Rosehip, properties of this nutritious berry

The dog rose is an ancient species of thorny shrub, belonging to the familyRosaceae, and grows wild in many parts of the world.

Its berries are a concentrate of nutrients, widely used in cooking and now increasingly appreciated for the beneficial properties it possesses.

The plant

The Dog Rose belongs to the wild rose species, in fact, it grows spontaneously in the countryside, on the hills and even in the mountains.

Also called “wild rose” due to its characteristic of sprouting in the most inaccessible places, it prefers clayey soils and a sunny environment.

The dog rose plant is a perennial and deciduous bush-shaped shrub, so the leaves fall in winter, it grows to 2-3 meters in height and is made up of woody twigs that have small red thorns.

The very simple flowers have five petals of color that can vary from white to fuchsia to pale pink, they are not very fragrant and bloom around May until July.

At the end of summer the ovoid-shaped berries with a bright and shiny red-orange color appear.

Generally, rosehip berries are harvested after ripening, in autumn-winter.

These berries, also called rose hips, are the false fruit of the plant and have a bright red color and a fleshy consistency. The berry is edible but has a fairly sour flavour.

While the yellow seeds covered with thick and thin hair contained in it, or the achenes, are the real fruit.

The properties of the dog rose

According to the ministerial reference guidelines for the physiological effects present in the list Belfrit, which regulates the use in food supplements of plant substances and preparations (updated with Decree 9 January 2019), has these characteristics:

• Antioxidant properties

• Supporting and restorative action

• Helps the regularity of the intestinal tract

But what makes rose hips very special is presence of Vitamin C. Not only because of the considerable quantity, but also because it is found in a form that is easily assimilated by our body.

In fact, the dog rose has immunomodulatory properties precisely due to the presence of Vitamin C which is also very useful in case of iron deficiency, because this vitamin increases its biodisponibilita and allows better absorption of the iron contained in foods.

How to take rose hips?

As we have already said previously, rose hips, or rose hips, are edible, but the fresh ones have a sour and unappetising flavour.

It is now widespread on the market in the form of powder or supplements or as an ingredient in food products, such as jams or herbal teas.

Its flavor is slightly sour, very similar to that of citrus fruits, and fruity.

The powder can be added to smoothies or breakfast drinks, making it simple and pleasant to consume. Or you can use it for sweet recipes, such as cakes or biscuits.

How to choose the best Rosehip powder?

Before purchasing rosehip berries, you need to pay attention to some important characteristics when choosing the right product.

The transformation into powder is one of the best ways to consume this precious food but you must make sure that the berries come from organic cultivation and have a high nutritional content. Therefore, it is essential to read the product label carefully.

The processing method is also very important, a processing at low temperatures allows all the nutrients to be preserved intact and Vitamin C levels to be kept high.

Finally, the coloration of the powder also represents an important criterion for choosing a quality product. In fact, rosehip powder can be found in different colours, tending more towards yellow or being darker and depends on the quantity of peel, pulp and seeds that are ground together.

The more yellowish color depends on a higher percentage of seeds within the powder. Instead, a darker powder signifies a balanced composition of pulp, peel and seeds, which is typical of when the whole berry is ground.

Our dog rose is raw, comes from organic cultivation and looks like a dark ocher colored powder, this means that inside there is a balanced ratio of pulp and peel (about 60%) and seeds (about 40%), thus guaranteeing a greater nutritional intake.

Contraindications

The dog rose is considered a safe plant.

Mild side effects may occur following excessive intake of rose hips.

In fact, due to its high vitamin C content, rose hips can cause some gastrointestinal symptoms.

Always due to the presence of vitamin C, it can interfere with the intake of some drugs, such as antacids or antidepressants containing lithium.

Therefore it is always advisable, in the presence of pathologies, pharmacological treatments, pregnancy or breastfeeding, seek the advice of a doctor before introducing rosehip powder into your diet.