Birch sap: benefits and harm to the body. How to drink. Birch sap - beneficial properties and contraindications Are there any benefits from birch sap?

It is no coincidence that the birch sap collection season causes a stir among lovers of this valuable drink. This sweetish natural elixir, which has many beneficial properties, has long been popularly called “living water.” This article is about the beneficial properties and contraindications of birch sap.

Minerals in birch sap

Birch juice contains many valuable substances, the list of which can be compared with the latest vitamin and mineral complexes. It contains such well-known elements as magnesium, nickel, sodium, copper, manganese, aluminum, potassium and iron. And also quite rare components - phytoncides, tannins, fruit sugars, saponins, betulol, more than ten types of organic acids.

It is no coincidence that nature gives birch sap in the spring, when after winter the body is weakened and needs special support. The drink is especially useful for people with weakened immune systems and those who have suffered from colds during the cold weather.

Useful properties of birch sap

Birch sap contains a lot of phytocytes, which are a natural “antibiotic”. That is why it is useful for sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, and also serves as a good restorative agent in the treatment of tuberculosis and cancer.

Birch sap – good remedy with anemia. For greater effectiveness, it is mixed in equal parts with carrot and apple juices and drunk before meals from 50 to 100 milligrams at least three times during the day. Apple juice You can replace it with beetroot, and then the cocktail will help cope with high blood pressure.

Hypertensive patients can “rescue” from swelling, dizziness, headaches and heart pain if they drink a glass of birch sap in two doses every day.

You can relieve heartburn and alleviate the symptoms of pancreatitis and gastritis by taking 50 milligrams of the drink 20 minutes before meals.

The juice's cleansing properties are also known. It relieves swelling, removes waste and toxins from the body, as well as sand from the kidneys and gall bladder.

Birch sap is indispensable for blood diseases and anemia, improves metabolism and liver function, regulates the acidity of the gastrointestinal tract, and serves as a prevention of vitamin deficiency and scurvy.

Birch sap is used for bone diseases - gout, arthritis, radiculitis, varicose veins veins and rheumatism. In such cases, experts advise drinking the drink before meals three times a day, half a glass. It is also used as a local medicine in case of skin diseases and wounds.

To increase immunity, birch nectar is mixed with milk, adding half a teaspoon of starch to the cocktail. Nutritionists advise in such cases to take the prepared mixture for as long as possible.

For sore throat, pharyngitis and tonsillitis, birch sap is not only drunk, but also gargled with it.

This is one of the few drinks that overweight people can afford, because 100 grams of juice contains only 25 kilocalories.

Who is contraindicated for birch sap?

Birch sap is an ideal diuretic and choleretic agent, if we are talking about the presence of sand in the kidneys and bile ducts. If stones form in these organs, you should stop drinking the drink.

Ulcer duodenum and stomach are also on the list of contraindications, so you should drink juice with great caution without consultation and permission from a doctor.

Allergy sufferers who suffer from individual intolerance to birch pollen are also at risk.

Experts also advise not to count on beneficial features product purchased in a store. Studies have shown that such natural juice products contain a very small percentage. Everything else is water and flavorings. Don't collect " living water“Birch trees that grow near highways will have more harmful substances in such a drink than useful ones.

When and how is birch sap collected?

The season for collecting healing juice lasts two months - from March to April. More precisely, before the appearance and during the period of swelling of the kidneys. At this time, the tree can produce up to three liters of sweetish liquid per day. The most valuable drink is considered to be collected from sparsely growing birch trees, which are well lit. sun rays. Thin-trunked species are not suitable. You need to choose trees with the largest diameter.

The hole for collecting nectar is made with an awl at a distance of 20 centimeters from the ground. As soon as the liquid comes out, it is necessary to enlarge the puncture and insert a tube or groove towards the prepared container. The depth of the hole should not exceed five centimeters. Best time For collection, the period is from noon to 17:00, because during this period the juice circulates most actively. As soon as the liquid stops running, the “wound” on the tree should be filled with a wooden peg or covered with wax.

How to store birch sap

The collected juice should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than three days. After this time, it may ferment. Therefore, folk craftsmen have come up with several ways to store nectar for a long time. One of the most common methods is freezing the healing liquid, but for this you need to have a very large freezer.

Less effective, but still in an effective way considered canning. In such cases, three dry mint sprigs for taste, half a teaspoon of citric acid and up to 10 tablespoons of sugar are added to 7 liters of juice. When the liquid begins to boil over low heat, a reddish coating will appear on top. It must be carefully removed. Otherwise, a dark sediment will appear in the container during storage. You need to boil the juice for about ten minutes, after which the drink is poured into sterile jars and sealed with an iron lid. In the process of preparing canned juice, many vitamins are destroyed, but useful minerals are still partially preserved. However, such an aromatic drink is also very tasty.

You can also make carbonated kvass from birch sap. To do this, add a half-liter jar of dried fruit, a handful of raisins and a glass of well-roasted barley to a 20-liter container with “living water”. The mixture is placed in a cold place for a month. Cereals can be replaced with a crust of rye bread by toasting it in the oven.

They stock up on kvass for the winter using this recipe. The crusts of rye bread must be placed in a bag made of natural fabric and dipped in a container with birch sap for two days. After this, oak bark, which acts as a natural preservative, cherry leaves, various berries and dill are added to the drink. You need to infuse kvass for two weeks. With the right ingredients, it can be stored all winter in a cold place.

Juice lovers often prepare a drink called “Berezovik”. To do this, you need to place a 10-liter container with birch nectar in a dark, cold place for three days, and then add 60 grams of rye crackers and barley heated in the oven. After collecting all the ingredients, infuse the juice for another day.

Birch cocktail for children is prepared according to a special recipe. Place 4 large spoons of canned fruit syrup, 100 grams of ice cream in two glasses of juice and mix everything thoroughly in a mixer. Before the drink is served, the same portion of ice cream is added to it.

The benefits and harms of birch sap were well known to our ancestors. More precisely, they knew more about its beneficial, medicinal properties. They also knew when and how to collect this medicine, how to prepare it correctly in order to preserve the healing substances as much as possible. This forest drink has few contraindications, but they still exist and have been established traditional medicine after a series of observations of patients suffering from urolithiasis and stomach ulcers.

For representatives of the current generation, birch sap is a kind of antiquity, a true story, a natural product from the times of the USSR, which has become a thing of the past along with the realities of life. There is some truth in this, because the value of this drink, the methods of its collection and preparation are gradually forgotten. And the volumes of its industrial procurement have decreased significantly. However, there are keepers of traditions, there are many recipes left in folk herbalists and plenty of evidence that this drink is not just a symbol of Russia. It is also a valuable medicine that can be prepared at home.

Features of medicinal raw materials

Birch sap is pleasant, sweetish, with a specific subtle aroma. For what diagnoses is it recommended? Does it have any contraindications? When to start collecting, in what ways to prepare juice yourself?

Preparation of birch sap

Industrial collection and canning of birch sap is carried out mostly in Belarus, less so in Russia and Ukraine. This drink was especially popular during the Soviet era. The older generation remembers very well how, in an era of shortages, three-liter cans of this drink filled empty shelves. It can also be seen on modern shelves (in three-liter, one-and-a-half-liter jars and tetrapacks), but its production has noticeably decreased.

• When to collect?
• The collection is carried out in early spring, when the juices begin to rise from the root up the tree trunk. During a thaw, sap flow may begin earlier - in February. The sap is collected until the buds on the birch tree open, which also depends on weather and climatic conditions. It is also better to collect liquid during daylight hours, because at night the trees “sleep” and the movement of sap stops. There are several rules that should be followed: do not use young trees; After collecting, you should cover the hole or slot with wax, laundry soap or a special garden varnish, which prevents various damage and rotting of the wood. As a last resort, the hole is tightly covered with moss or a twig is stuck into it; it becomes saturated with liquid, swells and prevents it from leaking out. You can extract this forest food resource (that is how it is called in legislation) different ways. The first is to make an incision (notch) in the bark, insert a groove and secure it, hang a container where the juice will drain. The second is to drill a hole in the trunk to a depth of 5 cm, insert a plastic tip from the dropper system into it, and lower its other end into a container. The third is to cut off young branches and wrap them in a plastic bag, into which the liquid flows. Sometimes the sap is collected from stumps after sanitary felling of a forest area.
• Some "tricks" of collection. You need to start collecting in the southern parts of the grove, and as the snow melts and the weather gets warmer, move deeper into the forest. They try to make cuts on the north side of the trunk - there is more juice here. A slot or hole is made approximately 50 cm from the ground. There is no need to make a deep hole. Firstly, it is dangerous for the life of the tree. Secondly, the sap moves between the bark and the wood; it only needs to pass through the bark layer.
• How to store birch sap at home? It is better to collect raw birch and store it in glass containers. If he is going to plastic bottles, then after filling it should be immediately poured into a glass container. Raw meat can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days. It is advisable to drink it by this time, then it becomes cloudy, bubbles appear in it, and fermentation processes begin. Then you can make kvass or wine from it. For long-term storage, fresh juice is canned and frozen in small portions.

One large tree can provide up to 7 liters of valuable liquid per day, small ones - up to 3 liters. On a tree with a diameter of up to 20 cm, only one hole is allowed, with a diameter of up to 25 cm, two holes can be made, up to 35 cm - three, and over 40 cm - no more than four. Despite the fact that the roots of the birch go deep into the ground and take nutrients from clean soil, it is better to choose birch trees in groves rather than in plantings along roads. Wood also has the ability to absorb harmful substances from the air.

Healing properties and pharmacological action

IN chemical composition birch sap includes:

• invert sugar (with equal shares of glucose and sucrose);
• organic acids;
• proteins;
• carbohydrates;
• essential oil;
• phytohormones;
• phenols;
• urea derivatives;
• saponins;
• tannins;
• group of vitamins B;
• ascorbic acid;
• rich composition of microelements (copper, potassium, sodium, manganese, magnesium, iron, silicon).

Pharmachologic effect:

• diuretic;
• secretory;
• anti-inflammatory;
• tonic;
• restorative;
• blood purifying;
• antioxidant.

People are increasingly talking about the antitumor properties of raw birch, although there is no scientific evidence for this. It can be prescribed for rehabilitation and restoration of the body after difficult procedures for oncology.

For what diseases is it indicated?

• Gastrointestinal diseases. Relieves spasms, stomach and intestinal colic, treats diseases of the stomach, liver, gall bladder, acts as a mild pain reliever, anti-inflammatory medicine. Restores microflora, appetite, digestion.
• urinary system. One of the effective folk remedies at urolithiasis. It is advisable to drink fresh 6 glasses a day. The juice helps break up kidney stones and remove them. The course of treatment is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor; painful conditions are likely.
• Rheumatic diseases. An effective remedy for gout, joint arthritis, and atherosclerosis. Taken internally and externally.
• Respiratory system . As a general tonic with an expectorant effect, it is prescribed for inflammatory processes in the bronchi and lungs, including when treating tuberculosis.
• Metabolic disorders. At diabetes mellitus Blended birch sap is useful in complex treatment and on a strict diet. Based on it they prepare medicinal drink, it contains 35% juice of raspberries, currants, blackberries, blueberries, elderberries. It is also taken with decoctions of rosehip, lingonberry leaves, buckthorn, nettle and others. medicinal herbs. We emphasize that herbal medicine for diabetes mellitus gives a positive therapeutic effect, but only under the supervision of a doctor, with a number of laboratory research. Depending on the type of diabetes, the dosage and course of treatment are prescribed. Since the juice is low-calorie and stimulates all metabolic processes in the body, it is drunk for weight loss.
• Anemia. For anemia, it is recommended to drink 2-3 glasses of juice a day before meals.
• Vitamin deficiency. Birch sap contains half of the periodic table. It is prescribed for spring avitaminosis, weakened immunity, after serious illnesses, for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza.
• Intoxication. The drink helps with poisoning (provides energy and reserves of lost fluid), cleanses the body of toxins, restores water-salt balance, helps reduce temperature and acts as a diaphoretic in combination with rosehip decoction and lemon juice. The drink also helps with a hangover, relieving stomach discomfort.
• External use. You can gargle with the product, rinse your nose, or drink it to disinfect the oral cavity for stomatitis, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. It is also used to wipe the skin for scabies, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, eczema, and ulcers. Helps well with non-healing wounds.

This healing drink has few contraindications: individual intolerance and allergic reaction. It is important to remember that during exacerbation of stomach and duodenal ulcers, as well as in acute form urolithiasis self-treatment juice can lead to even greater aggravation. That's why it's so important medical supervision and observation. Due to the high glucose content, birch sap can harm the body if dosed and diluted incorrectly.

Features of the preparation and use of birch sap

Despite all the harmlessness and undoubted usefulness of this forest drink, it is recommended to consult a doctor before taking it. If any side effects(primarily from the outside digestive system- diarrhea), you should stop treatment and consult a doctor.

How to use

How much juice can you drink per day?

• A glass 3 times a day is a “universal” dosage.
• Some herbalists recommend drinking diluted juice, especially if there are exacerbations and diabetes.
• For preventive purposes, you can drink for a long time, but little by little.
• The treatment course may be shorter, but with a higher dosage; in this case, a break in therapy is required.

Cooking recipes

Recipes for collecting birch sap are impressive in their diversity. You can prepare pure raw material, or you can prepare from it soothing infusions with the addition of mint, fortified with black currants and rose hips. Raw birch also produces delicious kvass, wine, low-alcohol drinks, and syrup.

• Kvass. Birch sap has high fermentation properties. Therefore, kvass from birch sap is prepared without yeast. But there are also recipes for making it with yeast.
• Syrup. It is curious that today there are no more than two dozen producers of this delicacy in the world. Birch syrup is prepared according to the same principle as the famous maple syrup. To get 1 liter of product, you need to evaporate 100 liters of juice! The syrup is similar to honey in consistency and taste, but it has a woody bitterness. In Russia there is a community of lovers and connoisseurs of this product, where they also produce natural birch sap, sauce, kvass, and chaga. Here you can buy frozen raw meat.
• Wine. The production of birch wines was established in the USSR, but now this is a rarity. Raw birch produced high-quality sparkling (carbonated) wine. It can also be prepared at home using old Russian recipes.

Carbonated drink recipe

1. Pour raw birch into a three-liter jar and keep warm for 2 days.
2. Place 6 tsp in a jar. Sahara.
3. Add some raisins and lemon zest.
4. Close the lid and leave for 2 days.

The result is a pleasant carbonated drink with sourness (essentially kvass). If the fermentation process is active, you need to open the lid slightly or use a lid with a hole. To reduce fermentation processes, the drink is stored in the refrigerator.

Recipe for birch kvass with yeast

1. Heat the birch raw material to 35°C.
2. Add 15 g of yeast (per 1 liter of juice), some raisins, lemon zest.
3. Close with a tight lid.
4. Leave for 7 days.

Kvass perfectly quenches thirst and normalizes digestion.

Recipe for birch kvass without yeast

1. Pour raw birch into a three-liter jar.
2. Place pieces of dried rye bread in it.
3. For aroma, add currant and cherry leaves.
4. Cover the jar with gauze and leave for 14 days.

Malt kvass recipe

1. Pour 5 liters of raw birch into a large bottle.
2. Leave for 2 days.
3. Add 30 g of barley malt.
4. Leave for at least 10 days.

Previously, in Rus', kvass was prepared in large barrels. It was one of the most popular drinks at holiday feasts. To keep kvass for a long time, honey and oak bark. Herbs were also added - thyme, caraway, linden, chamomile, lemon balm, St. John's wort. Blended low-alcohol drinks were made with the addition of rowan juice, rose hips, cherries, blueberries, and apples.

Recipe for canned birch sap

1. Take 3 liters of fresh juice.
2. Add 100 g of sugar and 1 medium lemon, cut into slices.
3. Boil over low heat in an enamel bowl for 5 minutes.
4. Pour into a sterilized jar and roll up.

You can use orange instead of lemon. A sprig of mint or lemon balm will add a pleasant taste to the juice. Previously, there was an opinion that industrial birch sap was diluted with citric acid and water. Too much of it was produced in the USSR. In fact, you can add a little lemon to the drink recipe as a preservative.

Birch sap for women and children

• Pregnancy. There is no information that juice can harm the body during pregnancy. However, consultation with a doctor should be mandatory, especially if a woman has chronic diseases of the stomach and kidneys. This low-calorie drink quenches thirst well, normalizes metabolic processes, blood pressure, and reduces attacks of nausea and vomiting during toxicosis.
• Lactation. There is an opinion that birch sap is useful during breastfeeding and stimulates lactation. There is no scientific evidence for this. However, it can be useful for a nursing mother due to its rich composition. It should be taken in reasonable portions. To begin with, it is recommended to drink 100 g of juice and observe the baby’s reaction.
• Childhood . The question arises: can children drink birch sap? Pediatricians do not recommend giving it to babies under 1 year of age in any form. After a year, you can offer canned juice, but in small portions, first in diluted form. Later, you can try introducing raw milk into your diet, also in small doses. Juice is valuable for children due to glucose, phytoncides, organic acids, unique compositions micro- and macroelements, vitamins. Needless to say, children should be given only a high-quality, proven product, without additives.

Cosmetology

Birch sap is widely used in cosmetology due to its tonic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects. How is it used?

• Like lotion and hair mask. It strengthens roots well, eliminates dandruff and excess fat. Pure juice is rubbed into the scalp and hair. Masks are also made from it with the addition of castor oil and honey.
• For skin problems. Use undiluted juice to wipe the skin in the morning and evening for furunculosis, acne, pigment spots, and lichen.
• Ingestion. At skin diseases it is used not only externally, but also internally. Birch sap acts as a blood purifier, helps with furunculosis, pimples, acne, and eliminates the cause of the disease “from the inside.”
• Cosmetic ice. In addition to lotions and masks, cosmetic ice made from birch sap is used. To do this, it is poured into small molds, frozen, and the skin is rubbed with pieces of ice daily.

What are the main medicinal properties birch sap? First of all, it is a mild diuretic and choleretic agent. The drink also has restorative, blood purifying, tonic, and antiseptic properties. It is used to treat skin diseases, for metabolic disorders, anemia, vitamin deficiency, intoxication, they are actively used in cosmetology.

Birch has long been considered a tree that gives a person health. Its leaves and buds were used to prepare decoctions and infusions. And probably everyone has heard about birch sap. This drink not only has a unique and refreshing taste. Its constant use can significantly reduce the risk of a number of diseases and cure existing ones. To do this, you will need to drink only 1 glass a day. Moreover, birch sap is used for hair and skin care.

This drink can be purchased at the store or prepared yourself. To properly preserve natural birch sap and its beneficial properties for long term, very tasty kvass is also prepared from it.

Product benefits

You can talk for a long time about the benefits of birch sap, because this drink is simply a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and substances necessary for the human body. It contains:

• Sahara;
• tanning components;
• saponins;
• many organic acids;
• minerals: magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium and others.

This drink looks like water with a subtle aroma and weak taste, but its composition makes it simply indispensable for maintaining the health of the body and its youth. Natural birch sap, in addition, is useful for those who are watching their weight, because 100 g of liquid contains only 8 kcal. Wherein necessary substances There is quite a lot of drink in this quantity.

Birch sap is used to speed up metabolism, and it is also used to remove all kinds of toxins. It is valued in the treatment and prevention of various diseases respiratory system: bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis. You need to systematically gargle with birch sap if you have a cough or sore throat.

In addition, this drink will help get rid of headaches and high temperature during a cold. It is also indispensable for treatment chronic form runny nose, you need to drink it at least 1 tbsp. per day. Birch sap is extremely useful for those who have problems with urinary tract and kidneys.

This healing drink is also successfully used to treat swelling, joint diseases, and gastrointestinal tract diseases. low acidity. There is probably no organ or system human body, for whom birch sap would not be useful. Given its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it copes well with various diseases skin: dermatitis, eczema, boils, acne, etc.

Among other things, birch sap has a general strengthening effect and improves work immune system. It is also an excellent tonic and energizes you throughout the day, helps cope with fatigue, drowsiness and improves performance.

How to assemble?

Birch sap can be purchased in stores or from those who know how to prepare it correctly. However, it must be a reliable seller for the drink to be truly healthy and valuable. Otherwise, it is better to collect birch sap yourself.

It is important to choose trees that are located far from roads and various industrial production, since harmful substances are likely to get into the drink and can only harm your health. The collection must be carried out in the spring. Experts in its preparation say that you need to start the procedure depending on the weather. The signal should be the swelling of buds on birch trees. It is worth choosing trees whose diameter is at least 20 cm. You need to make a small and shallow hole in the trunk, because the liquid moves in the space between the wood and the bark. After that, a tube or groove must be securely attached to it or immediately below it, the second end of which will be lowered into any plastic or glass container. For convenience, some make the hole low from the ground.

You should not collect more than 1 liter per day from each tree, as it may die without having time to replenish its reserves. The thicker the birch, the greater the number of holes that can be made in it. If its diameter is 25 cm - only 1, up to 35 cm - 2, up to 40 - 3, and over 40 - 4. It is best to collect juice from 12 noon to 6 pm, since it is in This is the period when its circulation is most intense.

It is important, after completing the collection, not to forget to carefully close all the holes you made in the tree. Natural wax is best suited for this purpose.

It must be remembered that freshly collected drink cannot be stored for more than 2 days. In order to preserve the liquid for a long time, kvass is made from it or, after heat treatment, it is rolled into jars.

It is also worth mentioning the benefits of birch sap as a means of self-care. Women often use it to restore and maintain youthful skin and hair. The product is used to wash the face to improve its color, texture and get rid of various rashes and irritations. Lotions or masks are prepared from it. The liquid is also frozen and the skin of the face, neck and décolleté is wiped with this ice twice a day.

Birch sap helps cope with various hair problems. It is used for rinsing. The product is diluted with cool boiled water in a 1:1 ratio. This procedure helps strengthen hair, soften it, make it more voluminous, thick and manageable. In addition, birch sap relieves dandruff and various scalp problems.

Harm to the product

Much has already been said above about the benefits of birch sap. However, does it have any contraindications?

An allergic reaction to the product is extremely rare, which is why even children are allowed to drink the juice. It can only occur when there is intolerance to the pollen of the white-trunked tree. It is also not recommended for people with ulcers and people with stones to drink this drink. bladder or kidneys.

In any case, in order not to harm yourself, it is necessary, if there are any chronic diseases Consult your doctor before drinking birch sap.

Birch sap (birch tree) is a clear liquid that is collected in the spring from a tree trunk, after cutting the bark in advance. Our ancestors noticed its beneficial qualities: it was believed that it had healing powers and could cure many diseases.

Berezovitsa has not lost its relevance today: most people, especially those living in forested areas, try to replenish their supplies of a refreshing and tasty drink with the arrival of spring.

Many people think: “What is the benefit of birch sap, and what effect does it have on the body?” In fact, this product has practically no contraindications and can be safely used by both adults and children.

When is the juice collected?

The exact time for collecting the unique drink has not been established: in warm regions it is mid-spring, and in cooler and more humid regions it is early May. As a rule, “birch blood” begins to flow during the period of dripping, and swollen buds are a clear sign that it is time to cut the bark and place a container into which the drink will be filled.

To find out whether sap has appeared in the tree, it is enough to pierce the bark with a thin awl (about 8-12 millimeters). If transparent droplets appear at the puncture site, then you can begin extracting juice.

Useful properties of birch sap

According to medical observations, taking at least one large cup of fresh birch a couple of times a day for two to three weeks will help the body cope with spring blues, acute vitamin deficiency, apathy and loss of strength. In addition, the drink helps improve material metabolism and has positive influence on the function of the digestive system.

Tree sap contains a sufficient amount of sugar, organic acids, enzymes, calcium, magnesium and iron salts. It is recommended for illnesses skin and hematopoietic system, osteoarticular pathologies, as well as inflammation of the tonsils, bronchial tree and lungs. It also breaks down stones in the bladder and kidneys, and removes poisons from the body.

In addition, birch sap contains microelements that are beneficial for the heart and blood vessels - potassium, sodium and calcium. They take an active part in neuromuscular excitability of tissues, blood clotting, and also give strength to teeth and bones.

It is believed that you can also rinse your hair with birch sap. Thus, direct intensive nutrition of the bulb and scalp occurs. This promotes increased hair growth, shine and silkiness.

The woody drink contains a number of other microelements that have a beneficial effect on the human body (we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table).

At the same time, birch sap improves potency in men and improves the quality of seminal fluid. Women are especially recommended to menopause– its use normalizes the quality of sleep, relieves anxiety, irritability and groundless stress.

Benefits for humans

Indeed, even doctors recommend drinking birch sap for certain diseases. At the same time, it is important to remember that the healing drink plays only a supporting role, so they need to be “treated” in parallel with pharmacological drugs.

Useful properties of birch sap in different cases:

1. Kidneys. Helps get rid of phosphate and carbonate stones, has antibacterial properties, actively removes toxins and sand, reduces pain after renal colic. It is recommended to drink a glass of juice daily with the addition of liquid honey.
2. For pancreatitis. The drink relieves spasms and inflammation, eliminates pain. Treatment promotes the synthesis of biogenic stimulants and enzymes, which is necessary to establish metabolic processes in the pancreas and liver. It is recommended to use exclusively fresh juice, without adding sweeteners or water.
3. Diabetes. A person suffering from diabetes must adhere to a strict low-carbohydrate diet. Birch sap is one of the few products allowed for endocrine diseases. The fact is that it contains fruit sugar, the breakdown of which does not require insulin. For diabetes, the wood product can be drunk even in combination with medications. To achieve maximum effect, you can add a few raisins and lemon zest (half a teaspoon) to half a liter of juice. Mix everything and drink at once.
4. Losing weight and maintaining your figure. Birch sap is considered low-calorie, so it can be safely consumed by those who are on a diet. The juice enhances the breakdown of food and the burning of fats, removes toxins - by drinking two liters of a unique drink a day, you can lose up to five kilograms in a few months.

About the dangers and contraindications of juice

Can birch sap harm the body? Balance of benefits and harms, how much can you drink a day of a miracle drink? We talked about the positive properties above, now about the rules and contraindications - there are few of them, but they still exist:

1. Exacerbation of a stomach or duodenal ulcer, threatening perforation of these sections and communication with gastrointestinal tract. In this case, birch sap can expand the walls of the mucous membrane, which will subsequently lead to perforation.
2. Exacerbation of allergies. If a person has a pronounced reaction to an irritant (symptoms such as itchy nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, skin rash), then it is better to temporarily abstain from the drink. Otherwise, allergic manifestations may worsen significantly.
3. Pregnancy. For expectant mothers who suffer from edema (especially in the third trimester), the doctor may limit the amount they drink. It should be borne in mind that the drink is also included in the absorbed liquid, so you should not get carried away with it during pregnancy.
4. Lactation. The juice of the “slender tree” increases lactation. Women who are breastfeeding should take this fact into account. If the child’s mother has an excess of milk, then it is better to abstain from the healing drink so as not to encounter lactostasis. Do not forget that liquid from wood can cause allergies in a child, so the maximum daily amount for a woman is 200 ml. If the baby has red spots on his cheeks or body (as a sign of diathesis), then you should completely abandon the juice.
5. Childhood. It is not recommended to give the drink to children under three years of age. From three to five years maximum daily dosage should not exceed 50 ml.

You should also know that if at least once in a person’s life an allergic reaction to juice has occurred, then in the future it is not recommended to drink the drink at all. As for long-term storage, there is a certain nuance here: if improperly preserved, the use of such a product can lead to poisoning.

Birch sap with orange and lemon

The natural drink can be obtained from the tree only in the spring, which is why many housewives preserve it for the cold period of the year, since other methods of preparation ensure its preservation only until the end of June. To make the drink even tastier, you can use natural additives, for example, combine birch sap with orange and lemon.

The recipe is simple - you need to take three liters of natural juice, one orange and one lemon, a quarter cup of sugar, one and a half teaspoons of pharmaceutical mint and one of citric acid.

First you need to pour the juice into an enamel pan, put it on the fire and boil for several minutes. Sterilize a three-liter bottle, put all the above ingredients on the bottom (cut the orange and lemon together with the peel into rings). Carefully pour the birch liquid into a container, roll it up, turn it upside down and place it in a dry, warm place for several days.

• Citrus notes will give an undeniable taste and aroma to spring birch sap.

Another tasty and healthy drink

Kvass is one of the popular drinks in Russian cuisine. But not many people know that it can be made from birch sap - you get a tasty and healthy refreshing drink without any chemicals.

Classic recipe for homemade kvass made from birch sap with raisins (step-by-step description):

1. Strain ten liters of freshly collected wood drink several times through cheesecloth folded in four.
2. Rinse the raisins thoroughly and place them on a dry towel to dry thoroughly.
3. It is best to prepare kvass in wooden barrels. If these are not available, then glass or enamel dishes will do.
4. Add 0.5 kg of sugar and 50 raisins to the strained juice, stir everything thoroughly.
5. Cover the vessel with the starter with a clean towel and leave in a warm place for three days. When finished, pour into small containers. The resulting fermentation product is stored in the refrigerator.

As we can see, it is very easy to make kvass from birch sap at home. Some housewives add oranges, mint, honey, coffee and other ingredients to the drink in addition to raisins.

At the end of the article, we can summarize and add that birch sap is not a panacea for diseases, but just a useful and unique tree liquid. Be satisfied with the taste, drink in small sips, feel the forest note of pleasure and always stay healthy!