipes for fern dishes.

Unpretentious, beautiful and unkillable

Bracken fern is herbaceous plant similar to low bush. It usually grows in dense colonies, united underground by a common rhizome. Bracken is found in different climatic regions all over the earth. It is very easy to recognize by its beautiful feathery leaves, similar to acacia branches. If you cut the stem of a fern crosswise and carefully examine its image, you can see in it the eagle that gave this plant its name.

The common bracken fern is known for its vitality. It thrives in any soil, even the most infertile, rocky or sandy. Once settled, he remains in this place for many years. Summer residents and farmers do not like it for this, as they wage a fierce struggle with it as a difficult weed, which is almost impossible to eradicate. Even if there is a fire that destroys everything in the forest, grove or garden where this plant grew, it will be the first to sprout and sprout new shoots.

From harm to benefit - one step

Despite the widespread attitude towards ferns as weeds, two of their species are still classified as edible - ostrich and bracken. It is worth noting right away that these plants can be used for food only after following certain precautions. They cannot be consumed fresh, as they contain toxic substances that are poisonous to humans.

If there is such a risk, is bracken worth consuming? The beneficial properties of this plant far outweigh the minor danger that can be easily eliminated. This has long been understood by residents of many Asian countries, where ferns are not just a delicacy, but are considered national dish. Such love makes it possible for those who live in Kamchatka and the Primorsky Territory of Russia to have additional income.

Starting in May, when the first bracken shoots appear, many go to the taiga to collect this delicacy, which is purchased en masse from the population for export to China and Japan. Why is this plant loved so much in the East?

A storehouse of benefits, taste and health

Dishes made from bracken fern contain many useful elements that are found both in young shoots and in rhizomes. The leaves provide the body with the following substances:

1. Phytosterols - reduce cholesterol levels in the body.

2. Flavonoids - strengthen capillaries, regulate blood clotting, improve vascular permeability.

3. Sesquiterpenes - have an anthelmintic, anthelmintic effect.

4. Tannins (catechins) are indispensable for the prevention of cancer, and also increase immunity and preserve youth.

When eating young shoots and stems of bracken, the body benefits from elements such as essential oils, glycosides, alkaloids, fatty oils, aspartic, nicotinic, glutamic acids, tyrosine, phenylalanine, iodine, phosphorus and many other trace elements and vitamins. Thanks to such a rich composition, bracken fern is valued. Its beneficial properties stimulate metabolism and increase the body's stress resistance.

Don't miss the short collection period

Let's now proceed to detailed description all the nuances that need to be taken into account if you want a safe and tasty bracken to appear on your table. Preparation starts with correct collection. Although this plant can be found in forests, ravines, birch forests and even in your garden throughout the warm season, it should only be collected for cooking in the spring. The fact is that young shoots that have not yet produced leaves are edible.

At the end of spring, the shoots begin to harden, the spreading paws with leaves turn into a bush, which is no longer suitable for food, since it contains large quantities of bitter glycosides, and the level of toxic substances also increases significantly. It is important not to miss that short period when the bracken is still young, its stem is fragile, and the young shoots are bent into a hook. Such branches are as easy to collect as dandelions - they break easily, and their delicate leaves are rich in various substances.

Set goals and allocate time

Harvested bracken should be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than two days. During this period it must be processed, otherwise it will become completely poisonous. This must be taken into account when collecting. If your goal is to surprise your friends with an exotic dish, you should not collect it in large quantities. If you want to stock up while it is still edible in order to pamper yourself with its unusual taste throughout the year, then it is worth setting aside several days for these purposes, since you will need time not only for trips to the forest or grove for fern, but also for its processing.

Having collected the required amount of raw materials, immediately begin preparing it. Start with sorting - select a small number of beautiful and uniform heads to treat yourself to this delicacy this evening. Place the rest in the refrigerator. We will process it for a long time in order to prepare it for the winter or for future use. For this purpose, the plants will need to be salted, pickled or dried, but more on that later.

Preliminary processing

To ensure that your fern dinner is not overshadowed by food poisoning, you need to properly prepare freshly harvested raw materials. First of all, it is necessary to clear it of bitterness and toxic substances. Perfect option, which will allow you to preserve the beneficial substances and presentation of the fern as much as possible - this is soaking. The shoots prepared for cooking are dipped in a salty solution for a day, after which they are soaked in fresh water. This pre-treatment will make young bracken shoots completely safe and palatable.

If you don’t want to wait a whole day, then you can remove the bitterness from the fern using several stages of boiling. First, take a copper basin and pour a large amount of water into it. Bring it to a boil, add salt, immerse the shoots very carefully for two to three minutes. After this, you should replace the water and bring it to a boil again. This should be done two or three times.

During the last boiling, the shoots need to be boiled for about ten minutes, constantly monitoring the process. As soon as the fern heads curl into beautiful green rings, they should be removed from the heat. Now let's start preparing the bracken. The recipes for almost all bracken dishes are similar, differing only in the presence of ingredients. They are based on the same cooking methods that we are used to using when processing mushrooms.

Stocking up

Let us now return to processing the fern, which was put in the refrigerator. We want to store these reserves of raw materials for a long period of time by salting them. To do this you need to take large capacity, the best thing wooden barrel. Place the collected fern into it, mixed with salt in a ratio of 3 to 10 (for three kilograms of salt, 10 kilograms of raw materials). Cover with something heavy so that the brine appears under pressure. After two weeks, the brine should be drained and replaced with a new one, which should be prepared in a ratio of 2 to 10. Leave again for two weeks, after which the fern, if desired, can be salted again in a ratio of 1 to 10. After this, the shoots should be folded into bunches and dry.

Salted bracken can be stored as long as dried mushrooms. Before cooking, it should be pre-soaked and then used. In addition to pickling, bracken can be prepared in pickled form according to the scheme used for mushrooms.

Fern salad

The simplest recipe for how to cook bracken is to make it into a meat salad. Boiled beef or veal are best. You will also need hard-boiled eggs, green onions, hard cheese, fresh tomatoes and mayonnaise. All ingredients should be taken in equal quantities. Cheese, meat, tomatoes need to be finely chopped.

Pre-soak the bracken in water (salted) or boil it (raw). Place the prepared shoots in a frying pan in heated oil and simmer to remove excess moisture. After this, mix all the products evenly and season the salad with mayonnaise. Garnish it with finely chopped green onions.

It is impossible to cover all the many recipes that chefs offer for preparing bracken. These can be not only the famous Korean salads made from pickled fern, but also Russian inventions such as dumplings, pancakes and even pies stuffed with fried bracken. All these experiments became possible due to the fact that it tastes similar to mushrooms, so the same dishes are prepared from it.

Also to simple recipes include fried fern, which can be used as a gravy for any side dish. It's very easy to prepare:

1. Finely chop one onion and fry until transparent.

2. Place 400 grams of boiled fern in a frying pan and fry for another 10 minutes along with the onion.

3. Separately mix half a glass of sour cream with one tablespoon of flour.

4. Pour the mixture into the fried fern. Place in the oven. When a golden brown crust forms, remove. Serve hot.

Bracken Fern (Pteridium aguillinum)

Description

The scientific name of the plant comes from the following words: pteron is Greek for “wing”, and aquila is Latin for “eagle”. The leaves of this fern really resemble the wing of a huge bird.

The bracken stem grows underground. Young leaves - fronds - are formed in May and at first resemble a snail, and as they grow, they unfold and resemble a hook. The petiole of the leaf is called rachis. Ferns reproduce by spores.

Interesting Facts

Fern is one of the oldest plants on earth, surviving until today. Scientists believe that the compressed wood of ancient ferns became the main forming material of coal.

Everyone knows the belief that whoever finds a fern flower on the night of Ivan Kupala will be able to find all the treasures and open all the hearts. This is just a legend - the fern never blooms.

Compound

The rhizome of bracken fern contains starch, alkaloids, saponins, hydrocyanic and bracken-tannic acid, essential oils, flavonoids, fat, and tannins. Young shoots are rich in vitamins, tocopherol, riboflavin, carotene, and nicotinic acid.

The proteins of bracken fern are similar in their properties and composition to the proteins of grain crops and are easily digestible. Fern has long been used as food by taiga dwellers in the Far East, as well as by residents of Korea and Japan. The use of fern has a beneficial effect on growth processes, helps the formation of the skeleton, metabolism, activity of the nervous system, increases efficiency, improves the condition of the endocrine system, and promotes the removal of radionuclides from the body.

Application

Fern is used in cooking different nations peace. Salads are prepared from young leaves, “snails” are boiled, fried, pickled and salted for the winter, and used as a seasoning for meat. Bracken fern rachis tastes like mushrooms. Ferns should not be consumed fresh!

Beneficial features

Fern has been used for medicinal purposes for a long time. A decoction of rhizomes and herbs is taken internally for diseases of the spleen and intestines, for aching joints, diarrhea, jaundice, headache and chest pain, for dry pleurisy, noise in the head and, as a laxative, diuretic, analgesic and anthelmintic.

Externally, a decoction of fern rhizomes is used for wounds, eczema, scrofula, and abscesses. The infusion can be used for ulcers and rheumatism in the form of baths.

Contraindications

Fern infusions and decoctions should be used very carefully, under the guidance of an experienced herbalist, since fern is poisonous.

You cannot use fern during pregnancy!

Overdose can lead to nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, convulsions, decreased blood pressure, respiratory depression, weakening of cardiac activity and even death.

Calorie content and the nutritional value fern

Fern calories - 34 kcal.

Nutritional value of fern: proteins - 4.55 g, fats - 0.4 g, carbohydrates - 5.54 g

Greetings to everyone who cares about their health!

Today we will find out what are the benefits of fern. People often mistakenly overlook important things. So, for example, at first glance, an ordinary plant keeps secrets great history and great value for our body.

In the article you will find answers to many questions regarding ferns. You will learn: why it is useful, what properties experts attribute to it, and how to use it correctly.

Fern is unusual plant, with which ancient legends are associated, and the leaves are somewhat reminiscent of the open wings of a proud eagle. This plant has been growing on the planet for 400 million years.

By now, more than ten thousand varieties of fern have reached us. Of course, not all of them are beneficial to humans; there are also poisonous or simply useless varieties.

The composition of this plant is rich in microelements necessary for our body. Even in ancient times, people understood the value of ferns. All parts of this plant are used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. In addition, it is a low-calorie product that is quite easily digested due to the proteins it contains.

This plant has long been an important part of the diet of peoples of Eastern cultures. In order to learn about the benefits of fern, first we will briefly familiarize ourselves with the chemical composition. Ferns contain many saponins, alkaloids and essential oils.

Young shoots, rich in vitamin complex groups A, B, E and PP. In addition, the composition includes fats and flavonoids. This is far from full list useful substances. Chemical composition differs depending on the variety, age and individual part of the plant (leaves, rhizome, “snails”).

It is strictly forbidden to use fern without pre-treatment. A fresh plant can cause food poisoning, vomiting, nausea and general intoxication of the body.

The most popular fern is called “bracken”. He's very helpful. This plant grows in almost all countries. Only young shoots whose leaves have not yet blossomed are used for food. With age, bracken becomes poisonous and, of course, can no longer be used in cooking.

• strengthening the immune system
• normalization of the cardiovascular system
• improving thyroid function
• normalization of blood sugar levels
• improving blood composition
• positive effect on the endocrine system
• strengthening bone tissue
• normalization of the gastrointestinal tract
• increasing the body's performance
• improving metabolism

The usefulness of fern is difficult to overestimate. In addition to the above, its use helps remove toxins, waste and radionuclides from the body. Active components plants help cope with stress and also have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

In addition, this component is also useful for self-care. It is often used in cosmetology. Bracken shoot contains substances that slow down the aging process, which means its regular use will help maintain a young and fresh appearance.

In ancient times, people often used the leaves of this plant to make various amulets to protect themselves and their homes from evil spirits and damage. Nowadays, the most common way to use fern is in cooking. It is useful, of course, only if it is prepared correctly.

Salting ancient plants for the winter is popular. For this purpose, the petioles of one of the edible varieties fern - bracken or ostrich. The preparation method is reminiscent of pickling mushrooms and takes place in three stages with breaks of several weeks. The taste of bracken petioles after processing resembles mushrooms, and the second type of fern is more like sauerkraut.

Before preparing a fresh plant, of any variety, it must first be boiled in salt water for ten minutes. After which the water is drained, and the healthy product is stewed, marinated, fried, etc.

A salad made from this ancient plant is very healthy. To prepare it, fern leaves are soaked in water for a day, after which they are cut and boiled for thirty minutes. Next, fried onions and meat are added to it. We fill it all up soy sauce and simmer. The chilled salad is served on the table.

Fern cabbage soup, special roasting, delicacies and other dishes are also popular. Rice with the addition of this plant is very good for health, it is widely popular among eastern peoples. There are actually a lot of cooking variations. Therefore, everyone can find something to their taste.

Fern is not always useful for everyone. It is recommended to consult a doctor or experienced herbalist before consuming it. There are a number of contraindications:

• It is strictly forbidden to use this plant during pregnancy.
• The presence of serious diseases of internal organs is a strong argument for refusing to use ferns

An overdose of this product is very dangerous. In some cases, convulsions, vomiting and nausea are possible. Dizziness, low blood pressure, disruptions in the cardiovascular system, etc. can also be caused. If alarming symptoms are ignored for a long time, even death is possible.

In any case, fern is useful, but only if you consume it in moderation and follow all the advice and recommendations of experienced specialists. You should also remember that decoctions alone are not enough to maintain health. It is important to give up all bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle. Only in this case will you be able to maintain your health for many years.

If we talk about health, then see also. Now there are many various techniques and techniques for creating an ideal body and maintaining healthy image life. It is important to remember that not all of them are universal, and what works well for one person may, on the contrary, be harmful to another.

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