Read on to know about 9 surprising ways in which Hawthorn berry benefits our health!
Hawthorn berries are widely grown in Europe, Asia, and North America as tiny fruits on the shrubs or trees belonging to the Crataegus genus. These berries are highly nutritious and have a tart and mildly sweet flavor. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various health problems. Here are 9 ways in which you can benefit health by consuming this berry.
This berry is a great source of polyphenols that acts as powerful antioxidants. The high antioxidant content of hawthorn berries is beneficial to lower the risk of asthma, premature aging of the skin, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and some infections.
This berry also offers anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which are highly beneficial for our health.
Chinese medicine uses hawthorn berry to treat the problem of high blood pressure as it has been studied to act as a vasodilator.
This really healthy berry has been studied to lower both the bad cholesterol level and triglycerides in mice. However, further studies on humans regarding the same are required.
The extract of these berries has been studied to treat various digestive problems such as constipation, indigestion, and stomach pain. This is because hawthorn berries are rich in fiber, which acts as a prebiotic and feeds the gut bacteria.
It is used in many hair growth products available commercially. One animal study has also reported that hawthorn stimulates hair growth, increases the size and number of hair follicles, and promotes healthy hair.
Hawthorn extract has also been studied to reduce anxiety as it acts as a mild sedative. This finding is also beneficial to use hawthorn for treating central nervous system disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Using hawthorn extract has been studied to improve heart function, fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. All of this is also beneficial to reduce the risk of sudden heart attacks.
Hawthorn can be used in many different ways in the form of tea, jam, in desserts, eaten as such in the raw form, can be added to vinegar and wine, or taken as a supplement.