Birch sap (birch tree) - liquid emerging from a birch in places of damage to its trunk or branches. Such damage can be cuts or fractures, and the outflow of fluid is due to the action of root pressure in the tree.
Birch sap is a very valuable product enriched with many beneficial substances for the body, due to which this liquid has a complex beneficial effect on human health.
Composition of birch sap
- Juice density - 1.0007-1.0046 g / ml;
- Solids content - 0.7-4.6 g / l;
- Ash content - 0.3-0.7 mg / l;
- The total sugar content is 0.5-2.3%;
- Protein - 0.1 g / 100 g;
- Fat - 0.0;
- Carbohydrates - 5.8 g / 100 g;
- Among organic substances, we note: essential oils, saponins, betulol, more than 10 organic acids.
The calorie content of birch sap is - 22-24 kcal per 100 g of fresh product.
Birch sap also contains the following macro- and microelements (minerals):
- sugars - 1-4%;
- - 273 mg / l;
- - 16 mg / l;
- - 13 mg / l;
- - 6 mg / l;
- aluminum (Al) - 1-2 mg / l;
- manganese (Mn) - 1 mg / l;
- iron (Fe) - 0.25 mg / l;
- silicon (Si) - 0.1 mg / l;
- titanium (Ti) - 0.08 mg / l;
- copper (Cu) - 0.02 mg / l;
- strontium (Sr) - 0.1 mg / l;
- barium (Ba) - 0.01 mg / l;
- nickel (Ni) - 0.01 mg / l;
- zirconium (Zr) - 0.01 mg / l;
- - 0.01 mg / l;
- traces of nitrogen (N).
The chemical composition may vary slightly depending on the region of growth of the donor birch birch and the composition of the soil on which the tree grows.
Medical studies have shown that taking at least one glass a day for 2-3 weeks (it is optimal to drink a glass three times a day half an hour before meals) will help the body cope with spring, or, absent-mindedness, fatigue, etc.
From the point of view of herbal medicine, birch sap is one of the best natural remedies for improving metabolism. Despite the fact that birch sap differs little from water, it ferments well and has a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach.
Birch sap is rich in sugars necessary for the body, organic acids, enzymes, calcium, magnesium, iron and others, which we talked about a little earlier. Due to its rich composition, it is recommended for diseases of the blood, joints, skin, as well as for, and other diseases of the respiratory system.
The use of birch sap helps to cleanse the blood, enhance metabolic processes, and removes harmful substances from the body in infectious diseases. It is useful to drink juice with and, diseases of the liver, gallbladder, low acidity, scurvy, and venereal diseases.
Birch sap also contributes to the rapid cleansing of the body of harmful substances and the breakdown of urinary stones of phosphate and carbonate origin.
Birch increases the body's resistance to colds, infectious and allergic diseases, has an anthelmintic, diuretic, antitumor effect, it is useful to wipe the skin with birch juice when, to moisturize and cleanse dry skin.
And it is also useful to wash hair with birch sap when, to enhance their growth and the appearance of shine and softness (the infusion of birch leaves has the same property). Birch sap is a good remedy for impotence. Birch "tears" have a very good effect on women during the period. If you drink at least a glass of juice a day, drowsiness, fatigue, irritability and other phenomena accompanying menopause will disappear.
Birch sap began to enjoy particular popularity in the middle of the last century on the territory of the former USSR. Now in the post-Soviet space they talk about it much less, but this product is in great demand in the USA and European countries.
So, many cosmetic brands in Sweden have introduced it into their products, in Finland its beneficial properties are compared with those of aloe vera, and in South Korea, based on it, medicines have been developed to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and migraine. In addition, in the United States, birch sap has recently replaced another popular natural tonic, coconut water.
general characteristics
In fact, birch sap is an amazing substance with high biological activity. This is the name of the liquid that flows out of specially made cuts on the trunk or branches of a birch under the influence of root pressure.
Collecting nectar begins in early spring, at the beginning of March, and ends in mid-April, when leaves appear on the trees. On average, one tree brings 2-3 liters of healing liquid.
The natural product has a sweetish taste and a rather pleasant, very specific aroma. It is consumed both in its "natural" form, and various drinks are prepared from it, and can also be preserved.
Calorie content and chemical composition
By its chemical composition, birch sap is a substance with high biological activity. At the same time, its energy value is very low, 100 g of liquid contains only 22 kcal. The composition of the nutrients in the drink is as follows: 0.1 g, 5.8 g, absent.
The product contains phytoncides - natural plant antibiotics, substances with a powerful antibacterial effect. It is also rich in tannins and essential oils.
If we talk about vitamins, the nectar of the "white-skinned" tree is a storehouse known for its ability to increase the body's resistance to viruses and bacteria, as well as to accelerate the process of tissue regeneration. In addition, vitamin C is an active participant in the synthesis of an important collagen protein, which is necessary in order to maintain healthy hair and skin, and also has a beneficial effect on the activity of the pancreas. In addition, the drink contains and. The first is an active participant in the synthesis of nucleic acids that prevent aging, helps prevent skin diseases, and strengthens the nervous system. Vitamin B12, in turn, is essential for maintaining normal cell division. It takes part in energy metabolism, helps to better endure mental and physical overload, prevents the development of anemia.
The mineral composition of the product is quite impressive. First of all, it contains (27.3 mg), which is necessary for the normalization of the heart rate, helps to equalize the water balance in the body, which helps to reduce the burden on the kidneys and helps to avoid the occurrence of edema. In addition, potassium improves the oxygen supply to the brain tissue.
With gastritis, heartburn, inflammation of the gallbladder
Take 50 ml of nectar three times a day before sitting down to the table. In case of high acidity, dilute the drink in a ratio of two to one.
Another recipe that will help to cope with diseases of the digestive system: pour a glass of oatmeal with 120 ml of birch sap. Leave the mixture in a cool place overnight, and boil it in a water bath in the morning until the volume is halved. Take a glass three times a day for a month.
For colds and sore throats
Drink the lukewarm juice and gargle with it. Also, with an increase in body temperature, compresses with birch sap can be used by applying gauze soaked in it to the elbow folds and to the forehead.
With sand and kidney stones
Take 150 ml of birch sap on an empty stomach in the morning and before bed in the evening. The duration of the course is three months.
With vitamin deficiency and low immunity
Mix equal amounts (half a glass each) of birch sap and milk. Add 0.5 teaspoon to the mixture. Stir well and take this mixture half a glass three times a day.
Another recipe is as follows: pass three with the peel through a meat grinder and pour 500 ml of birch sap over them. Leave the mixture in a cool place for 48 hours. After that, add a teaspoon and let it brew again for two days in the cold. This remedy should be taken three times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals. The dose is 100 ml.
With caries and stomatitis
Use birch sap to rinse your mouth. It is noteworthy that, unlike the bulk of fruit juices, this drink does not have a negative effect on tooth enamel.
Use in cosmetology
Birch sap is widely used in cosmetology. It is used as a topical remedy for a variety of cosmetic problems and helps restore healthy hair and skin.
For skin beauty
First of all, it should be noted that birch sap is effective in combating a variety of skin imperfections. To get rid of unaesthetic blackheads, peeling and irritation, wipe your face with cotton swabs soaked in juice in the morning and evening.
A mask of 30 g of birch sap, 15 g and 10 g of honey will help moisturize dry skin. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply the mask to the skin. Wash off with room temperature water a quarter of an hour later.
A lotion prepared as follows will also help soften dry skin: bring a glass of birch sap over low heat to a boil, then add a teaspoon of liquid honey to it. Stir gently, cool and rub it over your face three times a day.
If you notice that the skin has lost its tone and new fine wrinkles have appeared, add 10 g of dry milk to 100 ml of warm milk. Add the pre-beaten egg there, add 60 g, 30 g and pour in 12 g. Wrap the mixture and let it brew for an hour. After that, add 100 ml of a little warmed birch sap and two tablespoons of chopped birch buds to it. Apply gruel to problem areas, and after half an hour, rinse with lukewarm water.
To whiten your skin and give it a truly aristocratic look, mix 1: 1 white and blue clay. Dilute the composition with juice until it acquires the consistency of a cream. Apply the mixture to your face for twenty minutes, then rinse with birch sap. Please note that after this procedure, you must not go out into the sun for two hours.
A universal mask is useful for both dry and oily skin. To prepare it, mix a tablespoon with half a tablespoon of honey, beat a raw egg into the mixture and add two tablespoons of birch nectar. The mass must be homogeneous. Apply it on previously cleansed face skin, and after twenty minutes, rinse off with water at room temperature.
An express method to restore a fresh look to the skin: a compress of birch sap. Prepare cheesecloth folded in half. Soak it in fresh birch sap and place it on your face. The duration of the procedure is twenty minutes. In addition, the juice of the "white-skinned" beauty produces excellent cosmetic ice, which can then be used for rubbing.
In order to refresh the skin, you can prepare a scrub from two tablespoons of celandine herb, three tablespoons of liquid honey and a tablespoon of wheat grits. Dilute this mixture with birch sap until it acquires the consistency of a rather thick cream. Moving along the massage lines, gently apply the scrub and massage gently.
For hair beauty
To ensure the beauty and healthy shine of your curls, rinse your hair with birch sap after each shampooing for fourteen days.
To restore freshness to oily hair, prepare a mixture of two tablespoons of birch sap, a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon. Pour 250 ml into this mixture, and then pour it into a dark glass container, close tightly and shake thoroughly. The product should be infused in a dark place for ten days. After that, before each shampooing, rub the lotion into the skin, wrap your hair with a terry towel and keep this mask for an hour and a half. Then wash your hair using your regular shampoo. After just a few procedures, the hair will look fresher and more well-groomed.
A mask of two tablespoons of burdock oil and six tablespoons of birch sap will help stimulate hair growth. Apply it to your hair for half an hour, during which the head should be wrapped in a foil and a towel. Then wash off the mask using your regular shampoo.
Harm and contraindications
Compared to other juices, the list of contraindications for birch sap is very limited. It is approved for use by pregnant women, and it is worth refusing to use it only in case of individual intolerance, as well as in case of an allergic reaction to birch pollen. In addition, nutritionists recommend that people who have been diagnosed with diabetes be careful when using birch sap.
However, one more important fact must be taken into account. Birch, like a sponge, absorbs all toxins from the environment. Therefore, sap should be collected only from trees located in ecologically clean places, away from the tracks. Otherwise, this drink will not only bring no benefit, but it may even be hazardous to health, since it will contain heavy metals that have got into it from the exhaust gases.
How to properly collect birch sap
In the event that you decide to go “hunting” for birch sap on your own, you should take into account several important factors.
You can collect sap only from those trees that grow away from industrial enterprises and highways. The most delicious and healthy is the juice that is extracted from old trees. The birch trunk must be at least twenty centimeters thick. Young birches have very watery sap, and in addition, they do not tolerate manipulations of sap collection very well and may die.
After you have selected a suitable tree, drill a hole 2-3 centimeters deep at a height of about half a meter on the south side. It should slope downward at approximately a 45 degree angle. Insert a piece of a plastic tube into this hole, and under it place a container into which the juice will drain.
The maximum amount of liquid that one tree can give is two liters per day. However, you should not get too carried away, because the loss of a large amount of sap is fraught with the death of the tree. Therefore, it is better to collect juice from several birches, and do not seek to "bleed" one.
After you have finished collecting, close up the wound in the trunk with moss, plasticine, or cover it with felt.
How to store the product correctly
With all the indisputable advantages, birch sap has one very important drawback: it deteriorates very quickly. In the refrigerator, this drink will "live" no more than three days. After that, although the taste may remain the same, the beneficial properties will wane.
Another way to preserve birch sap is to freeze it. In this case, the concentration of nutrients will not change, and the shelf life of such an ice blank will be a year. You can store it in the freezer and use it as needed, defrosting the juice just before drinking.
Cooking use
In cooking, birch nectar is used both in pure form and as a component of mixed juices. In particular, it is often mixed with a decoction and infusion.
In the United States, birch sap is used to make syrup, which is prepared according to the same principle as maple. From 100 liters of juice, only a liter of syrup is obtained. It is light golden in color and tastes like honey with a slight woody aroma.
In addition, birch sap is used to prepare and.
Cooking birch kvass with raisins
To prepare the drink, you will need the following ingredients: 10 liters of birch sap, 0.5 kg and 50 berries.
Rinse and dry the raisins. Strain the juice.
Add sugar to the juice, add raisins and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. After that, cover the pan with gauze folded in several layers and leave in a room with a temperature of about 22 degrees.
In three days the kvass will be ready. Strain it thoroughly again and can bottle it.
Canning lemon juice
In order to prepare a delicious and aromatic birch sap with lemon, you will need the following ingredients: 7 liters of juice, three sprigs of mint, half a lemon and ten tablespoons of sugar.
Strain the juice and pour into a large saucepan. Pour sugar in there and squeeze the juice of half a lemon. Put on low heat and bring to a boil, removing the foam.
After the syrup has boiled, add the mint and simmer over low heat for ten minutes.
Pour the juice into pre-sterilized jars and roll up. Turn upside down, wrap and leave to cool completely. After that, you can put the jars in a cool place for storage.
Canning orange juice
To prepare this drink, you will need 3 liters of birch sap, three tablespoons of sugar, one sweet, half a dessert spoon and a dessert spoon of dry mint leaves.
Pour the juice into an enamel saucepan and bring to a boil over low heat.
Sterilize a three-liter jar, add sugar, citric acid and put an orange peeled into slices on the bottom. Place the mint leaves there.
Using a strainer, strain the hot birch sap into the jar. Roll it up and turn it upside down, then wrap it up carefully. When the canning has cooled down, store it in a cool, dark place.
Everyone is already accustomed to drinking orange, peach, apple, grape juice. Have you ever heard about birch, or at least remember the words of the song - I drank birch sap in a birch forest? You may have even tried it, especially if you have ever lived or just been in the countryside. Have you ever wondered what kind of birch sap is beneficial and harmful? Let's figure it out.
It is known that such a drink has been used by people for a very long time. It is most common in Russia, although it should be noted that other countries are beginning to look closely at this drink. Previously, in the USSR, birch sap was easy to buy in almost every store. This is no longer the case these days. And young people no longer even know what taste this drink has.
In general, this type of juice is a liquid, seemingly transparent. Under the influence of the root pressure of the tree, it is released from its trunk. In order to taste it, you need to cut or break the bark a little, and insert a small tube into the resulting gap - the juice will flow through it. And of course, you need to prepare a jar, bottle or other container that you want to fill. After all this procedure, the collection site should be sealed with wax so as not to harm the tree.
This drink can be harvested between April and May (until mid-April).
It tastes very fresh, with a slight sweetish aftertaste. At the same time, it quenches thirst very well. Birch sap contains a lot of vitamin C, mineral and tannins, as well as essential oils.
The benefits of birch sap
What is birch sap useful for? It should be said here that due to the high content of nutrients in birch sap, it generally has a beneficial and healing effect on the body. In addition, it is also taken as a medicine.
For example, if you are tormented by a cough, then you need to drink warmed birch sap, having previously mixed it with starch and milk. This drink should be drunk every day, 1 glass, until the cough subsides.
With a runny nose, and especially if it is chronic, you need to drink a glass of birch liquid every day. This will help get rid of it in a short time, or at least make it easier.
Do you have minor problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract? Then just drink this juice more often. After all, it stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and, in general, has a beneficial effect on digestion. It relieves constipation and normalizes stool. And if you have any inflammation in the oral cavity, then you can rinse it with juice.
Birch sap helps in the fight against edema that occurs due to sand or stones in the gallbladder or kidneys, as well as in general with impaired kidney function. The fact is that it has a diuretic property. But if you have one of these diseases, this drink can be treated only after consulting a doctor.
If you have abrasions, ulcers, or other wounds that have not healed for a long time, try treating them with undiluted birch sap. He will help tighten them.
Birch sap also helps to alleviate spring depression and cope with vitamin deficiency. To do this, drink a glass of this drink every day for 2 weeks.
By the way, if you follow your figure, then you will like this drink. After all, it contains neither fats nor proteins. It consists entirely of carbohydrates, and its calorie content is extremely low. Moreover, this liquid has a high nutritional value. Therefore, it is recommended to drink it if you have already lost some amount of weight and now this process has stopped.
In addition to medicinal, birch sap also has cosmetic properties. So, they can rinse your hair. This will help restore moisture balance in the scalp, thereby helping to strengthen the hair structure and prevent dandruff. If you suffer from active loss, then make a mask from this drink by adding a decoction of burdock root and a little brandy to it. This mixture should be applied for half an hour and then washed off with water at a temperature that is comfortable for you.
The drink also helps to rejuvenate and nourish the skin of the face or body. For example, you can use it to get rid of acne. To do this, you need to make a mask of juice, honey and egg white once a week. If you do not suffer from acne, you can use birch liquid for prevention: just wipe your face with it in the morning and evening.
Harm and contraindications
If there can be some harm from birch sap, then it will definitely be weak. That is why it is allowed to drink to people of any age and even pregnant women, nursing mothers.
But still, there are contraindications. For example, if you are allergic to pollen from birch catkins. By the way, this drink can cause allergies very rarely (except for the already mentioned case), in contrast to the same orange one. But irritations of various kinds and a rash may appear on the skin.
Also, it should not be drunk with stomach ulcers. It is best to limit your juice intake if you are taking large amounts of antidepressants or other medications, or if you smoke or drink.
How and where the drink was collected is very important. We have already described above how to collect birch sap. If you really want to get the beneficial properties of this drink, then you cannot collect it near highways and factories. Indeed, otherwise, it will contain heavy metals in large quantities. Having drunk such juice, you not only will not get any healing effect, but you can cause serious harm and get poisoned.
Birch sap is a very useful natural drink that is endowed with a lot of medicinal properties and has an extremely beneficial effect on the human body. This is the so-called elixir of beauty, health, vigor and strength. This is because it contains many useful substances, organic acids and trace elements. Today we will learn everything about birch sap, talk about its benefits, how, where and when to collect it, as well as how to store the drink.
All about the benefits of birch sap
Birch sap contains fructose, glucose, sucrose, organic acids, enzymes and substances that have high antimicrobial activity (phytoncides), as well as potassium, iron, manganese, calcium, sodium, magnesium, copper, which are required by the body weakened by spring vitamin deficiency.
Birch sap is endowed with a huge amount useful properties:
- Perfectly strengthens the immune system.
- Normalizes the work of the heart.
- It has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.
- Improves metabolism and is very beneficial for brain function.
- Tones, invigorates and energizes the body.
- Just one glass of drink a day will relieve you of sleepiness, fatigue and depression.
- The drink is called one of the best dietary and general tonic.
- It is very useful for people with diseases of the urinary tract and kidneys - it stimulates kidney function, has a diuretic effect, promotes the secretion of uric acid and increases urine output.
- Useful for lung diseases, bronchitis, tuberculosis, sore throat, cough.
- Relieve headaches and migraines.
- Useful for sexually transmitted diseases.
- It is recommended to take a drink for diseases of the liver, gallbladder, duodenum and with low acidity.
- Helps with high blood pressure and anemia.
- It has a therapeutic effect on arthritis, radiculitis and rheumatism.
- It is able to cleanse the blood and remove toxic substances from the body.
- Taking birch sap can increase the body's resistance to allergic, infectious and colds.
- For chronic rhinitis, it is recommended to take one glass of fresh birch sap every morning.
- Endowed with anthelmintic, antitumor and diuretic effects.
- It is useful to wipe the skin for acne, eczema, psoriasis, furunculosis, neurodermatitis, fungal diseases, poorly healing wounds,
Important! To preserve birch sap for a long time, it can be frozen in ice cube trays and used as cosmetic ice.
Birch sap is widely used in cosmetology:
- Perfectly cleanses and refreshes the skin, and for this you just need to wash it in the morning.
- Used to moisturize and cleanse dry skin.
- Used for shampooing - to strengthen hair, its rapid growth, making hair soft and shiny; used to combat dandruff.
- You can also do anti-cellulite wraps.
Did you know? In 1956 Soviet poet Stepan Shchipachev wrote the story "Birch sap".
How to determine the collection time
Harvesting begins in the spring during the first thaws, and ends after bud break. The start of the collection is dictated by weather conditions. But often the juice begins to flow somewhere in the middle of March, when the snow melts and the buds begin to swell, and continues to run until mid-late April.
You can check if it's time to collect and harvest with a thin awl. It is necessary to go out into the forest and make a puncture in a birch as thick as an arm with this awl. If the juice has already gone, then a drop will immediately appear at the puncture site. This will mean that collection and harvesting can begin.
Important! The most intensive sap flow along the tree occurs during daylight hours.
Is it possible to collect birch sap in urban areas
Answering the question whether it is possible to collect juice in the city, we will immediately warn you: no, don't even think about it. It is necessary to collect it away from large cities, from roads, from large factories and polluted places, since wood can absorb all harmful substances and exhaust gases from vehicles from the environment. The sap that will be collected from such trees will not only bring no benefit, but may also harm your health.
Best places to collect
To get a really healthy juice, the place of collection must be chosen very carefully. It is best collected in ecologically clean forests, away from urban areas, industrial zones and highways.
Features of the collection, how to properly collect a healthy drink
Before taking birch sap, you need to know some simple, but very important rules and timing of collection:
- Young trees cannot be used for harvesting, only adult trees, which have a diameter of 20 cm or more. If you collect juice from young trees, you can destroy them, because during the growth of the tree he needs it himself.
- Use a drill with a 5-10 mm drill bit for collection. Such a hole grows in the trunk almost without a trace.
- It is not necessary to make a too deep hole in the tree trunk, because the sap mainly goes in the surface layer between the bark and the wood. It will be enough 2-3 cm deep.
- The best time to harvest is between 10:00 and 18:00, when the juice flows most intensively.
- Do not try to drain all the juice from one tree, as you can ruin it. It would be better to bypass five to ten trees and drain a liter per day from each.
- When finished, be sure to help the tree heal its wounds. Cover the hole with wax, garden varnish, close or hammer in a wooden stopper to keep bacteria out of the barrel.
As for how, in fact, get birch sap:
- Choose a birch tree with a well-developed crown with a diameter of more than 20-30 cm.
- Carefully make a hole in the trunk at a distance of 20 cm from the ground.
- Attach a birch bark tray or some other semicircular device through which juice will drain into the hole made or under it.
- Place a jar, bottle or bag under the groove where the juice will run.
The number of holes made in the barrel depends on its diameter. With a tree diameter of 20-25 cm, only one hole can be made, and then one more hole for every ten centimeters. But the main thing is not to overdo it with holes, because the more the tree is injured, the more difficult it will be for him to heal his wounds.
Storage methods, we study recipes
It is best to use the juice fresh; when boiled, some of its properties are lost. But how much can you store? If we talk about how long it can be stored in the refrigerator - no more than two days, and for long-term storage it is necessary to do some manipulations with it.
Various storage methods (recipes) are known. You can make kvass, syrup, balsam, various drinks from it, or preserve it.
Canning. For one liter of birch sap, you need to take 125 g of sugar, add 5 g of citric acid, pour into jars, pasteurize and roll up the lids. 
Birch syrup. Evaporate the juice until a yellow-white color, until it becomes viscous and resembles in consistency. The concentration of sugar in the syrup is 60-70%.
Birch wine. For 10 liters of birch sap, you need to take 1 kg of sugar, two peels, two bottles of white grape wine, yeast. Boil the juice with sugar over high heat until about eight liters of liquid remains; then remove it from the heat, add the crusts and white wine, mix everything well and let the mixture cool. Add 0.5 tablespoon yeast and let sit for four days. After four days, bottle everything, seal the bottles and place in a dark, cold place for a month.
Kvass:
- For 10 liters of syria, 50 g of yeast is needed. It must be boiled to evaporate a little water, cool it, add yeast and let it ferment for several days, then pour the kvass into bottles, close it and put it in a cold place for a couple of weeks.
- For 10 liters you need the juice of four lemons, 50 g of yeast, 30 g of honey or sugar, raisins. Mix all this, bottle and leave in a cold dark place.
- Pour the birch sap into an oak barrel, put a canvas bag with burnt rye bread crusts there on a rope, and two days later put oak bark in the barrel, you can also use leaves or stems. In two weeks the kvass will be ready.
Man, as a part of nature, always seeks support among her gifts, and nature generously shares with us its riches and healing powers. One of the valuable gifts of nature is birch sap, the benefits of which for the metabolism and health of the human body are enormous. In this article, we will consider not only the healing powers and the use of this nectar, but also methods of collecting it from trees.
The chemical composition of birch sap
The beneficial properties of any remedy are due to its composition. Birch sap, the composition of which is characterized by the richness of biologically active components, has a beneficial effect on almost all organs and systems of the human body. We list the main beneficial substances of the nectar of the beautiful birch tree:
- Carbohydrates - fruit sugars, and the amount of glucose is negligible. Fructose promotes the breakdown of simple carbohydrates.
- Phytoncides - inhibit the growth of protozoa, fungi, bacteria, destroying them.
- Organic acids - a group of carboxylic acids (formic, oxalic, citric, etc.), which play a huge role in cellular metabolism and almost all redox reactions of the body.
- Essential oils - volatile substances that stimulate metabolic processes and have a pronounced antibacterial effect.
- Minerals and trace elements (descending) - potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, manganese, iron, silicon, titanium, copper and nickel.
- Tannins - have an anti-inflammatory effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, control the secretory function of the entire gastrointestinal tract.
- Saponins - are adaptogenic substances, regulate mineral and water-salt metabolism, stimulate the activity of hormones and enzymes.
- Vitamins - biological activators of life.
Birch sap or birch is a clear liquid flowing from the trunks or branches of a tree under the influence of root pressure, sweetish in taste and a pleasant recognizable aftertaste. Having studied the composition of this healing liquid, there is no question of how useful birch sap is. It is safe to say that birch is a real elixir of longevity!
- Numerous clinical trials have shown that by drinking just one glass of the drink a day for 3-4 weeks, a person feels a surge of vigor, gets rid of depression and chronic fatigue. It is appropriate to say that birch is a wonderful natural adaptogen.
- It significantly strengthens the immune system, resistance to infectious and viral diseases, therefore, birch nectar should be drunk in case of acute and chronic diseases.
- Birch tree purifies the blood, is indicated for allergic diseases. This useful property helps to effectively treat the state of intoxication of the body.
- It has a pronounced expectorant effect, therefore it is useful for bronchitis and asthma.
- It is useful to drink birch sap for stomach ulcers, diseases of the duodenum - due to the tannins contained in the nectar with antiseptic properties. It also needs to be drunk to stimulate the production of enzymes and gastric secretions, which helps food to digest well.
- Fructose with glucose stimulates brain activity, therefore, during periods of significant mental stress, the use of birch nectar is simply necessary!
- For women, birch tree helps a lot during the period of climacteric restructuring of the body, and for men it returns masculine strength.
- Is birch sap good for weight loss? Of course! Excess weight often indicates a disturbed metabolism, and birch not only normalizes metabolism, but also, if it slows down, can speed it up. Also, birch nectar is indicated for diabetes mellitus as a supporting multivitamin drink.
- Regular consumption of the medicinal drink is recommended for cancer. Many healers talk about the high antitumor properties of this gift of nature, so its daily use slows down the development of this terrible disease.
- Berezovitsa is a natural cosmetic product that can be effectively used for acne, blackheads and comedones, active sebaceous glands, premature skin aging, dandruff and hair loss. Also, birch nectar is used externally for furunculosis, neurodermatitis and eczema.
Birch sap can be drunk both in pure form and as part of blended drinks. Nectar treatment is usually long-term and implies adherence to recipes and dosages. Universal daily dosage: 1 glass on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before meals, three times a day.
One can speak about the dangers of birch sap only in the context of individual intolerance to any of the substances included in it. It should also be noted that without observing the dosages, any agent can become poison and harm human health.
Birch sap, the benefits and harms of which are no longer in doubt, would be very correct to add to your daily diet. Where to get so much of this valuable drink, you ask? Do not miss the nectar harvesting season and be able to preserve the harvest!
When and how to collect birch sap
The exact time for collecting this gift of birches can be determined by weather conditions. Usually, active sap flow begins in the initial period of the March thaw and ends with the appearance of young leaves - around mid-April. One tree can produce up to 5-10 liters per day.
It is better to choose a birch with a developed crown and a trunk diameter of at least 20 cm. Further, at a height of 20-50 cm from the ground, a small hole up to 2 cm deep is made in the trunk and a groove is inserted into it for a directed outflow of nectar. Under the tree, in the direction of the liquid flowing down, place a container into which the crop flows.
Having learned so many details about the beneficial properties of birch sap, every year you will begin to collect it in the places available to you. The rich chemical composition of birch wood will help you and your family members maintain and enhance health and beauty.