Sea buckthorn fruits hide enormous healing power! How to use this superfood in the kitchen?

Sea buckthorn is known for its healing properties.

Orange fruits will strengthen your whole body.

What can you prepare from them?

How will it affect your health?

Find out everything and much more below!

What is sea buckthorn?

Sea buckthorn is a shrub native to the east coast of England. But it can easily grow elsewhere, even in your garden.

In autumn, you can enjoy the bright orange fruits, which are full of vitamins and minerals.

You can have the bush outside all year round and it grows to a height of 1 to 8 meters.

The bush is characterized by its density, thorny twigs and bright orange berries.

You can recognize it very simply by its long, narrow leaves and small, green flowers. The most distinctive feature is the orange fruits that can be seen in autumn.

Use of sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a still-neglected superfood that has been nicknamed the “Nordic lemon.”

You can buy or make sea buckthorn syrup or sea buckthorn oil. The syrup can be used to make very delicious drinks, while the oil can be used externally for skin treatment and care.

Lovers of alcoholic drinks will surely be pleased to know that they can also enjoy sea buckthorn liqueur.

Sea buckthorn in the kitchen

Sea buckthorn recipes are not difficult to find, and you can be inspired by recipes for drinks, desserts, cakes or milk.

Sea buckthorn is a vitamin bomb that can be enjoyed in many ways. Sea buckthorn recipes can look like this, for example:

• syrup with honey to strengthen immunity,
• sugar syrup
• jam or marmalade,
• fresh juice,
• tea,
• home oil,
• home liquor,
• Indian curry with the sweet taste of sea buckthorn,
• meat marinade.

Sea buckthorn cultivation

In recent years, sea buckthorn has become popular not only for consumption, but also for cultivation. A big advantage is that you get a large amount of fruit from a single bush.

However, it is recommended to plant at least one male and one female bush to ensure proper pollination.

The plants are more like trees due to their size, so you will need quite a lot of space. You can even make a hedge out of them by planting them densely around the fence.

Growing sea buckthorn from cuttings

Only female plants produce fruit, so you should only take cuttings from female bushes.

You will need cuttings about 15 centimeters long. Soak them in water so that they cover 2/3 of the length. Change the water every day.

After just one week, roots will begin to grow. Once they are at least 2-3 centimeters long, you can move them to a flower pot. Leave them there for 2 months until they are ready to be moved to the garden.

Growing sea buckthorn from seed

You can buy seeds in the store. You can plant them in autumn or spring.

You need to prepare them in advance in a cup or other container in a warm place to allow the seed to germinate before you move it to the garden. Transplant them from the cup into the flower pot first. Once the plants are big enough, you can transplant them into the garden.

The easiest way to grow is, of course, to buy a larger plant from a horticultural store and grow it directly in the garden.

How to harvest mature sea buckthorn?

You can recognize a mature sea buckthorn by its color. Once it is deep orange, you can collect it.

Prepare old trousers, long sleeves and work gloves for collection. There are thorns on each branch. Be careful not to hurt yourself.

Health benefits of sea buckthorn

The orange fruits of this bush are known for their properties. But many people do not realize how much good is hidden in them. Let’s see what you can expect from regular consumption of sea buckthorn. It is best to consume sea buckthorn in food, in the form of sea buckthorn syrup or in the form of sea buckthorn tea, when you get a concentrated amount of vitamins and minerals.

Sea buckthorn is a nutritional treasure

Sea buckthorn contains many vitamins, minerals and plant compounds. It is also full of antioxidants, which are very important for the human body.

It is mainly rich in vitamins A, C, E and K, but also iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and copper.

The fruits and leaves contain phytosterols, which are able to stop the absorption of cholesterol in the body.

The palmitoleic acid content accelerates wound healing and supports skin health.

The positive effect of sea buckthorn on the skin

Unsaturated fats, antioxidants, phytosterols, carotenoids, and vitamins E and K are all valuable ingredients for skin health.

Sea buckthorn is also a source of linoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids, which have a positive effect on acne and dry skin. But fruits will also prevent skin aging, reduce the symptoms of psoriasis and generally support the health of your skin.

Sea buckthorn as protection for the heart

Sea buckthorn oil is very beneficial for the heart. Phytosterols and antioxidants help protect it from damage.

At the same time, cholesterol is absorbed and reduced, which is very good for the heart.

Quercetin is another antioxidant that reduces the risk of heart disease.

Sea buckthorn as a support of the immune system

The fruit is not called “Nordic lemon” for nothing. Thanks to the high content of vitamins and flavonoids, it can strengthen the immune system, just like citrus.

Lowering blood sugar with sweet fruits

According to experts, consuming sea buckthorn can prevent diabetes and promote healthy blood glucose levels. The fruit or oil improves insulin stimulation, which can save you from developing diabetes.

Liver protection

Thanks to healthy fats, vitamin E and carotenoids, you will also protect your liver and support its functionality.

An ally against cancer

The antioxidants and flavonoids in sea buckthorn may have anti-cancer properties. Research has shown that sea buckthorn can protect healthy cells from radiotherapy, which is why it is worth consuming regularly even during cancer treatment.

Sea buckthorn side effects

The good news is that side effects are very few and rarely reported. Some people with high blood pressure have developed swelling, headaches, dizziness or palpitations.

When using the fruits on the skin, an allergic reaction in the form of a rash may occur.

It can also act as a blood thinner and cause bleeding. It can be a problem mainly for diabetics who take blood sugar lowering drugs.

Nutritional values of sea buckthorn

According to experts, it is enough to consume 10 sea buckthorn berries to supplement the daily dose of vitamin C. The content of vitamin C in sea buckthorn is 15 times higher than in an orange.

Sea buckthorn nutritional value per cup:

Sea buckthorn is an amazing superfood that deserves more attention. It offers many health benefits. Plus, you can consume it in many ways. You don’t even have to spend money on it when you grow it in your garden and have the fruits available for free. Once you make it into syrup or jam, you can consume it all year round and enjoy not only the taste, but also good health.