Description of the berry of the mora. Beneficial substances in its fruits, vitamin composition. Healing properties, precautions and contraindications for use. Recipes with mora.
Useful properties of mora
The tasty dark blue berry has many advantages. These include improved digestion, increased immune defenses, a healthy heart, cancer prevention, and more. Mora improves memory and cognitive function, helps with weight management, strengthens bones, gives skin a healthy color, protects the eyeball and allows blood to clot. It can serve as a valuable supplement during pregnancy thanks to its impressive range of organic nutrients.
Among its other positive properties:
- Antioxidant potential … The benefit of mora lies in the mass of strong substances (vitamins, phenolic acids, flavonoids) that protect the cellular structure from the harmful effects of free radicals and oxidative damage. Such activity prevents a number of diseases, prolongs natural youth and preserves the healthy beauty of the body.
- Anti-cancer properties … Eating the fruit of the mora, as well as many other seasonal berries, helps in the prevention of cancer, gives the body the strength to fight off serious illness. It is especially effective in protecting organs such as the lungs, colon and esophagus. Mora's trace elements prevent the proliferation of malignant tumors, according to various scientific studies. This conclusion was made on the basis of the presence in the berry of anthocyanins, ellagic acid and other complex compounds that inhibit the growth of tumors and the development of metastases.
- Prevention of endothelial dysfunction of blood vessels … The endothelium is the thin cell layer that lines the walls of all blood and lymph vessels. He is responsible for their tone, transport of fluid and hormones, the formation of new blood vessels and blood clotting. Ripe berries ensure its normal functioning, due to the presence of cyaniding-3-O-glucoside in them. In addition, the substance reduces damage to DNA strands, preventing the development of many chronic diseases.
- Mental functions … Mora has a positive effect on cognitive abilities at any age. Research has shown that the polyphenolic compounds in berries help slow age-related decline in mental alertness. Regular use of this product can improve memory and reflexes, will allow you to have a clear mind in old age and a reliable nervous system in adulthood.
- Improving digestion … The product is a source of high amounts of fiber, which are essential for optimal stomach and intestinal function. They stimulate the movement of food mass, speed up metabolism and should be an indispensable element of any diet.
- Heart health … The anthocyanins in the sea make it good for the heart muscle. Other beneficial ingredients, such as magnesium and fiber, prevent fatty plaques from blocking arteries and keep blood flow stable. This reduces the risk of stroke, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and any irregular contractions.
- Immunity booster … Due to phytoestrogens, vitamins and minerals, the mora strengthens the immune system, protects the body from infections and fights more effectively against existing pathogens.
- Weight management … Due to its low calorie content, mora can be eaten almost without restrictions, as well as safely added to diet meals, fruit salads and protein shakes. This will allow you to combine business with pleasure: not gain weight, allow yourself a little sweet, while filling the cells with useful substances.
- Bone health … Magnesium and calcium in the composition of the mora are necessary to maintain the strength of the skeleton. Calcium strengthens bones, and magnesium improves the absorption of the first substance. In addition to this, there is also phosphorus in the sea, which is involved in the growth and development of bones.
- Youthful skin … Vitamin E, present in the sea, helps to maintain healthy skin - prevents the release of excess oil from the pores, prolongs the natural youth of cells. Vitamin C, in turn, is responsible for the production of collagen, which affects the tone of the integument, their smoothness.
- Good vision … The composition of the mora helps protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation, in particular due to the presence of lutein. The latter forms a protective pigment behind the retina, protecting tissues from the effects of oxidative stress and long-wavelength light radiation. Anthocyanins improve vision in general and serve to prevent cataracts, night blindness, macular degeneration.
- Blood clotting … Vitamin K is a key factor in this process. It helps prevent bleeding even from small wounds, speeding up their healing. The compound is also required for normal protein synthesis and plays an important role in protecting bones from osteoporosis.
- Benefits during pregnancy … As a source of natural folate, mora stimulates cell growth and tissue development, helping to reduce the chances of birth defects in the fetus. In addition, folate is beneficial for all age groups.
Harm and contraindications to the use of mora
Mora is an extremely safe fruit that can be consumed daily. If you do try to look for possible side effects of the berry, we will come to the following conclusions.
If you are allergic to berries, the sea should be treated with caution. Try one berry and evaluate the result, or completely abandon the product in favor of a safer and more proven one. In addition, any exotic species that are unusual for the gastrointestinal tract, in large quantities, can provoke indigestion and lead to digestive discomfort.
Tannins are present in small quantities in the sea. There are studies suggesting their involvement in the development of tumors, but a person is practically unable to eat such quantities of berries daily to feel a similar result. It is recommended to be careful about taking tea or a decoction of mora leaves, as they have a much higher concentration of tannins. Being extremely addicted to these drinks can cause nausea and vomiting. Experts advise using milk to neutralize the effect of tannins. People who already suffer from cancer or have a previous history of such diseases should avoid using mora and blackberry tea.
The root of the plant should not be consumed at all, since the amount of tannins in it is simply off scale.
During pregnancy, in infancy and young age, the use of berries should be abandoned altogether. The contraindications of pest for nursing mothers and pregnant women are poorly understood, so it is better to introduce other berries into the diet. You should refrain from tea made from leaves! The same goes for seniors over 65 years of age.
Mora recipes
Fruit cocktails, salads, berry juices and refreshing desserts are the best options for making mora that will not harm your figure. The ideal way to consume berries is to consume fresh, unprocessed fruits, as they contain the most nutrients. Pastries with mora are no less tasty, but you should not abuse it on a diet.
Mora recipes:
- Rice berry cocktail … This sweet, vibrant, unconventional recipe is a Mexican recipe that combines the rich composition of berries with the nutrients of cereals. In it, you can use not only mora, but also any other seasonal fruits. Prepare 1/3 cup long grain white rice, 2 cups mora (or fruit mix), sugar to taste. Soak the rice in a glass of water for 15 minutes, then filter it. In a blender, mix rice with berries and 2 glasses of water, processing until smooth. We filter it again, add crushed ice and sugar to taste.
- Parfait with yoghurt and fruit … Sweet melon, cool milk drinks and crunchy granola combine perfectly with the natural freshness of the mora. By combining ingredients rich in vitamins and fiber, we have the perfect option for a light breakfast or midday snack. Take: 1 cup low-fat yogurt, 3/4 cup melon cubes, 8 mora berries, 1/3 cup granola (can be substituted with oatmeal), a pinch of cinnamon. We spread the food in layers until we have a portion. The dish is ready to eat.
- Colada Morada … The Spicy Berry Corn Drink is a traditional Ecuadorian Morra recipe in preparation for the Day of the Dead celebrations. It is usually served along with sweet pastries shaped like baby figurines. To make Colada, take 1 cup dark cornmeal, 400 g mora, 2 cups blackberries, 2 cups blueberries, 2 cups strawberries, 1 peeled pineapple, 5-6 cinnamon sticks, 300 g brown sugar, a few lemon verbena leaves, rind 2 oranges, 12 glasses of water. If some ingredients are difficult to come by, fruit can be substituted with more readily available fruits by combining them to your liking and desire. Next, we cook by analogy with the main recipe. Pour pineapple pieces, cinnamon, spices and sugar with 8 cups of water, heating for 20 minutes. Then add lemon verbena and orange peel, cook for another 10 minutes over low heat. In a separate container, mix 4 cups of water, blueberries and blackberries, boil for about 20 minutes. Add the cornmeal and mora berries to the pineapple syrup. Now combine both mixtures in one saucepan and cook for another 10 minutes over low heat, stirring to avoid sticking to the walls. After turning off, add strawberry slices.
- Yoghurt ice cream … For the recipe you will need: 1 lemon, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1, 5 cups of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 cups of fresh mora. Peel the lemon, leave only the peel, use the pulp in another dish. Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add lemon peel, reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 5 minutes. Cool, drain the syrup. Now we combine yogurt and honey with the original mixture, stir until completely dissolved, add berries. Lay out into shapes and leave in the freezer until hardened.
- Mora and Turmeric Smoothie … To prepare two glasses of a delicious and healthy berry cocktail, take 1 glass of fresh mora, the same amount of chopped mango, a teaspoon of grated ginger, a tablespoon of turmeric root, 2 teaspoons of orange peel, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, a pinch black pepper, 1, 5 cups of almond milk. We mix in a blender until smooth and consume immediately so that the vitamins do not have time to collapse from contact with air.
- Berry pancakes … Take 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup coconut milk, 1 egg, tablespoon sugar, 1/2 cup mora, 1 tablespoon lemon juice. We mix the ingredients (everything except the berries) and beat well, you can use a mixer. Preheat the pan, add the mora to the mixture and form small pancakes with a spoon. We fry them for 1-2 minutes on each side, then serve them to the table, as an option - with the addition of fresh fruits on top.
- Oat cupcakes … For 12 small whole grain muffins, we need: 3 cups instant cereal, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon table salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 2 cups skim milk, 1 / 2 low-fat cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 cup mora, can be combined with a variety of berries. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees, mix all the ingredients in one container and distribute the resulting composition into the muffin tins, having previously greased them with oil or lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick stuck in the middle of the cupcake comes out clean.
- Simple waffle casserole … Let's prepare 8 waffles in advance, which will serve as layers for our dish. Take also 1.5 cups of mora, 8 eggs, 1.5 cups of milk, 1/4 cup of maple syrup, a teaspoon each of vanilla and cinnamon extracts. Place the first wafer in a baking dish, sprinkle with berries. Beat the eggs with milk, syrup and spices, then pour the composition over the waffle layer. We repeat the process, spreading the waffle, berries on top and again pouring the whipped mixture. When the mold is filled, let it sit for a while (depending on the thickness of the waffles) so that the ingredients saturate the layers well. After that, preheat the oven to 200 degrees and bake for about an hour.
Interesting facts about the berry sea
Mora fruits are rich in vitamins, calcium and phosphorus, and their sweet taste is great for making juices, jams, jellies, ice cream, confectionery and even roasting meat. On farms, its harvest is harvested 2 times a year, and the life of the bush is from 12 to 20 years.
The plant likes not too high temperatures and relatively high humidity, familiar to natural habitats - in particular, the tropical mountain regions of South America.
Mora is most widely cultivated in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador. Since 1840, breeding work has been carried out to obtain varieties with higher fruiting characteristics. In the United States, for example, varieties of the mora shrub have been obtained on which there are no thorns. This makes picking berries much easier.
The most famous variety of Rubus glaucus is called Mora de Castilla. Other species carry exotic names, such as Mora Zarzamora, Mora Kundinamarca, Mora Magdalena and the like. Watch the video about the berry of mora:
Despite all its benefits, outside of South America, mora is a rather exotic berry. Its closest relatives, blackberries and raspberries, can easily replace this delicious, but inaccessible product. If you manage to taste such a berry, do not miss the opportunity to please yourself with its unusual taste and unconditional benefits. Mora contains vitamins A, C and E, iron, calcium and phosphorus in excess, as well as other natural substances that protect the cardiovascular and nervous system from diseases. Mora has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and hair, improves digestion and strengthens bones.