What is the health benefits of jelly — 7 proven properties
Jelly is a biologically valuable drink. He rich in starch , which affects all types of metabolism and supports the work of internal organs.
When adding berries and fruits, the benefits of jelly increase, which allows it to be used to improve the health of the body and even prevent many diseases.
What is jelly and its types
Kissel is a traditional dish of Slavic cuisine. It is a gelatinous mass and is made on the basis of starch (less often – cereals). A few decades ago, the drink was served as a first or second course.
In addition to the classic starch jelly, there are also such types:
- Oatmeal. Is made on the basis of oatmeal and bread starter.
- Dairy. Wheat or rye bran is used for cooking, which are filled with water, salted and infused.
- Flour. First, the dough is made from wheat or rye flour, then diluted with water and filtered.
- Pea. Is made from pea flour diluted in water.
- Barley. Barley flour and chaff are used. The mixture is filled with water and languishes in the oven for a long time.
- Linen . This type of jelly is made from crushed flax seeds.
Pieces of fruits and berries (as well as juices based on them) can be added to the drink, which significantly increases the volume of medicinal properties.
Jelly can be both homemade and store-bought, and the latter is found both in ready-made form and in the form of a soluble powder.
7 useful properties
Jelly is a nutritious and high-calorie dish (due to the starch content), however, it has a number of positive effects on health.
Let's focus on the main beneficial properties of eating jelly (based on scientific sources of information).
1. Protects the gastric mucosa
Jelly rich
starch. Getting into the esophagus and stomach, it has an enveloping effect and protects organs from the negative effects of gastric juice (contains hydrochloric acid), as well as bile (in the presence of reflux from the duodenum).
Similar properties allow the use of jelly for the prevention and treatment of gastritis, GERD, duodenitis, as well as gastric ulcer and the duodenum.
The drink improves the general condition and promotes a speedy recovery.
In terms of effectiveness, it is comparable to such antacid drugs as Gastal or Phosphalgel.
2. Improves intestinal microflora
The gut microbiome is at the heart of the health of all organs.
Regular consumption of starch (as part of any food) allows you to increase the number of friendly bacteria in the digestive system and reduce the number of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. Similar information lead Korean specialists.
With an adequate composition of the microflora digestion improves , dietary fiber is better digested, constipation or diarrhea are less common.
There was also a decrease in the incidence of acute intestinal infections and autoimmune diseases (for example, Crohn's disease).
3. Helps to reduce weight
Jelly is useful for weight loss and plays an important role in body weight control.
It regulates the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates in the body, activates the processes of destruction of adipose tissue cells in order to meet energy needs.
Also marked slowing down the absorption of fats from food when taken together with jelly.
The drink must be present in the diet of overweight or obese men and women, as well as those suffering from chronic diseases of the endocrine system.
4. It has an antioxidant effect
Despite conflicting data, major studies celebrate
that starch contains a number of phenolic antioxidant components.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals (during oxidative stress) that can cause cell damage, as well as contribute to the appearance of malignant tumors and autoimmune pathologies.
With an adequate antioxidant status of the body, chronic diseases from any organ system are less likely to be registered, and metabolism improves.
5. Reduces cholesterol
Installed
that starch reduces the total level of cholesterol, as well as its atherogenic fractions (triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins in the blood).
Such a healing property can significantly reduce the risk of education atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of arterial vessels and, as a result, to prevent the development of coronary heart disease, chronic cerebral ischemia and deadly thrombosis (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke).
The drink slows down the absorption of fats consumed with food or excreted with bile, and prevents them from entering the bloodstream in excess amounts.
6. Reduces blood sugar levels
Jelly is also recommended for people suffering from type II diabetes mellitus or having other disorders of glucose metabolism in the body.
According to research by Indian scientists, the drink increases sensitivity of insulin receptors in peripheral tissues (muscle and fat), which allows effective utilization of sugar from the bloodstream.
The product also slows down the absorption of complex carbohydrates from the intestine, which helps prevent sudden spikes in blood glucose levels.
The systematic inclusion of jelly in the diet reduces the likelihood of the formation of long-term complications of diabetes mellitus, leading to damage to the brain and organs of vision, kidneys and peripheral parts of the nervous system.
7. Fighting cancer
German scientists discovered
that starch is a potential means of preventing the development of malignant diseases.
American Studies revealed that with the constant use of any products containing starch, oncological pathologies are less likely to be diagnosed, in particular one of the most common types of cancer – colorectal.
Starch is prebiotic - food for friendly microorganisms. During the interaction, special short–chain fatty acids, butyrates, are released, which normalize metabolism at the level of the mucous membrane of the large intestine and prevent their malignant transformation.
The drink also reduces the acidity of the stomach juice, which indirectly prevents the formation of ulcers prone to malignancy.
Probable harm
When taken in moderate amounts, jelly is a healthy drink. However, it has contraindications and, in isolated situations, can cause significant harm to health.
The main undesirable effects are:
- Weight gain. Obese people should not take more than 200-400 ml of the drink per day. Due to the large amount of starch and sugar, it disrupts fat metabolism and promotes the appearance of new fat deposits. When sugar is excluded from the drink and consumption is normalized, the opposite trend is observed.
- Allergic reactions. Starch allergy itself is rare, most often it develops when fruit and berry components are added. Clinical manifestations can be any.
The drink can be given to a child and taken by women during pregnancy. According to the conducted research, no negative effects were recorded.
Tips for admission
Let's look at the main secrets of healthy product intake:
- How to cook (recipe). For cooking liquid jelly will require 1,000 ml of liquid (water, milk, syrups) and 2-2.5 tablespoons of starch (corn or potato); thick - per 1,000 ml of liquid 3.5 – 4 tablespoons of starch. Starch is pre-dissolved in 50 ml of water, the resulting composition is added to the rest of the boiling liquid and boiled until boiling.
- What can be added to the jelly. The benefits of the product are determined by the auxiliary ingredients. Ideal for: blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries, sea buckthorn, strawberries, raspberries. You can use both whole pieces of berries and juices based on them.
- How much can I drink. You should not take more than 2-3 glasses (200 ml each) of the drink per day. Also, you should not drink jelly every day. It is advisable to use it after a meal or as an afternoon snack.
- When is it better to take it. Jelly is a "heavy" drink. You should not drink it at night, so as not to overload the digestive system and develop sleep problems.
Conclusion
- Jelly is a healthy dish of Slavic cuisine. For several centuries, people have been taking this drink to improve the health of their own body.
- The product is able to normalize intestinal function, reduce the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation, prevent the development of diabetes mellitus and malignant tumors. Jelly also has antioxidant properties and maintains body weight within the normative values.
- The drink is not contraindicated for children and pregnant women.
