Quince: useful properties and contraindications, recipes and features of use

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

One of the oldest fruits is quince. The beneficial properties of this fruit are simply incredible, for which it deserves attention. This interesting fruit, on the one hand, resembles an apple, on the other, a pear, although it does not have their taste.

In the article you can find useful properties of quince and contraindications to its consumption. This fruit is distinguished by dryish pulp, which has a tart, astringent and slightly sour taste. Despite such signs, in ancient times it was considered one of the symbols of fertility and love. That is why this fruit is worthy of attention.

What is a quince?

Useful properties of the fruit are of interest to many people. Before moving on to them, you should find out what this fruit is. Since our ancestors actively used it, the current generation wants to know more about it.

Quince is a plant in the form of a shrub or a low tree, on which edible fruits grow. It belongs to the Rose family. Quince is common in Central Asia,Australia, Transcaucasia, the Mediterranean, as well as certain Asian regions.

Fruits are used for cooking and various cosmetics. Like other plants, they have a number of useful properties, which is why they are on the list of traditional medicine.

What is it like

Today, there are several varieties of quince. Each of them has useful properties, which is important. Distinguishing varieties from each other is difficult at first glance, but basic knowledge about each category can help.

The most popular varieties are:

1. Chinese quince. The beneficial properties and benefits of this fruit as a whole boil down to the fact that it is rich in nutrients, vitamins and various trace elements. A distinctive feature is the appearance of flowers of a pale pink hue during flowering. Chinese quince is very fragrant, it has a rather fleshy pulp with pronounced astringency and slight acidity. Such a fruit remarkably helps in the treatment of the stomach, spleen and liver. In addition, it can be used to eliminate swelling that occurs during gestation in women.
2. Japanese quince. Shrubs of this variety reach a height of 2 meters. They belong to the category of evergreens, have red flowers and unimaginably tasty fruits. Their pulp contains quite a lot of fruit acids, so the juice obtained from it must be further diluted with water.
3. Plain quince. The third known varietyare trees with large fruits. Ordinary fruits grow in the Crimea, the B altic States, Central Asia, Greece, as well as in central Russia.

Composition and energy value

The composition and value of the product are of no less interest to people than the beneficial properties of quince, so they should also be considered separately. The calorie content of fruit per 100 grams is 48 kcal, and the content of proteins / fats / carbohydrates is 0.6/0.5/9.6 grams.

The composition of quince is quite rich. It includes the following items:

• provitamin A;
• vitamins E, C, EE, as well as group B;
• mineral complex (sodium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, iron);
• organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric, tartaric).

Is fruit he althy?

Quince is a fruit whose beneficial properties and harm are known only to a few. Finally, it's time to learn more about them. Due to the amazing composition, the fruit provides the human body with invaluable help. This is:

• reducing blood cholesterol;
• prevention and treatment of viruses and colds;
• strengthening the immune system;
• reducing the risk of cancer;
• body rejuvenation;
• improving blood circulation;
• ensure a stable heartbeat;
• detoxification;
• help with diarrhea;
• prevention of thrombosis;
• prevention of cholesterol plaques;
• treatment of hemorrhoids.

These beneficial properties of quince foreveryone should know the human body. This fruit can really serve as an excellent medicine that will give a much greater effect than any expensive drug.

People want to know both the beneficial properties of the quince fruit and the harm it can cause. Fortunately, it does not impair he alth and does not pose a danger to those who take into account contraindications.

Benefits for women and men

Useful properties of quince and contraindications for women should also be known. In addition to the features given above, it is worth saying that the fruit is very important for the woman's body. This applies to the entire weaker sex, including pregnant women. The benefits for the female body are expressed as follows:

• iron contained in quince is an important element for pregnant and lactating women, as well as during "critical days";
• fruit acts as an antiemetic, so it helps pregnant women with toxicosis;
• thanks to folic acid, the risk of developing cleft palate in children is reduced, and the fruit also contributes to protein and energy security.

No less interesting will be the beneficial properties of quince and contraindications for men. More details about the restrictions on fruit consumption will be discussed later, but for now you need to figure out why the stronger sex should pay attention to this fruit at all. The following points should be noted here:

• vitamin A helps prevent prostate cancer;
• niacin(Vitamin PP) regulates the most important hormones: testosterone, insulin, estrogen and progesterone.

Contraindications

The beneficial properties of quince for the human body, of course, make you think about the regular consumption of this fruit. But, unfortunately, the composition does not allow all people to eat it. The main contraindications are:

• pleurisy;
• chronic constipation;
• enterocolitis;
• predisposition to allergic reactions;
• individual intolerance.

All these points are absolute contraindications. This means that if they are available, eating fruits is strictly prohibited.

In addition to this list, there is another list of situations in which it is allowed to eat quince, but this must be done very carefully. These include:

• gastric ulcer;
• constipation;
• high blood clotting;
• lactation;
• allergic to fruits.

Knowing the beneficial properties of quince and contraindications, every adult will be able to determine for himself whether he can use this fruit and in what quantities to do it. If there is a disease in which eating a fruit is strictly prohibited, but you still want to try it, then you should consult a doctor. He will tell you how to satisfy your needs without harming your body.

Consumption rules

All the useful properties of quince make it moreattractive to use. But few people know that it is quite difficult to eat it, even if it is ripe. This feature makes people think about whether it is possible to eat it raw and how to cook it properly so as not only to get benefits, but also to enjoy the taste.

The pulp of the fruit is quite dense, it has a peculiar taste and aroma. Of course, some people like it that way, but most find it all strange.

Despite the fact that quince is a fruit, it can be used to cook not only desserts. It is perfect as a side dish for meat dishes if it is fried. In addition, it is often supplemented with pilaf, to which the fruit gives more richness and flavor.

Also, compote, jam, infusion and so on can be easily prepared from quince. All this is easily done at home. To prepare a delicious dish with an amazing aroma, you do not need to have special skills in cooking or purchase special equipment. The only difficulty is that you can not get quince everywhere, although you can find everything if you wish.

Quince jam

Thanks to the beneficial properties of quince (Japanese, common and Chinese), experienced chefs have developed several recipes that attract the attention of consumers. One of them is jam. This fruit acquires its real taste only after heat treatment. After it, unpleasant astringency and viscosity disappear, and a great taste and aroma appears. At the same time, useful properties are never lost.

First thing 1kg of fruit must be thoroughly washed and cut into large slices. Then they need to be put in boiling water and boiled for 15 minutes. When the quince is ready, drain the broth and add a couple of tablespoons of sugar to it. Next, the liquid must be put on fire and allowed to boil, then combined with boiled fruit slices and left for 5 hours. After this time, the almost ready jam must again be put on fire and boiled for another 4 minutes. When the mass has cooled, it is recommended to add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it.

Having learned the main useful properties of quince and recipes for its preparation, many people immediately run to the store to get it. In fact, it is better to look for it in the market, where sellers bring fruits directly from greenhouses, where they are grown using a special technology in compliance with all the rules.

Compote

Like any other fruit, quince can be used to make compote. It will require the following ingredients:

• 3 fruits;
• a couple of cinnamon sticks;
• 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar;
• 3 glasses of water;
• a pinch of citric acid.

First, you need to thoroughly wash all the fruits and cut each of them into 4 parts. After that, you need to remove the seeds and, if desired, remove the peel, although it will not interfere with anything. Next, each slice should be cut into small slices and placed in a pre-washed container, where the drink will be closed. After you need to boil water and pour it into a jar, substituting a knife or spoon tothe glass did not crack under the influence of high temperature. Then the jar needs to be covered with a tin lid and left for about 20 minutes. The duration of the infusion must be chosen depending on the desired hardness of the fruit - the longer it is steamed, the softer it will be.

The next step is to put cinnamon, granulated sugar and citric acid into the pan. After 20 minutes, pour the syrup from the jar of steamed fruit into this container and boil the contents. Next, you need to remove the cinnamon from there, and return the remaining liquid to the jar with slices. After the container should be corked with a hot tin lid using a special seaming device. Before placing in the basement or cellar, it must be checked for leaks and allowed to cool completely.

This way you get a wonderful compote that you can get in the winter. In finished form, it will be not only tasty, but also useful. When the cold comes and the risk of catching the virus is very high, compote can be used as a prophylactic. It will help improve the immune system and energize. Both adults and children will drink such a drink with great pleasure. At first, its taste will seem unusual, but it cannot be called disgusting. And the aroma of a freshly opened jar will attract the attention of all people nearby. The velvety and moderately sweet smell of quince will appeal to everyone.

What to do with seeds

When people learn more about the fruit in question, they become less interested in the beneficial propertiesquince. The fruit has amazing seeds that can also be used in cooking and medicine.

The most interesting recipe is an emollient for colic. For him, you need to take about 15 grams of seeds and a glass of water. The components must be combined and then shaken for 10 minutes. The result will be a kind of infusion, which should be consumed in a tablespoon after each main meal (no more than three times a day).

Another option for using seeds is to prepare a decoction for use as a lotion for skin diseases, burns, eye diseases, and baldness. To do this, pour a teaspoon of the main component with 300 ml of water and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes. Next, the vessel must be removed from the heat, wrapped in a towel and left for a couple of hours. Then the broth should be filtered, after which it will be ready for use.

How to use leaves

The useful properties of quince leaves deserve special attention. They are collected during the flowering period of trees and stored in a dry place. These ingredients help to cope with many diseases. They are approved for use by both adults and children.

In order to relieve an acute attack of bronchial asthma, you should prepare a decoction of 6 leaves and a glass of boiling water. They need to be combined, held in a water bath for up to 16 minutes, and then squeeze the raw materials into another vessel and add a little cooled boiled water there to get the initial volume. Ready liquid is recommended to be taken 3 times a daya couple of tablespoons.

Another decoction will help in the treatment of angina. It is prepared from one tablespoon of dried leaves, which are poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled for 5 minutes. As soon as the product has cooled down, it can be used immediately. It is allowed to drink ready-made broth no more than 3 times a day, one tablespoon each.

Chenomeles

The list of useful properties of quince for the body of each person helps many people find a universal remedy for various diseases. In this regard, the Japanese fruit, scientifically called chaenomeles, is especially popular. It contains vitamin C, which improves the functioning of internal organs.

From Japanese quince you can cook all the same dishes that are provided above. If there are no contraindications, then you can consume it in unlimited quantities. But it is worth considering that due to its amazing features, the fruit does not allow people to enjoy it for too long.