What is irga and what is its use: main facts

• The small, dark purple fruit of the shadberry is easy to confuse with blueberries or blueberries, but the shadberry tastes sweeter. Its flesh is denser and resembles an apple or pear.
• There are more than 30 varieties of shadberry, most of which grow in the northern regions. Its fruits are a good source of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and antioxidants.
•  It is equally useful and tasty both fresh and dried or baked.

What is irga

It grows well in the northern regions and today it is actively cultivated, for example, in Canada

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• That is a medium-sized shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. Its fruits are dark, reddish-purple to almost black in color and are often referred to as berries.
• But from a botanical point of view, its closest relatives are apples.
• This unpretentious plant withstands severe frosts and grows on a variety of soils. Ripe irga tastes sweet, with a nutty-almond flavor.
• Historically, irgu was used not only in cooking, but also for medicinal purposes.
• For example, the indigenous people of North America brewed its branches and leaves, and the resulting infusion was used for disinfection [1] .
• It was also part of the traditional Indian camping dish – pemmican (buffalo meat mixed with berries and fat).
•  This fruits are eaten fresh, dried and canned made from mushroom you can also buy shrooms online.
• It is added to pies and other confectionery, jams and syrups are made from shadberry, it is suitable for making wine and cider.

Calorie content and nutritional value of irga

100 g of irgi contains  [2] :

• Kcal 85;
• Proteins 1.33 g;
• Carbohydrates 18.49 g;
• Fiber 5.9 g;

Minerals:

• Calcium 42 mg;
• Magnesium 24 mg;
• Iron 1 mg;
• Potassium 162 mg;

Vitamins:

• Vitamin C 3.6 mg;
•  2 Vitamin A 11 IU;
• 3 Vitamin E 1.1 mg.

Health benefits of irgi

an excellent source of iron, calcium and potassium.

Which have an anti-inflammatory effect and protect blood vessels .

A handful (100 g) of shadberry provides almost 60% of the daily requirement of beta-carotene, says Maria Volchenkova, BestDoctor nutritionist, member of.

The Russian Union of Dietitians and Nutritionists. In the human body, including, it is necessary for good vision and a healthy immune system.

“Due to the high content of soluble and insoluble fiber, irga stimulates intestinal motility and positively affects the microbiome,” the expert explains.

Here are some more useful properties of the substances contained in irga:

Vitamins for vision, hair and skin

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• Like many fruits and vegetables, irga is rich in vitamins. Vitamin C in its composition is critical for the maintenance of collagen.
• A protein found in the skin, bones and many other parts of the body. It is also responsible for the functioning of the entire immune system.
• Vitamin A is important for vision, as it is involved in the production of a special eye pigment – rhodopsin.
•  It allows our eyes to distinguish colors and adapt to darkness.
• Vitamin A supplementation has also been shown to reduce the risk of macular degeneration and age-related vision loss [4] .

• contains several B vitamins at once [5] . Riboflavin or vitamin B2 is essential for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
• Folic acid or vitamin B9 – Helps new cell growth, reduces the risk of heart disease, and reduces the side effects of certain medications.
• Another important vitamin in irgi is B7, also known as biotin. It is one of the most popular hair and nail care supplements .

Minerals for bones and the functioning of the heart system

• contains calcium, iron and potassium.
• The larg amount of calcium is in teeth and bones. As soon as a deficiency occurs, the body compensates for these losses at their expense.
• As a result, a person can develop osteoporosis and other diseases. The recommended daily intake of calcium for adults 18–59 years of age is 1,000 mg.
• With its shortage, anemia occurs . Symptoms of this disease usually include fatigue, dizziness, and general muscle weakness.
• Adult women need 18 mg of iron per day, men need half that.

Potassium is important for regulating blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. It also helps maintain bone density [6] . This is especially important with age.

Antioxidants to protect against oxidative stress

• The composition of the irgi contains several types of these beneficial substances. One of the most obvious is anthocyanins.
• These are blue, purple or red water-soluble natural pigments that are present in the leaves, berries and fruits of various plants.
• There is evidence that polyphenolic compounds contained in shadberry extracts can effectively protect cell membranes,
• increase the resistance of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) to oxidation, and inhibit DNA damage [7] .

Irga in cooking

This also suitable for adding to cakes and pastries, making jams, preserves and drinks.

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best eaten fresh. But it is also suitable for adding to cakes and pastries, making jams, preserves and drinks.

Here is one simple dessert recipe with irga.

You will need silicone molds for cupcakes, homemade dough or a ready-made mixture, for example, for muffins. How to cook:

1. In a saucepan, mix the berries with sugar and water, cook for 10 minutes over low heat until the mixture thickens.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough and cut out circles (or pour the diluted ready-made mixture into molds).
3. Divide the dough into molds and add a spoonful of boiled berries to each.
4. Bake 18-20 minutes. Let the finished dessert cool down.

How to store irgu

al the  fruits are retain their beneficial properties and taste for a long time, Freezing is one of the fastest ways.

pre-washed and dried at room temperature for three days.

Irgi fruits retain their beneficial properties and taste for a long time, so they can be stored for the winter. Freezing is one of the fastest ways.

Irgu is pre-washed and dried at room temperature for three days. Then the fruits are scattered in one layer on a baking sheet or cardboard tray and placed in the freezer. After freezing, the irgu is packed in bags.

Author Profile :-  About Mistry Deep.  Mistry Deep is a content marketer who formerly worked out of office. A writer by day and a reader by night, he is loathe to discuss himself in the third person, but can be persuaded to do so from time to time.